We love Alphington Farmers’ Market! Always great to buy some local produce.

It’s long a weekend - so I hope you are taking it easy today and doing something extra nice … and thinking of King Charles? Or more likely maybe not??

We’re in the last month of Term 2 which means it is time for us to be thinking about programs we can run in the second half of the year.

If you have a program you’d like to run let us know!

You can volunteer and run one (like Rosie did with Community Yoga - we love it Rosie!) , or if you have an ABN we can support your small business efforts to run something (like Clare running art classes and Yoyo teaching violin).

Or, you may have been to a great one-off workshop that you think people in our neighbourhood would like … and have a contact for the person who runs it … we’re always interested.

You can email info@alphington.org.au or call us on 9499 7227 if you have an idea!

Looking forward to another great (but short) week at ACC. Please note Kalimna is away for 2 weeks - poor sausage now has her hand in a cast after her operation on her finger.

This coming Saturday 13 June we have the Sewing Machine Maintenance Workshop on from 9.30am. You can check the previous post for the booking link.

See you soon I hope!

Cheers Leanne

Keen to join a daytime book club?

We are hoping to get a couple more people interested so we can start a Tuesday morning book club from July.

The group will meet monthly with books supplied by Darebin Libraries.

Click this link here to book your spot.

So many people help out at ACC … from our committee of governance members to those organising groups (book clubs, ukulele), helping with community lunch (cooking desserts, doing the dishes, setting up and packing up), cooking preserves, crafting, running activities (line dancing, community yoga), gardening, assisting with our AAA programs … and then those who help out at events! CWA Devonshire tea makers, BBQers, dog show wranglers and judges, kids activity helpers, ACC stall sellers … setter upperers and packer upperers. AMAZING!

ACC is an amazing community partnership that relies on so many people.

It was super to celebrate with some of our volunteers … along with volunteers from other houses in Yarra at a shared afternoon tea last Wednesday. Here are some lovely photos.

Hi everyone

If you have been past ACC in the last few months you will have noticed the bright pink signs in our windows … and you might remember signing a postcard for us - as all neighbourhood houses across Victoria have been campaigning for the State Labor Government to restore funding in real terms to the Neighbourhood House sector, after years of funding erosion.

Unfortunately this request was declined in the latest budget. And we’re really disappointed.

Neighbourhood houses help people at the most vulnerable times of their lives in every community across Victoria. With increasing global uncertainty and rising household costs, more and more people are feeling under pressure in a variety of ways Our hyper-local service - that is founded on kindness and community - creates a unique place for people who need support, whether that support takes the form of learning, material relief, friendship or community building … we listen, connect and empower people all day every day, in a very unique way. We make a real and positive difference in people’s lives, from young families. to retirees and everyone in between.

As a sector we cannot give up on our funding request. It is fundamental to the survival of many houses. So, we will now focus on seeking election commitments from our politicians to restore our funding. We will take the opportunity over the next six months to step up the pressure to seek commitments for support by the next government.

We’d appreciate anyone in our community who has the opportunity to add their voice to our campaign for funding restoration to speak up. If you love sending an email you can write to Kat Theophanous MP our local member, or if you have the chance to talk to her or other candidates as the election gets closer, please also don’t hesitate to reiterate the value of neighbourhood houses and what they mean to you - if you get the opportunity.

Many houses are feeling the financial pinch in real terms and our sector is in desperate need of restoration of the funding support that it initially had, to stay viable into the future.

Thanks, Leanne