Alphington Show was so much fun this year! We had glorious weather and lots of people came along and joined in. The pony rides were a real hit and our show entrants were super talented.

We’d like to thank our partners Alphington CWA. It was terrific to run this event together.

We’d also like to thank our friends from the Preston Garden Club for judging (along with the CWA) and Nelson Alexander for helping us publicise the event AND for providing a prize. We had 16 people get a hole in one on our mini-golf green and go into the draw to win the $100 LaTrobe Golf Club voucher… and many more spent quite a while trying!

This year we had 29 entrants in our family friendly, funny and somewhat shambolic dog show. The calibre of entrants was very impressive … we saw the most amazing trick - a dog who retrieved a tissue from a tissue box when their owner sneezed. Beyond impressive! We’d like to thank E and A Salce on High Street Thornbury for the prizes.

We had around 15 stallholders in our makers market with lots of lovely things to buy. We love running events that support local makers.

Finally a big thanks to our volunteers. We had some new helpers this year and along with some old favourites! And we really couldn’t do all the things we do without you.

Oh, and congratulations to all our prize winners … thanks once again everyone!

See you next year!

Hi friends, we really need some help at the Alphington Show this year!

It is coming up next weekend on Saturday 26 March from 11am-2pm and we have 3 jobs we’re seeking volunteers to fill:

• sausage sellers - we have the cooks in place (thanks Geoff et al.) but we need a couple of people to help sell the sausages (take the money, hand over the sausages etc.). If you can help please let us know!

• kids activities - could you take the money so they can enjoy the pony rides and crafty fun … and person the ‘guess the lollies’ jar at the same time?

• dog show registrations - it’s simple! We need someone to help people sign up and select the categories they’d like to enter, then give the entrants a number to wear and direct them to the ‘show arena’ at 12pm. If you love dogs 🐕 this is a super role to fill.

If you could help please let us know! You can call 9499 7227 or email us here and Kalimna will book you in.

Keen to know more about the Alphington Show? Click here.

Last week we decorated seed packets together … marigolds … and filled up our seed library with the gorgeous packets.

This week we welcome Clare Mannion to run our Friday morning program. Some of you will probably know Clare - her children were at Alphington PS.

We’ll be looking forward to exploring some more Arty Gardening projects together in the coming months and tapping into both her gardening knowledge and arts background. Welcome Clare.

If you are interested in gardening, engaging in garden based arty activities outdoors with others or keen to have a neighbourhood chat you can join us in the garden from 10am on Fridays, followed by morning tea at 11.30am.

Our new tables arrived and they are very lovely. They came just in time for our first Sunday birthday party booking for the year.

We’re very pleased to be recommencing children’s birthday party bookings at ACC. If you would like to have a party 🎉 🎈 in our garden - and inside - you can check out the available times (and book in) here.

ACC is a great space for a party … and we have all the catering equipment you would likely need as well.

Looking to introduce your children to age appropriate concepts, language and actions that enable and empower them (and you as a family) to talk about and make a difference in the climate change sphere? Yarra City Council is hosting two events you might be interested in. Thanks Karen for sending these workshop links through.

Young children talking climate action (free event)

10.30am-12.15pm, Wednesday April 6, Collingwood Children’s Farm

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/273977081827

Come along and take climate action as a family within the natural surrounds of the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Join CERES early childhood educator, Deanne Jones, to take part in simple activities that engage young children with climate change and climate actions which can be taken as a family. The activity will be followed up with a nature play activity and families can then stay and enjoy the Farm after the event.

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Talking with young children about climate change (free event)

7-8.30pm, Tuesday April 12, online

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/273906009247

Join psychologist Susie Burke to hear about ways of coping with the ‘uncomfortable truths’ of climate change and gather ideas about how to support our children to cope. Also hear from an early childhood educator and a parent about what gives them hope and how they have engaged young children around climate change. The concepts covered are applicable to children of all ages, with this session focussing on children within the age of 2-6years.