On Saturday we had our first ‘repair’ workshop for the year with Gordon teaching us how to maintain our sewing machines and to troubleshoot the basics. It was great to see so many people walk away with their problems solved after 2.5 hours - a new knowledge about their machines and how they work and how to keep them in tip top shape.

We have another of these workshops coming up in 2 weeks - for anyone with an overlocker this time! And we also have a clothes mending workshop coming up in June that is the final is this series. You can book in on our website - on the enrol page.

This week we’ll be installing new garden beds (see the post below - you’re welcome to come along and learn about setting up a wicking bed yourself) on Friday … and we’ll be cooking lots of food.

This week is Neighbourhood House Week, and so we’d love to see you at our food programs.

We’ll be cooking cauliflower soup and pasta with bacon and brussel sprouts for lunch today in Table to Plate. Looking forward to sharing the cooking with anyone who can make it!

Then on Thursday we have Crunch - two new people joined our group this term - and anyone is welcome. Thursdays at 12.30-2pm for a yummy lunch (we’re having spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread this week) and a creative arts activity led by Lee (we like to keep it a surprise!).

On Thursday evening we have our Supper Club - 7 people joined in last week. If you are interested in enjoying dinner with locals then please come along at 5pm. Just contact our office (phone or email) or book in on our website.

Also, we have playgroup on Wednesday, along with AAA Bowls and Line Dancing and Armchair Theatre. Friday we have AAA Arts and Community Lunch. And our Toy Library is a great resource for families (parents, grandparents etc.) who are keen to try new things - explore puzzles and games, ride-ons and all the toys. Also Rosie is starting up Community Yoga again this week, and Clare is running Art classes … and Keiko is running Sound Healing sessions. Check out all our previous posts to find out how to book in if you are keen! If you have any trouble just drop us an email or give us a call.

Next week is National Volunteer Week, and on the weekend we have an event on at Holden Street neighbourhood house with the other Yarra Houses - to celebrate all our volunteers who help us keep things on track. We couldn’t do all the things we do without all the help that you, the community provide.

We hope to see you at ACC soon. Happy Neighbourhood House Week.

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!

Hi all

After a restful January for us (and a productive one we hope for the the amazing volunteers who ran Project Stationery from ACC over the last 5 weeks) we are back in the office from tomorrow (Tuesday).

And we are looking forward to seeing you.

We have an action packed agenda coming up for the first half of 2025 - which is all outlined in our new brochure. We will have it available to collect at ACC and at the Library, or you can check it out here.

We have a new cooking and lunch program on Mondays this year - Garden to Plate, where we will use seasonal food to cook a meal and sit down together to eat it. Come along to learn some new recipes and have a great meal. It is free but bookings are required as spots are limited.

We are also proposing a new night time dinner on Thursdays called The Supper Club. If you are a mum at home sick of cooking or any other carer who needs a break, if you live alone and would like some regular company for dinner or you are new to the neighbourhood this could be ideal for you! Come along weekly. We hope those attending will not just enjoy a nourishing meal but also the opportunity to make new local connections/friendships. Book in here.

For those of you interested in living more sustainably, we have some super workshops on in second term, including Sewing Machine Repair, Overlocker Repair and Clothes Mending. These workshops are partly funded by Yarra City Council’s Climate Emergency team. And they complement our new Thrift Seekers Op Shop Tours (we are hosting one a term this year thanks to some funding from our lovely friends at the Community Bank on Queens Parade). Our first one is coming up soon on Saturday 8 March at 10am when we’ll be heading to Abbotsford - it should be lots of fun! You can book into all these programs here.

This semester we also have the Alphington Show coming up - on Saturday 29 March. So … start baking your bread, nourishing your garden, making your jam and crafting your heart out. We look forward to seeing all your entries … we’ll have the paperwork for the Show - with all the official categories etc. - out in the next week or so (we hope).

We have a couple of spots left in our Book Clubs that will start up in February - 1 spot in our 2nd Monday evening, 2 spots on Tuesday evening and 3 spots on Thursday evening - if you are keen share books with others. You could even join up with a friend …

It is going to be a busy few weeks getting everything up and running but we are really looking forward to seeing you again. Our first Community Lunch starts up this Friday - come along to catch up - craft, gardening and community shed activities from 10am, and lunch is at 12pm.

See you soon.

Leanne

Hi all, Happy New Year.

FOOD FOOD FOOD

With some new funding via the State Government ‘Community Food Relief’ program, we are creating more opportunities for our community to build social connections through food. Sharing a meal regularly is a great way for locals to get to know each other. And with our new kitchen up and running we are in the ideal position to build community food opportunities this year - so we feel super lucky that this fortuitous funding has come along.

We have five food related programs on offer in 2025, and we’d love for you to come along!

• Garden to Plate (NEW) - Learn to cook seasonal food and then enjoy sharing a meal, on Mondays from 11.30am 1pm. This is a free program, but you must book in online as places are limited.

• Thursday Supper Club (NEW) - Do you often eat alone? Are you tired of cooking and/or keen to make some local friends over a meal? Come along and enjoy a healthy weekly ‘family meal from 5-6.30pm (perfect if you don’t like to be out too late at night). Term 1 costs $40 (that’s $5 a week). ’ - food provided but as a group you will need to set the table, serve up, do the dishes etc. - just like you would a home. This program starts on Thursday 13 February. Click here to join up. If cost is an issue for you just call our office.

• Community Lunch - our Friday lunch continues in 2025, join in from 12pm, or come along earlier to catch up over gardening, craft and community shed activities from 10am. This is a free program, but please let know to expect you - call or email.

• Crunch - Like good food? Enjoy being creative? Thursday lunches are for you! Join us from 12.30pm -2pm for lunch followed by a creative arts activity - painting, drawing, 3D art … and more. Book in for the term or by the week here.

• Preserves Group - join us on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 1-3pm to help us turn excess garden produce/ seasonal fruit and vegetables into jams, chutneys and pickles for fundraising. We use donated jars and ingredients (donations always welcome) … and we’ll thank you for your volunteering efforts with good conversations and a light afternoon tea (including a fancy coffee)! Email us here if you’d like to join in. This group is coordinated through What’s App.

ALSO on to other things … join a Book Club

We have a couple of spots in each of our Book Clubs in 2025. They are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with a daytime group meeting on Thursdays at 10am. Our Book Clubs meet monthly from February (when you come along and collect your first book) and finish up in December. You’ll read 10 books for the year supplied by Darebin Libraries. Our Book Clubs are a great way to meet other locals! Keen to join up? Book in here!

AND … there’s lots more.

• Op Shop Tours

• Sustainability/Repair Workshops

• Art Classes

• Access All Abilities IAAA) programs

• Playgroups

• Music and Dancing Groups and Classes

• Fitness Classes

Check out our full program here. And book in here.

I’ll highlight some of the other great things we’re super excited about in the coming few weeks.

I hope you are having a good break/relaxing summer.

Cheers Leanne

Hi all, a reminder that if you come to ACC we’d really appreciate if you could fill out our participant survey this week. Just click here.

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below. Or you can complete a hard copy in the office … but ONLINE IS BEST.

The survey is about what you do at ACC, why you come along and how attending ACC makes you feel - particularly in relation to community connections.

Thanks so much for taking the time!