Join us for the annual dawn service in Alphington Park at the memorial site (just near the bowls club) on ANZAC Day, Saturday 25 April at 6.20am.

The pipes will begin around 6.25am and the service will include In Flanders Fields, The Ode and The Last Post and Reveille.

All attendees are then invited to head into the bowls club for a cuppa and toast … and a chat.

Thanks to all the people that make this lovely event happen each year!

In Term 2 we have some great things coming up to book in to.

Our next Thrift Seekers Adventure is on Thursday 30th of April. Just $5 to explore Sydney Road together from 10am-2pm and share some morning tea. Book here.

And then we have some workshops in May for Clothes Mending and understanding microbes in our soils Living Soils, Living People. Learn how to fix your favourite jeans or other basics book here. $10 on Saturday 23rd of May from 10am-1pm. Or to understand the connection of plants, gut and mental health from our living soils book here. $10 on Saturday 16th of May from 10am-12pm.

Don’t forget that Rosie is returning with her Community Yoga classes. Join her at any level. BYO mat. Book your spot in her wonderful classes here.

And Clare’s Artful Painting and Drawing 8 week classes continue with more dates to choose from. Contact Clare directly on 0423 453 160.

We also have our 2nd Tuesday of the month Book Club starting up. Book in here. $70 for the year.

We’re back in the office on Monday 20th April, and straight back into community cooking on Tuesday 21st April. Join us for an eggplant pickle cook-up from 1pm. We’re exploring a new and exciting recipe that is being shared by Fiona (you make know her from her business Jams by Fiona) and she will be leading the session, with Kalimna providing any necessary assistance along with her her special brand of kindness.

Come along and join in. Coffee, a sweet treat and great conversation is also part of the deal!

Happy Easter! We hope you have been overeating chocolate and hot cross buns, relaxing and making the most of the festive season with family and friends.

Easter also marks the start of the school holidays this year and we are taking a break from our regular programming for 2 weeks. Our office is closed but if you need us then please email - I will be able to respond to any urgent emails as I walk along the beaches at Aireys Inlet or from my sister’s farm up at Cavendish I am sure (as long as I have internet access - it can be a big dodgy in Western Victoria). In any case Kalimna is going to be doing a bit of work from home in the break - she’s been keen to carve out some time to reorganise our photo library. It is an amazing resource full of 8+ years of her beautiful photos and it will be even better once everything is sorted and labelled etc.

We’ll be fully back on deck on Monday 20 April and keen to see everyone for Community Lunch on Friday 24 April at 12pm, or before that if you want to pop in.

Also to note …

• We have John running the Men’s Breakfast here on 11 April at 8am-10.30am. If you are interested in connecting up with other local men to share a meal and talk about men’s stuff (mysterious!) then you can book in online. It costs $15 for brekkie and a discussion facilitated by John who has years of experience running these types of things (and yes he’s super nice).

• In other news Yoyo is running some Violin Lessons over the holidays, Daniel is in Japan (lucky thing - so no Guitar Lessons), CWA is crafting here one Saturday and some of our Book Clubs are meeting as scheduled (I am sure you know who you are). Our U3A Armchair Theatre group is taking a break - lots of grandparenting duties in school holidays even though they are retired! But I am pretty sure Line Dancing is continuing on down at the Scout Hall on Wednesdays at 10am (they generally only take a break at Christmas!).

In addition, we are hoping to start our 2nd Tuesday of the month Book Club in Term 2. We just need 1 or 2 new people to join up to kick it off. It costs $70 for the year and will meet at 11am - our only daytime Book Club! Join online.

Okay - I am writing this on Thursday before Easter … and hoping the weather is as great as predicted today (Monday) and I can enjoy my last day on the beach and be brave enough for a swim. Fingers crossed.

See you on the other side of the holidays.

Cheers Leanne

Are you keen to read more?

It’s great fun to talk about the books you read and share your recommendations with others.

Join our new Tuesday morning Book Club, meeting here at ACC on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 11am. Book in here.