SEW GOOD
With the busy Top End festival season over, and the Wet season approaching, October might be a good time to learn something new. Cue Darwin AdultShort Courses!
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
WITH A WIDE range of courses to choose from, including arts and crafts, cooking, languages, pottery and sewing, there is something for everyone whether you want to learn a new language before heading overseas, or wanting to upskill in biz.
The courses are designed for people at all stages, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to build on skills you already have. And while learning something new is at the heart of what Darwin Adult Short Courses (DASC) offers, the classes are also a great way to meet people and connect with the Darwin community.
Amy Elson knows firsthand the creative possibilities that can come from trying something new. After returning to sewing in recent years, she enrolled in a DASC sewing class to learn how to create her own patterns. That experience led to an unexpected highlight when she wore one of her handmade designs to Darwin Frocktails and took home the People’s Choice Award.
“I’m still in shock about the Award. I was just super proud that I had made my own pattern and dress.”
Sewing is just one part of Elson’s DASC experience, also signing up for a cooking class and a block printing course, demonstrating the variety of classes available through DASC. For her birthday, she invited 10 friends along to a cooking class, turning the experience into a memorable night of food, creativity, and connection.
“I invited 10 friends for my birthday and we did a cooking class with Jenny and we ate all together after. They made me a cake, and it was a magical night,” she says.
It’s this sense of community that makes adult learning about more than simply gaining a new skill.
“I feel like I always meet lovely, interesting, and inspiring people at DASC. It’s an encouraging atmosphere. Everyone gives it a go and supports each other,” Elson says.
Whether you’re interested in getting creative with pottery or printmaking, learning your way around a kitchen, exploring a new language or finally picking up that sewing project you’ve been thinking about, DASC has a class to help you get started.
With the Wet season around the corner, there’s no better time to settle in and try out a new hobby or skill.
