As if we needed reminding, yet again, that while our parish is lauded as the city of good sports, the lunchtime concert series underlines the generous range of music and art offerings the year round.

The lunchtime concerts this winter season have been outstanding with an almost perfect blend of music provided by visiting professionals, the conservatoriums students and staff who make up more than 20 ensembles, members of the Kapooka Australian Army Band and the Riverina Concert Band, amongst others, and they ranged across the music spectrum.

The winter concerts were held in a variety of venues across the city including the City Art Gallery, Wesley and Baptist churches and The Grange.

RCMs ensemble leader, Jenny Binovec, explained that all concerts are free but a donation box netted more than $1500 which helps fund bursaries for students requiring financial help.

Under the daily direction of director, Hamish Tait, the RCM has become one of those gems that make Wagga that much more attractive for families.

For instance, at the final concert, the RCMs staffers, Binovec and Keith Griffin and nine students formed the saxophone ensemble, finishing the season on a rousing note.

Two outstanding solos came from the saxophones of student scholarship winners, Murray Mison (baritone) and Gabrielle Shaw (soprano); Gabrielle, 16, is the youngest daughter of media couple, Stephen and Kiley Shaw, of Wagga, and the RCM has been instrumental in the musical development of Gabrielles three elder siblings, guitarist Zac, 22, pianist Elizabeth, 21, and trumpet player, Olivia, 18.

When it was announced in February this year about RCMs move from South Campus to a permanent home in Simmons Street by 2020, supporters said the new structure would house a world class music recital facility close to the existing cultural precinct in the CBD. On with the show!

ITS that time of the year again for Wagga; the city will play host to one of 15 Biggest Ever Blokes Lunches in Australia to raise funds for prostate cancer research.

Unashamedly robust and entertaining and an ideal days male networking as they have been described, the lunches also emphasise the message for men to get medically checked early and often.

There is still time for men to organise a table for the Wagga lunch on Friday, August 31 at the RSL Club by making a reservation at the Commercial Club booking office, just the ticket for work or sports mates or neighbours to get together.

Tickets are $130 for a three-course lunch, drinks and raffle tickets; guests can also take part in the memorabilia auction and table raffle.

Guest speaker is horseman and adventurer, Ed Fernon, a remarkable Australian who won the Mongolian Derby, the worlds longest and toughest horse race across 1000km of the Mongolian Steppes in record time last year.

Fernon has climbed Mt Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere, the only competitor to reach the summit; he re-enacted the first Melbourne Cup winner Archers epic 1100km walk from Braidwood to Flemington to compete.

Fernon represented Australian in the 2012 London Olympics in the modern pentathlon, although three years before he had never handled a pistol or duelling sword and was a lousy swimmer.

Get to it, guys!

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