Last year we got a grant from the Community Bank on Queens Parade, and with it we built a playstation - a bit different from the tiny ones on our fence - but just as fun!

This one stands by itself - and it includes doors and peep holes, and features famous art, and little bags of treasures, along with spot the difference games … and more.

We had it out for our end of year market last year, but with our backyard complete it has found a new permanent (or semi-permanent) home under our verandah.

Next time you are here with kids pop and out the back and take a look. It is super creative (thanks Lee)! And provides hours of cute fun.

What is the key to friendship?

Add your thoughts to a key tag on our fence this week.

We love quirky community art experiences … and creating opportunities for casual community interactions.

Darebin City Council is collaborating with Seniors Rights Victoria and Housing for the Aged Action Group on the Warm Safe Home Project.

The project is a mechanism to build awareness of elder abuse, and will be showcased at Preston Library in early June, for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day that takes place on June 15th each year.

The project asks people in the community to decorate a small house and talk about what it means to them to have a warm safe home.

If you are feeling creative and/or would like to help build awareness of this important issue, you can collect a cardboard house from us. Drop it back once you’ve finished. We’ll then pass the completed houses back to our Council colleagues for them to include in the exhibition.

Note, we should have the kits ready by the end of Monday!

Join Clare on Monday afternoons from 1-3pm or on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm … and explore your inner artist in a fun, relaxed and supportive small-group setting.

Clare’s classes run for two hours weekly over an 8 week term. The fee is $320.

Class dates are:

• Monday 29th April - 17th June

• Thursday 2nd May - 20th June

Contact Clare to enrol online at swirlart.com.au or you can give her a call to find out more etc., 0423453160.

It was super lovely to welcome our colleague Kathy Vrettas from Yarra City Council to our community morning on Friday. And we were delighted that she brought along Cr Edward Crosslands who is the new Yarra Mayor.

The Yarra neighbourhood houses have such a great relationship with Council, and we are always thrilled when staff and councillors come along so we can show off all the exciting things we have been up to - and that deliver on our shared strategic objectives to create great services for our local community.

And … to mark the occasion … I FINALLY took a photo of some of our crafting friends who come along on Fridays with GenU. They have been coming for at least 6 months now, and we really look forward to them attending each week. Such nice people!

If you are interested in craft or gardening - with a good dose of socialising thrown in - our community mornings might be just right for you too! Come along from 10am. All welcome. Lunch is at 12pm.