We were excited to have Jodie and Lee from the Community Bank on Queens Parade visit.

Their bank really has an amazing community investment model and as a very small scale community organisation, we are exceedingly grateful for it and them … and for their support.

They have helped us with so many programs over the years … including subsidising community lunch costs, helping us support our peer support playgroup families and providing some funding for plants and equipment for our community garden program. Most recently they provided some seed funding that has enabled us to get our community podcasting studio up and running.

Now we’re hoping they’ll come back and make a podcast themselves one day soon (when we know what we are doing a little more…).

Thanks Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank. We look forward to working with you into the future. You rock. Really.

Jodie, Lee, Suzanne and Leanne checking out the podcasting studio and equipment.

Did you collect one of these posters last year during lockdown? The Community Bank helped us fund ‘Happiness’ - this mental health project.

Kalimna popped in to visit our line dancers last week whilst they were holding their Biggest Morning Tea event - as you probably already know this is a morning tea to raise money for the Cancer Council, to support those impacted by cancer.

Around 20-30 lovely locals come together each week on a Wednesday morning from 10am down at the Alphington Scout Hall to line dance and then share a cuppa and a chat. It is a real community in and of itself. We drop in and see them every now and then, and also support Shirley behind the scenes (the dynamo behind it all) as she seamlessly organises the whole shebang.

She’s a star.

And anyway … lucky Kalimna went along. Because not only were the dancers happy to give her a demo, they were ALSO happy to do so in fancy dress. How fun - I think it should be a lifegoal for everyone to be part of a group that gets together in fancy dress for special occasions! Why not right?

Thanks Shirley, Thanks Kalimna. Thanks enthusiastic line dancing locals.

Did you know that we have a Toy Library at ACC? We’re noticing that there are increased numbers of people around the neighbourhood living a life that is more family friendly with flexible hours and working from home options. And as a result we’re also noticing that our Toy Library use is growing every week. We’ve welcomed at least 10 new families to the Toy Library over the last month or two and it is so wonderful to think that all those great toys that have been carefully collected and lovingly cared for, for so many years, are getting an outing!

If you know any young families who might like to access a wide range of toys in a sustainable way (ie. borrowing them for up to a month rather than buying them) then point them in our direction.

The Alphington Toy Library costs $30 per year to join (a bargain). Families can borrow up to 4 toys at a time. And we have loads of toys to borrow!

We’re also building up some toy packs that can be booked online and collected any time we are open - ideal for families that can’t pop in and browse themselves. Working families can keep an eye out for these - coming any day now!

Our Toy Library is generally open on Wednesday mornings from 10am-12pm. The opening time coincides with Playtime in the Garden - so you can borrow toys and then also hang out here enjoying our sandpit and some outside craft activities (set up weekly by Lee).

Click here to find out more and/or to join up. Or pop past on a Wednesday to see if it is for you!

Look, we have a logo (thanks Lee Arkapaw). And our podcasting equipment arrived this week. Doesn’t it look exciting! We’re pretty keen to get our new podcasting studio set up and to start using it.

And also … we recently received an Education Week grant for an event that we’ll use as the official marker for this new community resource.

We got funding from the Department of Education to run a podcasting intro course here at ACC for local schools during Education Week, which is the last week of May. What a great way to kick things off hey? Creating, learning and community building with local students.

Alphington PS has taken up this opportunity and grade 5 and 6 students will be working with Tony Wilson.

Tony is an adult and children’s book author, former radio presenter (a fixture on RRR Breakfasters for a number of years), public speaker, speech writing connoisseur (visit Speakola - it’s a great online resource to read and watch the world’s most fabulous speeches), podcaster … and Darebin local.

Fun times! And thanks lovely friends from the Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank for helping us get this up and running.

Our little houses are jam packed with plants and seeds and books. Make the most of the glorious autumnal days with a neighbourhood walk - and pop past ACC to enjoy some community sharing and caring! ❤️