Gently down the streaming… with Keith Conlon
Living Choice’s SA Ambassador, Keith Conlon OAM, shares his top “lockdown digital discoveries” to keep you entertained during these changed times.
Just when we thought we had seen it all, along comes corona virus chaos. It has brought dramatic changes to our lives, hasn’t it? Staying isolated from loved ones and friends has been tough for many of you, no doubt, but I’m sure most of you have become very switched on to new ways of communicating.
Here are some of the digital treats that you can find on an iPad or smartphone near you.
You have nothing to lose but boredom.
Here is my South Australia Top 5
- Delve in to our history and heritage
We can’t get to the History Festival this year, but there is a feast of talks to hear via the History Trust of South Australia. Hear about the incredible Ross Smith flight from London to Darwin in 1919, our indomitable suffragist Mary Lee who helped South Australia to a world first and much more. (Search for Soundcloud History Trust.)
How about a walk down King William Street with a familiar bloke? Last year, I took a tour tracking down State Heritage Places designed by Edmund Wright. Find a series of short videos based on that outing. (Search Edmund Wright Trail Heritage SA.)
- What did Adelaide look like in the 1960s?
Time travel backs more than 50 years for a nostalgic twenty minutes in our city, when a skyscraper was only twelve storeys high and Rundle Mall was still a car-laden street. Spot what’s gone or stayed the same! (Look for “Life in Australia Adelaide”.)
- Back to an old favourite -The South Australian Museum
Did you know there is a dig at Emu Bay on Kangaroo Island that is telling us more about early life on our planet about 500 million years ago? I learned this in one of a series of three-minute videos that give us armchair access to a slice of palaeontology for afternoon tea. (Look on YouTube for the Australian Museum Alive with Wonder page.)
The South Australian Museum (image by Keith Conlon)
- Fine Music Concerts
Hear some of our state’s finest young musicians performing live in two lunchtime streams. There are Wednesday lunchtime concerts at the North Adelaide Baptist Church Hall. (Look for Recitals Australia Lunch Hour Series.) The long tradition of Friday of Adelaide goes on as well – but only online. (The Elder Conservatorium posts details on Facebook.)
Elder Hall (image by Keith Conlon)
- The Cabaret Festival is coming to you!
This year’s Cabaret Festival has been cancelled, but instead, the organisers are promising a “delectable digital mini-feast” from June 5 – 20. In this ‘Bite Size and Home Delivered’ version, there is plenty to look forward to, with Robyn Archer, David Campbell, Kate Ceberano, Beccy Cole and many more. (Sign up to Adelaide Cabaret Festival on Facebook.)
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
What have been your lockdown digital discoveries? I’m sure the art and craft groups have a list, along with sports lovers, bakers and gardeners. Linda Hooper would love to hear your top tips.
Please email them to her at lhooper@livingchoice.com.au