Hi friends, well today (Thursday 10 June) really does feel like a day to stay in bed, or at least at home on the couch. What a wet and windy 24 hours we’ve had.

However, this post is to let you know that we will be reopening with programs commencing on Tuesday 15 June after the long weekend.

Please note that there are some new rules. A maximum of 10 people in an activity. And density limits are back to 1 person per 4 square metres. Also, everyone needs to wear masks inside. And … whether you’re onsite for 1 minute or 2 hours you now need to check in.

So just to be clear about specifics:

• Morning Tea on the Corner will restart on Friday 18 June

• Women in the Shed programs will restart from Tuesday 15 June (noting that Monday is a public holiday)

• Any playgroups that have over 10 people in them will NOT be able to restart until after the next rule changes

• Our Overlocker Maintenance Workshop will be able to go ahead on Saturday 19 June

• Our Home Maintenance 101 Workshop will be able to go ahead on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June.

If you have any questions just give us a call on 9499 7227. We’re looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Our Women in the Shed program is one of the local activities you can vote for down at Grilld Fairfield for the month of June. If we win we get $300 to buy some more tools!

Look out for us if you are in there and get the chance to vote (I’m not sure how it works in lockdown?!).

Last year we made a little rhyming series of animated pictures (GIFS) with some funding from the Community Bank on Queens Parade … and then put them together with a voice over … and turned them into a poster that loads of locals collected from ACC on their daily neighbourhood walk.

It seems timely to pull them out again.

Here are the GIFS.

Here is the poster (we trust it is still gracing many a fridge or toilet door around the neighbourhood).

And here is the animation with voice overs if you’d like to watch it (it is pretty cute!).

In Reconciliation Week I thought I’d share with you this short Treaty video that was animated by Lee Arkapaw who I am sure you know. She has been working with us at ACC for the last year or so, rolling out a series of arts outreach projects to help us all keep engaged, connected and creative as a neighbourhood in socially-distanced corona times.

Note she didn’t actually tell me about this video - her Dad tagged ACC on Instagram. Thanks Dennis. Click here to watch the animation. You are very talented Lee!

Hi friends, well we’re all back to appreciating our local neighbourhood for a week hey?

At ACC we’re primarily working from home, but are still here to help. Feel free to give us a call on 9499 7227 or send us an email if you need anything. We’ve got some meals in the freezer we’d be happy to deliver etc.

Also note that there is a whole network of support infrastructure that is now well-established in our neck of the woods if you need a hand.

This guide published by Darebin Council outlines services for food relief, shelters and support for families experiencing violence, community legal service links and more.

You can also call Council on 8470 8888 and ask for the Community Navigation Service to access in-person help.

If you need food support another good place to start is Darebin Information Volunteer Resource Service (DIVRS) on 9480 8200, Monday – Thursday between 9.30am -12.30pm. You may need to leave a message with your name and contact details but you will receive a call back the same day.

You can also contact:

• Encompass Care, Bundoora: 0422 461 847

• Northern Community CareWorks, Preston: 9484 4788

• Salvation Army – Emergency Relief, Preston: 9471 9111

• St Vincent de Paul - Call Centre: 1800 305 330

We look forward to seeing you back at ACC on the other side.

Look after yourself.

Our paving completed … why not pass by and admire it on your lockdown 4 walk! You could also grab a book from the book library or check out the seeds in the seed library and do some autumn planting.