At ACC we don’t have lots of indoor space but we have access to larger spaces in the local area and we have some long-standing connections with wonderful women who are committed to sharing their talents and skills to help others keep fit and active and connected in the community through dancing.

In 2021 you can join Shirley at the Alphington Scout Hall (tucked away in Adams Street in south Alphington) for line dancing on Wednesday morning from 10am for the bargain price of $3. More than 20 women and men join her to keep fit and active and then share morning tea each week. To book in call Shirley 0410 601 796.

Alternatively, if tap dancing is more your thing we can suggest giving Mel a call. She runs community tap classes on a Thursday morning from 10am just up the road in Ford Street, Fairfield. Her classes are $12 per week. BYO tap shoes! Contact Mel to book yourself in on 0403 775 756.

We’re very excited that our lovely local artist friend Louisa Bufardeci will be offering a 6 week program of drawing classes in the community shed on a Saturday in Term 1 and Term 2 this year.

The classes are designed for all abilities from beginners to more experienced artists, and will focus on building up participants observational drawing skills. They will explore things like perspective and composition using objects at hand (perhaps you’ll walk away with some fabulous drawings of power tools and handsaws!).

The classes could be ideal for high school students who are doing art, or anyone else who would like to come along and join in a low cost art experience.

If you have a burgeoning interest or simply enjoy company while you create please book yourself a place here.

The course costs $90 for 6 weeks (only $15 a week) and includes Louisa’s tutoring and all materials. Term 1 starts on Saturday 13 February.

Local artist Maria is keen to run a community short course ‘Introduction to Collage”.

Collage is one of those arts that is accessible to everyone. It can be serious or very funny and can be a wonderful meditative process, with the cutting and pasting and then moving the elements around and interchanging them to come up with a final design.

If you think this might be your cup of tea click here to find out more about what Maria is proposing, and to register your interest. Maria will then contact you in February to discuss how the course will progress.

Here’s a great idea!

Homeshare is a government funded program that enables ‘householders’ (aged 65+ / 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) to remain at home as they age. The program matches an older person with a ‘homesharer’, who provides practical support and companionship in exchange for affordable accommodation.

Darebin Council has now partnered with Care Connect to run the program, manage the matching process, undertake careful screening and to provide ongoing support for you and your homesharer.

So … if you (or someone you know and love) live on your own and miss having someone in the house that you can talk to, or have a spare room that you could offer to a trusted person in exchange for assistance with daily living tasks, this could be a great solution for you!

To find out more, you can visit the Care Connect website or contact the Care Connect Homeshare team on 1800 692 464.

This year we’re running formal playgroups on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings and then welcoming families to pop into our garden on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12pm for an informal play.

Grab a coffee from Alphington Foodstore next door or an icy pole from the milkbar, and enjoy our mud kitchen or our sand pit, our ride on toys etc.

There are tables and bench seats scattered around to relax and enjoy conversations with other parents or just sit and take a breather for 5 minutes. Come along with your kids, arrange to meet another family here … our house is your house!

We hope to see you at ACC when we return for Term 1. Our programming recommences in the first week of February.