Your July events calendar: family fun, food deals, and a call for community connection in Bendigo

Bendigo’s community events calendar is packed this July, with offerings ranging from budget-friendly dining to family activities and a sobering reminder about online safety that organisers say parents should keep in mind when planning outings.

The timing matters. School holidays are in full swing across Victoria, and local event organisers are leaning into the demand for low-cost, family-oriented activities. At the same time, new data from Australia’s online safety watchdog shows that young men report more ‘sextortion’ than any other age group, a finding that several Bendigo community groups say reinforces the value of in-person, supervised events for young people.

Food, deals and family-friendly outings

One of the most talked-about offerings this month comes from a hatted Brisbane restaurant that is serving $90 all-you-can-eat steak, but Bendigo diners don’t need to travel that far for a similar deal. Several local venues have introduced their own fixed-price menus for the winter school holidays, with prices ranging from $35 to $60 per person for three-course kids-eat-free deals. The Bridge Hotel in Bendigo’s CBD, for example, is running its School Holiday Feast every Tuesday and Thursday through July 23, offering a two-course adult meal for $49 with a free children’s meal. Bookings are recommended, with tables filling quickly.

Meanwhile, the Bendigo Library on Hargreaves Street is hosting a series of free Lego-building sessions every Wednesday morning until July 29. The sessions, which run from 10am to noon, are aimed at children aged 4 to 12. Library staff say attendance has doubled since the school holidays began, with 60 people turning out at the first session on July 8.

For adults, the Bendigo Art Gallery is running its Winter Wednesays program, with extended evening hours until 8pm and free curator talks at 6pm. The current exhibition, “Colour and Light,” features works from the gallery’s permanent collection and runs until August 30. Entry is $15 for adults, $12 for concession, and free for children under 16.

Online risks and the case for real-world events

Behind the fun, community leaders say there’s a growing recognition that local events can help counter the isolation that feeds online threats. The eSafety Commissioner’s July 13 report found that young men aged 18 to 24 are the most likely age group to report sextortion, with 42% of all complaints coming from that demographic. Bendigo Youth Services coordinator Megan O’Neill, who was not quoted directly but whose comments were shared in a press release, said that “structured, supervised community activities give young people a break from screens and a chance to build real relationships.”

The report also noted that more than 120 families have been contacted by NSW Police as part of an investigation into alleged abuse by a Sydney childcare worker, a case that has prompted child-safety advocates nationwide to call for better vetting of staff in youth programs. In response, the City of Greater Bendigo said all its event volunteers and staff working with children have completed updated Working with Children Checks as of July 1.

Practical advice for the week ahead

What happens next: The school holiday events continue through July 23, and the Lego-building sessions run through July 29. The art gallery’s Winter Wednesdays extend until the end of August. Organisers advise checking event websites for last-minute cancellations due to winter weather, and to book ahead for any paid meals or workshops. For families concerned about online safety, the eSafety Commissioner’s website offers free resources on how to talk to young people about sextortion risks. In Bendigo, the local youth service runs a drop-in information session every Thursday from 4pm to 6pm at 30 Mundy Street.