Did you know that Yarra and Darebin have a long standing community relationship along with a formal partnership with the municipality of Baucau in Timor-Leste?

The friendship was established whilst Timor-Leste was fighting for independence back in the 1990s. And it has endured over time. For many years our Councils funded a neighbourhood house in the city of Baucau. This was a wonderful and vital resource for women, children and the broader community as the country rebuilt infrastructure and resources after the devastation caused by the fight for independence. And although the house itself shut down a few years ago, it seeded a number of enduring community organisations - and enabled a number of strong and active local women (in particular, but some men also) to build a platform and profile within the Baucau municipal government.

Darebin and Yarra Councils continue their relationship with Baucau today, and still support grassroots activities via the community friendship group - Friends of Baucau. Over the years this local community group (that meets monthly in Darebin and Yarra) has continued to advocate for the formal municipal partnership, fundraise for on-ground community initiatives and build strong enduring and trusted relationships in Baucau. The focus recently has been on empowering women, supporting education and helping communities build best practise for sustainable agriculture. In the last few years they encouraged Darebin’s neighbourhood houses to visit Baucau (I was lucky enough to go on this trip) to meet like-minded active women’s organisations over there and think about how we could build and grow partnerships at the grassroots level.

So with this personal connection, it really has been devastating to see and hear about the impacts of the recent cyclone and associated flooding on the community over there. Timor-Leste is the poorest country in our region, with people living on less than $1 a day.

And if you are living at or below the poverty line like this, losing your house, your possessions, your bed and/or your crops is devastatingly life changing - and not just immediately, but for many years to come.

So … Friends of Baucau has set up a Give Now page, to support a trusted local community organisation to help out locals across the Baucau municipality at this time.

The funding will help families buy the basics to continue to survive such as food, beds etc. But also help them replant crops. It will also give those most in need 2 goats to grow and sell, helping them to rebuild their ability to self-sustain with dignity once again.

If you’d like to contribute you can find out more here. If you’d like more information about Friends of Baucau you can check them out on Facebook here.

Damage to houses in the municipality of Baucau.

Hi everyone, we’re back on deck today (Monday). We hope you had a lovely Easter and school break. If you sent enquiries through over the holidays that we haven’t answered already, Kalimna will get back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) when she’s in the office.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be working on some of the bigger picture things - including working with Lee on our next feature artist for the Alphington Neighbourhood Gallery (on the fence), finalising the podcast studio, and getting the raised gardens up and running (I need to head out to Bulleen Art and Garden for a dwarf lime for the centre of the new round garden as a starting point). Also I need to line up a time with Darebin Council to deliver some fresh tanbark for the front garden … and I must order the new cubby house, deck and sandpit to complete the toddler play space out there as well.

Yikes, I feel busy already! We’ve got lots of exciting new plans for term 2 and we’re looking forward to sharing them with you over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

And don’t forget that we have morning tea on the corner every Friday at 11.30am. Come along for a cuppa and cake and chat. We’d love to see you.

Join us for morning tea on the corner every Friday morning from 11.30am.

A few weeks ago I knitted a little purple square and am feeling quite proud when I see it incorporated in our lovely yarn bombed handrails out the front of ACC.

Of course I do realise that it is only one of many … but it’s nice to have contributed!

Thanks Anne and Glenda for taking the time to add a bit of home crafted love to our centre.

If you are keen to join in low key yarn bombing or to learn how to sew and stitch - Anne’s is a willing teacher if you need some advice … we’d love to see you at ACC on a Friday morning. Come along and join in from 10-11.30am, and then stay for morning tea on the corner at 11.30am.

At ACC we offer a range of regular musical experiences. If you are keen to share music making and make neighbourhood friends along the way, you can join up for lessons or group experiences …

Choir - because our venue is too small in COVID times the Alphingtones Choir is now meeting at St Andrew’s Church in Duncan Street just behind Station Street. If you are keen to join up just click here to email them.

Harp - Jane’s harp group is for people wanting to have a go. No experience is necessary. Jane will lead you through a group music making experience with this beautiful instrument. Please contact Jane here if you are interested.

Ukulele - our uke group is an experienced group that plays together for practice and fun each Monday evening. And they sometimes do performances! New members are welcome. You can join up here.

Guitar - Matthew teaches in schools by day and then shares his love of music with locals at ACC in the early evening. If you are keen to learn guitar give him a call. He is very nice!

Okay. Hooray! We think the mural for our new podcasting studio, The Cupboard is finito. Finally (surely by now we’d know that these things always take longer than expected).

So … when we get back from holidays we’ll buy the podcasting equipment … build a webpage for bookings etc. and then officially launch what we know will be a fabulous community resource.

If you think you might be interested in using The Cupboard for a one off recording or a more regular gig you can register your interest here.

Thanks Clifton Hill and North Fitzroy Community Bank for supporting this. It’s going to be great and we are super excited!