Missing your weekly tee-off at LaTrobe? Here’s one for the golfers 🏌️‍♀️ out there. A three hour mindfulness video filmed on beautiful Australian golf ⛳️ courses. It starts with a wide shot of a coastal course and the satisfying thwack of a well connected wood … narrated by a bloke with a nice deep voice … I think you’re going to love it. Sit back and relax.

Hi all,

As things drag on I think it is important for us all to remember that not everyone has jobs that they can do from home. And not everyone’s job falls into the ‘essential’ category. And it is pretty obvious that if you can’t do your job, then you aren’t getting paid .. and then you most likely will be struggling to cover your living expenses … I am pretty sure that hardly any of us living in this neck of the woods (or anywhere else in Australia for that matter) can sustainably live on Jobseeker or any equivalent income (oh, don’t get me started).

If you need some help then please know that you are not the only one, and that there are lots of food services that you can access locally. Some have pre-prepared meals, some deliver, some require you to collect. Some allow you to choose pantry staples and fresh food that you like. Some are more prescriptive. But they are all there for you, no questions asked.

Here are some local services with their numbers you can call:

• DIVRS - 9480 8200

• Reservoir Neighbourhood House- 9462 4611

• Encompass Care - 0422461847

• Salvation Army Preston - 9471 9111

• Northern Community Care Works - 9484 4788

• Work for the Soul - 9478 0888.

Note that there are also some food services that are on the street. Smith Street Community Pantry on the corner of Smith Street and St Georges Road, Thornbury is a good example. There are also weekly walk up food relief efforts under the housing commission flats in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond if you live near those.

Also … we are thinking of you. And hoping that everything can get back on track for you and your family soon.

And remember that if you need help with anything else we are only a phone call or email away.

Cheers Leanne

Congratulations to local artist Julia Ciccarone for winning the people’s choice award in the 2021 Archibald Prize. Julia has played an active role in the life of our community through her involvement with Fairfield Primary School and Art4All whilst her children were young. Her work is amazing. Read more here.

Hi Kalimna here.

I wanted to share with you that Darebin Council have created a seed saving guide!

You can download it from the link here .

You can share your home seed gathering skills by leaving any of your surplus in our little seed library in front of the community centre.

Thanks to whoever dropped off the sweet basil seeds this week … and it’s been lovely to see so many lemons being shared too!

The latest artist to feature in the Alphington Neighbourhood Gallery is Sharyn Madder. Sharyn has lived in Alphington for over 30 years and has spent countless hours wandering around the local parks and along the creeks and rivers, watching and sketching the natural environment at different times of day and in different seasons.

Over the past 18 months she has regularly shifted her attention to the human aspects of life in lockdown, attempting to entertain herself and her family and friends with slightly black-humoured illustrations.

Find out all about her here.

And then pop past any time to check out her works in the gallery on our fence. Many of the original works featured are available for purchase. Just contact us here.

You can get a sneak peek of the gallery and her works here.