COMPILED BY RICHARD CORNISH

01. Bon Mots

Thinking of heading to France for a holiday, or even a longer stay and unsure of the lie of the land? Well Caroline is a stylish, effervescent native-born French woman who is a lover of France and all things French, including French culture. She wants to share with you her Joie de Vivre, her insights into French Style and Art de Vivre (lifestyle); her secrets about femininity and confidence; and tell you about her favourite places that take her back to France with a smile. Her afternoon  workshop topics include French clichés, French facts, French culture and manners, expressions, the French influence worldwide - culture, hairdressing, magazines, daily life, business, home décor, gastronomy and even tips to French up your life in Australia.

September 30, St Claire Country House, Trentham East, $70, stclairecountryhouse.com

02. Blues in St Matthews

A big weekend in Newlyn with another concert on Sunday, 9 September at 2pm and this is Eleanor Kerr bringing her jazz and blues concert “At Last!” to St Matthew’s Anglican Church. Eleanor is a much-loved and well-known local soprano who has performed with Andrea Boccelli, Joan Sutherland, Harry Secombe, Michael Crawford and Guy Sebastian. While she loves singing classical music Eleanor has another love, that of spiritual and jazz and has put together an exciting program to welcome in spring. Her program will include jazz favourites “All of Me”, “The Man I Love”, “Ain’t Misbehavin” and, of course “At Last”! Eleanor will be joined on keyboard by Linda O'Brien who has studied jazz piano in France and has a vast repertoire from classical to modern musicals and guest spot by Ron Caffyn.

Tickets $25. ballaratanglican.org.au

03. Kyneton Daffodil Festival

Ferrets are not naturally linear animals, more accustomed to ‘ferreting’ about the subterranean warrens of rabbits, dashing madly about where their sensitive little pink noses take them. So, there is a certain joy to be had watching ferrets’ race. Domestic dogs are also comical to watch when they compete, particularly when their trainers are still in grade three. These events are all part of the Kyneton Daffodil Festival held this month at which there will also be Kyneton’s Festival of One Act Plays, the Antique and Vintage Fair, Buskers, Open Gardens, Scarecrow displays and the Spring Flower Show. The Daffodil Art Prize and the Art Photography Prize will be exhibited throughout the Festival and a host of local galleries and studios will open their doors to display the work and practice of our diverse local artists.

It is held at various locations around Kyneton from August 30 to September 9. Go to www.kynetondaffodilarts.org.au for the programme.

04. Stockroom

We love the installations at Stockroom in Kyneton, regional Victoria’s best contemporary art space. This September, from 8 September to 7 October 2018 Stockroom presents Interruptions, a group exhibition featuring some of Australia’s most notable contemporary artists – James Carey, Michael Graeve, Joanne Mott, Sara Retallick, Cameron Robbins, Robbie Rowlands and Jason Waterhouse. Interruptions will explore notions of object, site, time, space and sound through a series of site specific and responsive interventions. Interruptions occupies and transforms all three established gallery spaces at Stockroom. It also launches a new, fourth gallery space in a recently converted, former factory workers room which has until now, been restricted from public access. This expansive exhibition will showcase a suite of installations, inhabiting and interacting within the peripheral zones of the fascinating and layered space that is Stockroom gallery.

98 Piper St, Kyneton. stockroomspace.com

05. Hell Ship – The Journey of the Ticonderoga

Well known and loved comic performer, broadcaster and author Michael Veitch takes to the stage to tell the story of his great, great Grandfather’s voyage from hell on board the migrant ship Ticonderoga. Disease decimated the passengers on the voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne as the ship was not designed for passengers, sanitary provisions were totally inadequate, and the doctors were soon overwhelmed, and themselves caught typhus. Veitch, a brilliant raconteur, relives the life of his ancestor, a doctor who was on this tragic journey. 

Kyneton Town Hall; 21 September, 7.30pm; tickets $32; book on 1300 888 802 or mrsc.vic.gov.au www.hellshipticonderoga.com