We love a birthday … or two! This week we got to celebrate Corina and Clare.

Happy birthday Corina.

Happy birthday Clare.

This week I am going to start with a brief diversion into my own life.

So … over the last couple of years I have been meeting up with my old uni mates to go see plays at the Melbourne Theatre Company. About 8 times a year we go into the city and see plays that explore the big things like feelings and power and thoughts - fabulous things (mostly)! I have been in awe of the sets and stories - the package - that is presented each time. Some people are so clever!

And this last Friday I was meant to see the “The Black Woman of Gippsland” by Andrea James, which I am sure in no coincidence, is now running through National Reconciliation Week. Unfortunately for me I came down with dreadful sciatica, and so whilst I was crying at home and pumping my body full of a cocktail of prescribed steroids, opioids and anti-inflammatories (hooray they worked and by Sunday I was once again able to stand up and walk) my husband, brother-in-law (with my ticket in hand) and mates got the chance to see this play … which they loved. It explores a colonial-era myth about a white woman supposedly shipwrecked in Gippsland and taken in by the Gunaikurnai people. Here is a review.

And this builds on another play I saw and loved last year (it was also on earlier this year, a repeat because it was so popular), "37" by Nathan Maynard which tells the story of a down-on-their-luck country football team whose prospects are boosted by the arrival of two Indigenous players and explores themes of racism, identity, and community within the context of Australian Rules football, drawing inspiration from the experiences of Indigenous players like Adam Goodes. Here is link to a review in The Guardian.

Every time I see things like this they make me stop and think, and reconsider my perspective and my understanding of things, and the complexity … and they really make me acknowledge how much I just don’t know.

Reconciliation is all of our business (as Clare pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago when we were working in the garden on a Friday and she was reminding me to write something in the newsletter for this week). And so this week (such a bummer that I missed the play) I am committing to learning something else new, and maybe you’d like to too. You could maybe read a book or watch a TV show, or go to the play (there’s still tickets available for the MTC show on until 31 May) or listen to a podcast or two …

If you are interested in our local history (like me) you might like to find out more about what happened here in Victoria - I am always blown away by the story of Coranderrk Station/Mission up near Healesville. And just how few of Melbourne’s Aboriginal community survived the colonisation of Victoria to end up there. And how successful it was. And why it was eventually shut down. To find out via TV you can watch series 1, episode 3 of First Australians (SBS) here. Or if you are into podcasts you might like to listen to this one from 2008 from Radio National, Last Refuge: Remembering Coranderrk Aboriginal Station (that’s what I am going to do).

Or of course you can ‘do your own research’ … and if this is your cup of tea maybe start by checking out deadlystory.com website here - an amazing resource with so many links to so many things. Worth a deep dive! Check out the history of Fitzroy and then the link to a walking tour app you can download, for example.

Anyway, good luck! … and back to normal programming …

This week at ACC we have all the usual things … and nothing out of the ordinary.

We (as always) look forward to seeing you!

Cheers Leanne

Speaking of arty things, which we are often doing, the Alphington Open Studios artists are currently hosting a group exhibition at Yarra Sculpture Gallery in Abbotsford. Glimpse offers a brief but compelling insight into the diverse practices and creative processes of this dynamic collective—a preview of the rich and varied work emerging from the Alphington Studios community.

It looks great and you should go! The Sculpture Gallery is just in behind Collingwood Town Hall - so there is both easy parking and great train options to get there.

The exhibition is on for May and runs from Thursday to Sunday from 11am-4pm.

A great activity to do on an autumnal day!

On Friday we celebrated Alex’s birthday which was lovely. His aunty Rose brought a cake along and we were all very happy to help him celebrate and we hope he had a super day on Saturday as well (his actual birthday!).

And … also on Friday we had a special delivery of two wicking beds from Nillumbik Nursery … the installation of which will be our project this coming Friday. If you are interested in how to set up a wicking bed at home come along and help out from 10am (we will throw in lunch at 12pm as a bonus) - I know Clare will be very happy to share her knowledge - and of course many hands make light work (especially when shovelling scoria I imagine). These wicking beds will be installed in the bluestone garden beds out on the corner triangle and will enable us to grow more food and herbs etc. We’ll be focusing on useful things that can be used by our community - either at our lunches or our neighbours and local friends.

Once again we’d like to thank the Climate Emergency Team at Yarra Council for funding these beds.

You might know that we (off and on) have the 3078 History Group meeting at ACC, and they have a collection of old letters and written anecdotes etc. from older residents of our neighbourhood. Anyway … if you start to read some of the old archives will see that ALL THE KIDS 70 odd years ago used to swim in the Yarra ALL THE TIME.

And of course, the old baths are down in Alphington … a great reminder of the potential of the amazing river asset that sits underutilised on our doorstep. Just imagine on a hot day heading down to a swimming hole at Darebin Parklands or near the boathouses - it would be super cool right?

In this light, I was excited to get an email from Yarra Council this week …. read on …

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In the lead up to World Water Day 2025 (March 22), the City of Yarra is teaming up with Regeneration Projects to run an exciting new event series. Picture short, guided river walks through Melbourne’s backyard, connecting with community and storytelling. You’ll get to learn practical ways of caring for the Birrarung’s wellbeing and share your ideas about future river swimming places. This aligns with the City of Yarra’s Climate Emergency Plan and commitment as a Signatory of the Swimmable Cities Charter. As the Wurundjeri saying goes, ‘Burndap Birrarung, burndap umarkoo’ (What’s good for the Yarra is good for All).

Join us at one of these upcoming events to connect and learn more about the river:

Business meets the Birrarung – Thursday 6 March 
Book here

Birrarung Cultural Walk & Yarning Circle – Friday 7 March 
Book here

Birrarung Morning Walk & Breathwork – Saturday 8 March 
Book here 

Birrarung & Bubs Bushwalk – Tuesday 18 March 
Book here

Find out more: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/walk-talk-swim-birrarung-3989413