Hi Leanne here. We’ve had a busy couple of weeks with lots of new things happening at ACC.

Last week our Women in the Shed and AAA Bowls programs started up for the term. It was lovely to welcome new faces and people who have been along before. Women in the Shed is full but we always welcome people to AAA Bowls - if you know anyone who might be keen! It is a wonderful program that is led by Jill and supported by a team of generous volunteers from Alphington Bowls Club.

On Wednesday last week we started up our Podcasting 101 course. And there is still 1 spot available - we can catch you up - it is not too late. We have Declan Fay teaching the course. He has an amazing wealth of knowledge in this field, having worked extensively in comedy and radio and on a variety of podcasts including writing the narrative podcast Crossbread and he is a fabulous teacher and story teller. If you are interested you can book in here.

Our community mornings on Fridays are going great - we have a regular crew of gardeners working with Clare to keep our grounds shipshape and productive - and we have had an influx of crafters this month from GenU - it has been wonderful to connect up our organisations more and also to meet some lovely and enthusiastic new knitters, crocheters and stitchers. In the afternoons our AAA Arts group is growing and evolving with Clare leading the way and Hazel and Corrado volunteering weekly.

Speaking of which, our partnership with CWA Alphington has been super - we had sausage rolls and chocolate chip biscuits for morning tea last week - delicious!

In addition to this we have a new Men’s Support Group running on Monday evenings in the Shed and Yoyo in building up her Violin classes. She is currently studying at VCA and is just lovely if you think violin is your thing! If you are interested in either of these please don’t hesitate to email us info@alphington.org.au.

Over the last two weekends we’ve also run two workshops - Recycled Timber Design and PIllow Talk. We trust everyone that attended had a great time and walked away with new skills and knowledge. It is fabulous when local community members come along and share their skills and talents with the community!

We’re also busy working with the Yarra Neighbourhood Houses and Yarra Council on a Climate Change Resilience Plan - similiar to the one we did with Darebin a few years ago. Connecting our community, responding quickly to need, making sure the most vulnerable are looked after and out for, and equipping people with skills and knowledge - these are all the bread and butter things that neighbourhood houses do every day - and our adaptive, flexible and responsive framework will serve our community well as we start to collectively consider the impacts of a changing climate, whether that be more hotter days, more severe weather events etc.

This week Kalimna and I will be out of the office from Wednesday afternoon through to Friday as we are off to the annual Neighbourhood Houses Victoria conference. Lee will be here Wednesday afternoon and Clare will be here from 9.30am-3pm on Thursday and Friday to keep things going.

So finally … we’ll start our programming for next semester soon. If you have any ideas we’d love to hear from you! Send us a email or give Leanne a call. And we hope you have a great week!

“Manhood is a journey that requires self-discovery, courage, vulnerability, compassion, connection, and purpose.”

Our lovely neighbourhood friend John Byrne is the founder of Coaching Life Works. He has over 30 years experience in the field of counselling for men and youth. He has a long association with ACC. In Term 2 he is starting up a new Men’s Group, meeting on Monday evenings in the Community Shed here at ACC, from 6.45pm-9pm. If you are interested in finding out more or coming along you can contact John directly on 0439 899 352 or email coachinglifeworks@gmail.com.

Here is a little introduction he has sent through.

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Many of us want to make changes in our lives, but we often find ourselves stuck in the contemplation stage, unsure of how to move forward. And crossroads in our lives (such as starting families, retiring from work etc.) can make us feel stuck in our careers, relationships, or personal lives, struggling to break free from the past and embrace a brighter future.

Personal growth is a lifelong journey that requires self-reflection, introspection, and a willingness to confront our deepest fears and insecurities. As men, we often struggle with expressing vulnerability and seeking help, especially when it comes to our emotional well-being. However, acknowledging our limitations and seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our strength and resilience.

At Coaching Life Works our mission is to empower and support men as they identify their values, strengths, and goals, encouraging them to live fulfilling lives that align with their true purpose. We provide a safe and supportive environment for men to explore their thoughts, behaviours, and feelings, particularly emotional intelligence and develop strategies to overcome obstacles as they achieve their desired outcomes.

Our coaching approach is tailored to everyone’s unique needs and challenges and is rooted in evidence-based practices that promote self-awareness, resilience, a growth mindset and emotional intelligence. We use a variety of techniques, including experiential body centred awareness, positive psychology and mindfulness to help our clients develop the skills and tools they need to navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity.

As a coach, I am passionate about empowering men to become the best versions of themselves, and to create meaningful change in their lives. I have seen first hand how coaching can transform lives and bring about lasting, positive change. Whether you are looking to overcome a specific challenge, improve your relationships, or gain clarity about your life's purpose, Coaching Life Works can help you achieve your goals.

As someone who has personally experienced the transformative power of coaching, I am committed to helping men achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. I believe that everyone deserves to reach their full potential and that Coaching Life Works can help you be powerful in your personal growth and development.

You can visit my website at www.coachinglifeworks.com to learn more about our coaching services.

I look forward to hearing from you and supporting you on your journey.

Sincerely,

John Byrne

Hi everyone, we are running a bit late this year - but we do finally have our new brochure out into the interwebs … and the universe!

Highlights in the first term include:

• the Alphington Show and Dog Show on Saturday 25 March (save the date and start your craft/food projects)

• a series of Jamming (and Preserving) workshops through February and March to make the most of local fruit trees and build up some items to sell for fundraising for ACC

In the second term we’re running a series of workshops including:

• Podcasting 101 over 4 weeks

• Indian cooking over 3 weeks

• Recycled Timber Design with Jane, and

• Pillow Talk with Annie.

Also … movie club on Tuesday afternoon once a month (we’ll head down to Westgarth Cinema - fun!).

You can check it all out here or visit our home page. You can also book in via our website. Not everything is up for booking into yet … but we hope it will be in the next few days!

Time flies when you are having fun!

We’re now putting together the program at ACC for next year and as always, we are interested in your ideas.

If you have a skill you’d like to share through a weekend workshop or through a regular activity please let us know (eg. our Visible Mending Club runs monthly thanks to Serene offering to share her skills).

If you have been to a course or program somewhere else that you think would be super for our community please let us know (eg. it was thanks to recommendation that we met Gordon who now runs our Sewing Machine and Overlocker Maintenance workshops annually ).

Just email info@alphington.org.au or give us a call on 9499 7227 and we can talk about how to make it happen!

And as a taster … new things on our radar for next year include:

• Movie Club - once a month on Tuesday afternoons we’ll head over to Westgarth Cinema on the train to watch a film together.

• Podcasting 101 - a short ACFE course (we have funding to support this program thanks to RCLC - our lovely neighbourhood house colleagues in Richmond)

If you are interested in joining in these new activities just look out for our new program that will provide details of how to register. It should be out by early December …

On Friday afternoons Clare runs a AAA Arts program here at ACC that is supported by two lovely volunteers - Corrado and Hazel. With so many hands on deck the program can be tailored to follow participants different interests - which is just fabulous. Lately they have been exploring ideas around paint manipulation, printmaking and collage.

The program itself is underpinned by a grant from our lovely and amazing banking friends, Clifton HIll and North Fitzroy Community Bank on Queens Parade.