MEN’S BREAKFAST – FEBRUARY 2026

A simple table. Real talk. Stronger men.

After the busyness before Christmas, it’s time to come back to something steady.

The Men’s Breakfast is a monthly gathering for men to reconnect — with themselves first, and with other men who value honesty, responsibility, and heart.

To make catering and logistics smooth, this breakfast is run as:

✔ Pre-booked tickets only – $15 each
✔ Seats must be secured before the breakfast

The breakfast runs from 8am-10.30am. Click here to book in.

For more information you can contact John on 0439 899 352 or email coachinglifework@gmail.com.

Friday mornings are always lovely down here at Alphington Community Centre, with craft, chats, gardening and, of course, a delicious lunch.

We love to see everyone each week connecting and getting involved in the activities, and we especially love seeing our garden flourish - as it has in these spring months.

The flowers have been beautiful and the produce is looking fantastic. Recently we’ve harvested bok choy and lettuce, silverbeet, beetroot, chives, coriander, spring onion and cabbages (although someone took all of our large cabbages so we couldn’t use them in our community cooking programs (sad) … never mind. Let’s assume they REALLY needed them). Also rhubarb, parsley, cumquats and lemons 🍋. I think we even grew a lime on the tree in the middle of our raised bed this year!

We’re now getting our summer planting in - tomatoes and new silverbeet. More herbs etc. And our fruit trees are fruiting - plums and apples - it’s very exciting.

We feel so lucky to have such committed gardeners in our community who are willing to help out each week and hope you are also enjoying our lovely space and appreciate all of their hard work too, when you pass by or come here for activities.

Thanks gardening peeps!

Hi everyone

Sorry I missed the newsletter last week! I was on an overnight flight from Penang home and after 4.5 weeks of holidays I was a bit vague and forgot to check if we’d put something together or not.

But … I am back now and it has been lovely to catch up with so many of you in the last few days.

And … we’ve got lots starting up this week.

• Monday (today) - Table to Plate. It’s free! Join me from 11.30am-1pm and we’ll cook up seasonal produce (and catch up on life, school holidays etc.) and then sit down and eat together. We’re going to be cooking with lime today - fresh from my (and Julie’s) garden! And using some of the leafy greens that are flourishing in the garden beds at ACC, along with potatoes that we harvested just before the holidays.

• Clare’s Artful Paining and Drawing is starting this week, and Corrin’s Learn to Weave course is also starting up. Look at the bottom our this email, or on our website for their contact details to book in. It’s not too late!

• On Thursday we have Crunch. $15. I will cook lunch, and make you a coffee with a little sweet treat. Lee will lead a fabulous art activity. There is a regular crew of people who are coming now - but new faces are very very welcome. It is friendly, yummy, creative and fun. We hope to see you.

• Friday - Community Morning and Community Lunch. Free. Join us for craft and chats inside and/or join Clare in the garden and community shed for more practical activities (along with chats of course) outside from 10am. Followed by lunch at 12pm.

• Saturday - a new addition! John is running our new Men’s Breakfast. $10. Join him from 8am and cook up a storm together, before sitting down to eat and get to know each other. Suitable for men of all ages - brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, grandpas … You can contact our office to book in or get in touch with John (his details are in the brochure below).

Also, our Winter Salon is coming up very soon - on 22-24 August. We are seeking local artists to be part of the show, so please encourage anyone you know to get in contact with us if they might be keen. There is a form to fill out on our website. It is free to enter. Please not that works need to be for sale. It is always a lovely event - one of the highlights of the year. On the Friday night we’ll have our opening night, with drinks and nibbles from 5-7pm. And then the show will be open on the weekend from 10am-3pm for anyone to drop in. This year local artist Joe will be using The Kiosk for a poetry and movie installation - Lee and I spent last Thursday setting up the space and giving it a trial run - it is going to be super fun!

Okay, so that’s about it I think. Hope all is well with you and look forward to seeing you at ACC soon!

x Leanne

This week join us for our Men’s Group on Tuesday night from 7pm. Call John to find out more 0439 899 352.

Or Playgroup on Wednesday morning at 10am. Also Line Dancing at 10am - at Alphington Scout Hall. Each costs $5. Just come along! There’s also Armchair Theatre on in the afternoon from 1.15pm. This is run by Darebin U3A.

On Wednesday evening we have Sound Healing with Keiko from 7.15-8pm. Just $10 for a super relaxing experience. Find out more or book in Sounddroplet@tutamail.com.

On Thursday we have the first Embracing Life and Death session from 1-3pm. Find out more or book in with Andrea, Andrea_babon@yahoo.com. And the Alphingtones Choir run at night over at St Andrews Uniting Church Fairfield from 7.30pm.

Finally Friday is our Community Morning - craft, gardening, community shed activities from 10am. Community Lunch at 12pm.

We hope to see you soon!

Cheers Leanne

Last term Clare had a vision for updating the climbing frames (replacing the picture frames that are past their used by date) in our raised garden beds … and after a few hours of Facebook marketplace trawling and purchasing, and a can or two of spray paint, Corrado, Thomas and Clare did the glory work (after weeding and soil preparation by Meet and Clare earlier in the day) and installed two new ‘lovely ladies’ on Friday.

They also planted nasturtiums and beans and other beautiful flowering climbers - so we’re looking forward to the metal frames evolving into edible floral gowns over the next few months (we hope). Keep a watch as the plants grow!