Hi everyone,

In exciting (but necessarily low-key) news, we are going to be a Low Sensory Voting Site for the Northcote electorate. If you or someone you know would benefit from a quiet, low-sensory space for voting (lights low, all our pictures down, no noisy stuff happening outside etc.) then you are welcome to come here. This voting opportunity will happen 10 days before the actual election … on Tuesday 17 November from 9am-5pm. You can find out all the details from the VEC here.

Also, our Christmas Makers’ Market is next Saturday 21 November from 11am-2pm and we’re gearing up. Come on down to shop locally for your Christmas gifts and bring the kids along for Christmas crafty activities and a sausage in bread! It will also be the first weekend of Alphington Open Studios, which is a great annual celebration of our local artists. Pick up the brochure here in our foyer (or outside on the side of the street libraries) and check out the artists at ACC before following the trail around the neighbourhood to visit all the other local artists involved, in their studios or at the Parklands. AOS is supported by a grant from the North Fitzroy/Clifton Hill Community Bank (what an ace bank).

In the meantime, if you’d like to celebrate Diwali you can join us for Community Lunch this Friday at 12pm for an Indian feast and/or you can pop in at 12.30pm for a coffee/tea and some dancing! Should be both yummy and lots of fun.

Check out our website here at this link to find out more information about what’s on at ACC and to book in to all the things online!

Cheers Leanne

When I was in Baucau in Timor-Leste the other week I had breakfast every morning at the Pousada Hotel … and after a few days I realised that the ‘marmalade’ I was putting on my bread was actually pumpkin jam. Having never had pumpkin jam before I looked it up online to discover that it is a traditional Brazilian jam … (also another Portuguese colony) and … I can highly recommend it.

So … this week we made some at Preserves Group. It has pretty simple ingredients: pumpkin, lemon and orange, with a hint of cinnamon. And some sugar (of course). Perfect on a fluffy white Portuguese bread roll (traditional breakfast fare in Timor-Leste).

So we’ve now got some for sale in the foyer, along with a new batch of cucumber pickles. You can pop past and buy some if you like. Only $7. Our jams and preserves make a lovely small gift for someone … and the proceeds support us to run our disability programs.

Win=Win.

Anyway, thanks to everyone that came along to our short courses this week. it is super to get back into the swing of things!

Now the weather is improving you might like to start your day in a mindful way - why not check out John’s Breathwork sessions which you can book on a weekly basis or for the term.

And …

We’ve also had a refresh of our op shop this week - so come and have a look for a bargain if your wardrobe also needs a refresh.

This week we’ve got Embracing Life and Death coming up on Thursday from 1-2:30pm. This month the focus is on bereavement and living with grief and loss. The sessions are free, but booking is essential via eoldoulasinmelb@gmail.com.

We have 3 spots remaining for Community Yoga this term if anyone is keen to join Rosie from 5:30-6:30pm on Wednesdays. It’s just $22 for 3 classes over the next few weeks. Book in here if you’re interested.

As always, we’ve got all of our regular programs and short courses continuing this week so we hope to see you all soon.

Cheers Leanne

Come along to our Op-Shop Adventure next Thursday the 10th of September! Lee is going to take us to High Street Northcote. We’ll catch the 508 bus. Bookings are $10 and include lunch - and can be found at this link here.

Hi everyone,

We had a particularly gardeny productive week last week with Community Lunch (where we cooked a yummy Thai meal with vegetables from our garden) and Preserves Group … we made cumquat marmalade, lime marmalade AND tomato relish. Big thanks to Margaret for donating the cumquats and to Megan for donating the limes. Pop in and buy some of our excellent (not bragging - it is good!) marmalade if you like.

We are going to have our Annual General Meeting next Monday the 31st of August. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along. It’s free, but you need to RSVP by booking in online at this link.

Also coming up in our calendar we are going to be running another of our Op-Shop Adventures on Thursday the 10th of September. These events are $10 and include lunch after a fun day out shopping. Book in online here.

And this week, we look forward to seeing you all at:

• Heart-Centred Breathwork with John on Tuesday from 7.30-8.30am (book in here).

• Line Dancing at Alphington Scout Hall on Wednesday at 10am-12pm.

• Alphington Playgroup here at ACC on Wednesday at 10am-12pm.

• U3A Armchair Theatre on Wednesday from 12-2pm.

• Cardboard Playgroup on Thursday at 10am-12pm.

• Cook by the Book on Thursday from 11.30am-1pm (book in here).

• CRUNCH on Thursday from 12.30-2pm (book in here).

• Embracing Life and Death on Thursday from 1-3pm (contact eoldoulasinmelb@gmail.com).

• Community Morning on Friday from 10am-1pm.

Lastly, here’s another link to the Yarra Council website - this time featuring Rob in the video. Thanks Rob, for talking about why you come along to ACC and why neighbourhood houses are great places for social connection.

Cheers Leanne

Come along to celebrate the official launch of the Alphington Community Battery and Village Power's Community Energy Program on Saturday 27th June from 10.30am to 1.00pm. The event will be held at the Melbourne Farmers’ Market, 2 Wingrove Street.

Activities include:  

• Official launch of the Alphington Community Battery

• Kids activities including face painting, treasure hunts, and boomerang bag decorating

• Stalls from local sustainable and community groups

• Coffee van on site

• Free scones and tea from the Country Women’s Association

• Battery artwork reveal and meet the artist

Please register at this link to attend so the CWA know how many scones to bake!

Graeme Martin, President of Village Power at the site for the Alphington Community Battery