Choko, choko, choko.

We had a week overflowing with choko this week … on Tuesday we used it to make a Choko Chutney in Preserves Group, and on Thursday we used it in a Thai Green Curry AND also as an ingredient in vegetarian spring rolls at Garden to Plate (yes my plans to cook from our own garden were waylaid temporarily - but next time for sure!).

Everyone loved them -.flavour absorbing and little bit crunchy … only Monika had some complaints as the sticky resin got stuck all over her hands when she peeled them (by Thursday we’d learnt our lesson and used gloves …).

Also this week we had a wonderful time celebrating all the people who volunteer at neighbourhood houses across Yarra at our shared afternoon tea event on Wednesday. Thanks to those who came along to the new Fitzroy Neighbourhood House! See the post below for some great photos taken my colleague Tony.

Councillors, council staff, neighbourhood house staff and volunteers all attended - and it was heart-warming to soak up all the goodwill from the lovely community minded people in the room!

This week I am pretty boring and in budget mode in the office (we’re getting our $$ plan together for the next financial year), whilst in other office news poor Kalimna has broken her finger! She’s all splinted up … and waiting to hear if she needs an operation. In the meantime she is soldiering on. Say an extra kind hello to her if you see her …

This week we have CRUNCH on Thursday at 12.30pm. Come along for some yummy food and an arty experience. Book in online. In the evening Keiko is back from Japan and running Sound Healing at 7pm. Book in with her directly.

And then there are all the usual things happening … Playgroup, Line Dancing, AAA Art, AAA Bowls, Community Lunch etc.

Hope to see you soon! Can’t believe we’re nearly at June (yikes).

Cheers Leanne

So many people help out at ACC … from our committee of governance members to those organising groups (book clubs, ukulele), helping with community lunch (cooking desserts, doing the dishes, setting up and packing up), cooking preserves, crafting, running activities (line dancing, community yoga), gardening, assisting with our AAA programs … and then those who help out at events! CWA Devonshire tea makers, BBQers, dog show wranglers and judges, kids activity helpers, ACC stall sellers … setter upperers and packer upperers. AMAZING!

ACC is an amazing community partnership that relies on so many people.

It was super to celebrate with some of our volunteers … along with volunteers from other houses in Yarra at a shared afternoon tea last Wednesday. Here are some lovely photos.

Hi everyone,

Last week I was excited to attend a meeting with the Minister Grigorovitch, who is the new Minister for Carers and Volunteers, as part of my role on the North East Neighbourhood House Network committee. It is always super to talk at a higher level about both the great things that neighbourhood houses do, and the challenges we face as a sector … and the meeting was particularly timely obviously, as we continue our push for restoration of funding from the State Government.

Closer to home, we are in workshop season at the moment … And we have another coming up this Saturday. Clothes Mending from 10am-1pm. We ran this workshop around this time last year and had a lot of fun. It is a fabulous opportunity to learn how to take up a hem, stitch on a button, repair a tear … and more! You are encouraged to bring your pile of project(s) along to work on. Book into this workshop online for $10. Here at this link.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) our Preserves Group will be running from 1-3pm where we will be making chutney out of chokos that were kindly donated to us last week. We like nothing better than homegrown produce at ACC. Its open to all, so if you have some time free, please come along - no need to book in.

Then on Thursday we will have Garden to Plate in the morning from 11.30am-1pm where we will be cooking with produce from our very own Community Garden. Clare tells me we have spinach, onions and lettuce ready to harvest at the moment ... I wonder what we will make …. It costs $10 to attend this fun and friendly and informative and yummy program and you can book in online here.

And later that evening from 7.30-9.30pm we will have our monthly Alphington Arts session. Book in online here for $15.

This week is National Volunteer Week across Australia and we would like to give a big shout out to everyone that donates their time at ACC every year. Volunteers are integral to neighbourhood houses and we couldn’t do what we do without all the amazing people who help out each week and/or each month and of course at our big events.

Cheers Leanne

We owe a big thank you to the following people who volunteered their time on both Saturday 21st and in the lead up to make the Alphington Show a great day.

Thank you to the judges of the Alphington Show entries. We had Noela, Michelle and Anne from the CWA, Bill and Wayne from the Preston Garden Club and Local artist Kate Herd here to judge. And Lynne and Margaret came to help set up.

Thank you to all the entrants to the Show. We are thoroughly impressed by the many skills in our community.

Thank you to the CWA for the delicious Devonshire tea they hosted. Michelle baked an incredible amount of scones and the ladies sold about 150 on the day. They donated the proceeds from the sales to ACC which is amazing!

Thank you to Anne and Jenny for registering all the dogs for the Dog Show. We could not run the show without getting all the details for all the cute dogs that entered.

Thank you to Beth, Rachel and Emily for judging the Dog Show. Not an easy task with so many well behaved and adorable dogs. And of course Jill who does a fabulous job as MC.

Thank you to Alphington & Fairfield Vets, Northside Vets and E & A Salce for sponsoring the prizes.

Thank you to Elaine and Marie-Louise for minding the craft sales in our street kiosk. And thank you to our Preserves Group who gather monthly to cook up our preserves for sale. We greatly value their time, knowledge and friendship as we cook and chat.

Also a thank you to Alex and his family who kindly donate the items Alex makes that we offer for sale on our Makers’ Market days.

Thank you to Norma, Margaret, Ina, Jill, Corrado, Anne M, Adele, Anne C, Taras and Clive for doing such a great job running the Sausage Sizzle.

And thank you to the Alphington Uke Group and Jemima for the live music performances. It was great to watch and enjoy.

Volunteering your time really adds something special to events like these.

Thank you to Nelson Alexander for sponsoring the show with the boards and corflute posters to aid with promoting the event.

And finally thank you to the politicians that were here with us for the whole event and those that popped in to show support.

Amazing!

I was not able to capture everything that was happening on the fantastic community day of the Alphington Show.

But here are a few more photos to share.

Thank you to all the Makers Market stall holders that were her and the very friendly petting zoo people. It was lots of fun! We loved the beautiful face painting (by Jamari) and also loved seeing so many people making clay pieces that will contribute to the new garden totem sculptures being created under Clare’s guidance (using a process kindly shared by local artist Avis).

Kalimna