After so many crazy months we’re taking a break for two weeks for the school holidays for both the centre and for our online posts.

We’ll be back posting online on Monday 13 July when we’ll also be confirming our program for Term 3.

See you soon!

Our book library was back … and then it disappeared again … and now it is permanently back. Hooray.

And it has been restocked with lots of books for kids and adults.

Pop past and check it out!

And, while on the subject of books, have you read anything you’d recommend lately? It would be great to get some suggestions together for a community post about good books. So, please comment with your recommendations if you are reading on Facebook or Instagram … or send us an email by clicking here.

Chance would have it that major works out the front of ACC were scheduled for after the Alphington Show … and just in time for coronavirus lockdown. In some ways (not that we would ever wish a pandemic on anyone anywhere) given how much of a hoo-ha they ended up being, it has been perfect timing.

Over the last couple of weeks Kalimna has captured some of the work going on in the garden with the gardening group and by the two lots of contractors (for the ramp and the pergola). She also documented the progress of our community art projects. And this week she made us a little video combining all these elements. Check it out!

So … we’re hoping that by the end of today all the main bits and bobs (including the book library) are in their permanent place. Wouldn’t that be exciting!?! And then … after the holidays we’re going to pay some attention to the front yard.

This week we started to install our stories from isolation sculptures. Don’t they look gorgeous grouped together in front of our new ramp!

Haha … it looks like I’ve been doing all the work in this pic. Actually Lee has been doing most of it! Thanks for taking the photo Mish.

As anyone who has passed by knows, ACC is having a major external overhaul. By the end of this week our new doors should be finished (with clear glass so you can see in!). We’ve also given our book library a lick of paint … and thanks to a grant from the State Government, our new pergola our the front of the shed is nearly complete. The roof will go on Wednesday next week.

And we’ve got a new footpath! Council did half Thursday and the other half today.

Then we’ve got some plans afoot for the front garden … which will hopefully begin in the next month. A new sandpit. A new cubby house. Some nature-based water play and a lovely messy mud patch. Which will be great for our playgroups … and for the families in the neighbourhood that often drop in for a play out of hours.

We’re also looking at installing an outdoor kitchen under the pergola (neighbourhood friends I’m not sure where to start with this? We’re thinking an L-shaped stainless steel bench with a sink, an outdoor fridge and a BBQ … if anyone has any expertise/ideas/recommendations???).

So … we’ll be looking pretty swanky for the start of term 3!

Our new pergola was painted on Thursday..

Our book library has had a little makeover.

We’ve got a new footpath!