Why hello!

I hope you have had a lovely summer break. A pretty crazy one hey, weather wise? Not so warm … very very very warm … fires and floods (sorry if you were affected - so much loss across the Victorian community - houses, farms, cars and caravans. My sister drove through the Streatham/Skipton fire aftermath just the other day and was quite shocked and couldn’t get over how scary it must have been for that community).

I have been down at Aireys Inlet and was in a dilemma whether to stay or leave on the hot day when the fires started, then impacted by the smoke from the Otway fires (it was quite overwhelming for a bit there before the wind changed) … and no sooner had that ended and I got stuck in Lorne due to the floods there (we even had to go to the Emergency Relief Centre for a little bit which was a surreal experience).

The fires from the Otways spreading smoke to Aireys Inlet.

Pretty amazing how quickly the bridge got de-mudded and the shops affected were cleared of water and they started the process of drying out with big fans/heaters.

But then (on a happier note) we saw the Aurora Australis. So spectacular. We just wandered down to the local beach and looked south … and there it was!

The Southern Cross in the sky. We were looking out from on the hill (where the toilet block is) just at the inlet at Aireys Inlet.

From the car park at the inlet … looking out over the bit where the river meets the beach at Aireys Inlet.

I am back in Melbourne Monday, and I am hoping my tomatoes have ripened up and my zucchini have not yet turned into marrows! And that my potted plants have somehow managed to survive …

I know that both Corrado and Jenny have been popping into ACC over the break to keep the garden alive (big thanks to you both) - and Project Stationery have been making the most of all the spaces at ACC (I saw on Instagram a photo of people sorting textas outside under the front pergola). And as they haven’t had to contact me for any emergencies, I am assuming all is well at our home base, and I am looking forward to getting back to work and catching up with everyone!

We’re back in the office from Wednesday this week, and we will kick off our first Community Morning for the year on Friday - gardening, craft and chats from 10am and lunch at 12pm - perhaps tomatoes and zucchinis will be on the menu!?!

Looking forward to a great 2026 and hope to see you at ACC soon.

And look after yourself Tuesday - 45 is just way too hot.

Cheers Leanne

Hi everyone,

The last few weeks have been great fun as we’ve been winding down for the year. AAA Bowls finished with a barbecue on Wednesday, and all of our AAA Arts participants took home folios of their fantastic creations on Friday. And we had a great day on our Thriftseekers Op ShopAdventure on Thursday checking out all the op shops on High Street in Preston.

We’re also very proud to have been part of another successful Alphington Open Studios. We had some really amazing artists this year and it was great to see so many people come through the doors despite the weather (which was a bit bleak at times).

Now it’s just about time for Christmas, and we’re looking forward to our big Christmas Lunch this Friday. It will be on from 12-2pm. This year we’re going to have some great musical performances and a visit from a very jolly VIP. We would love for anyone that’s been part of our Alphington community this year to come along! Please email or call to RSVP if you aren’t a Community Lunch regular so we can plan our food!

Alphington Christmas Carols will be on Sunday the 21st of December at 7pm over at Alphington Bowls Club. We’ll be singing all the classics and hope it will be a night of both Christmas and community spirit! Bring a gold coin donation - it will go to a worthy cause.

Project Stationery will be setting up shop here from next Sunday and will be sorting and redistributing stationery over the whole summer period. This is a great use of our space while we are closed over the school holidays.

Wishing everyone a very happy holidays, look out for our new brochure. Coming soon!

Cheers Leanne

Hi everyone,

Wow it is December ALREADY and not long before the summer holidays begin (how quickly has this year flown by?!) - and we have a couple of last events to look forward to. This Thursday we are off on another of our Op Shop Adventures for our fellow shopaholics on a budget. We’ll go to Preston this time. Book in online here and don’t forget to bring your myki as we will be travelling on public transport!

The final Men’s Breakfast run this Saturday, 6 December at 8am. $10 for breakfast and good company. Read on for more details!

We will also be hosting our Christmas Lunch at 12pm next Friday 12 December. If you are part of the ACC community - a line dancer, book clubber, musician, artist - we’d love to see you for our end of year celebration! Just contact us if you are not a regular community lunch person so we can provide the right amount of food! We look forward to seeing you and perhaps one more friend will be joining us (hint - he wears a LOT of red and white).

Otherwise this week we will be running:

• Garden to Plate this morning from 11.30am-1pm

• Toy Library Collection Tuesday from 1-3pm and Wednesday from 10am-12pm

• AAA Bowls at Alphington Bowls Club, Alphington Playgroup here at the centre and Line Dancing at the Alphington Scout Hall all on Wednesday from 10am-12pm

• Armchair Theatre Wednesday from 1-3pm

• First Wednesday of the Month Book Club Wednesday evening from 7.30-9pm

• First Thursday of the Month Book Club Thursday morning from 10-11.30am

• Community Morning Friday from 10am-12pm

• Community Lunch Friday from 12-1pm

• AAA Art Friday from 1-2pm

Cheers, Leanne

Hi all, we have one more Men’s Breakfast coming up this Saturday at 8am. Here is a message from John who is running this activity.

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Dear Men,

First of all I'd like to say, I'm so happy to be back on my feet after a period of healing on my hip with two fractures from a fall I had at my home.

Men’s Breakfast last one of the year — A Morning of Reflection & Renewal.

As we come to the end of another big year, you’re invited to join us for our final men’s breakfast of 2025 — a chance to slow down, breathe out, and share good company around the table.

This is a morning to enjoy the simple gifts of the season: friendship, conversation, laughter, and mateship.

A space where every man is welcome, and no man eats alone.

Bring your stories, your hopes for the year ahead, or simply bring yourself. Just come as you are.

One more thing Men, I'm inviting you to bring something to exchange, no need to spend any money or expense. It could be as simple as a one line quote, a rock from your garden (small), a ribbon, something you are ready to pass on, a piece of music or song, a book, use your imagination, anything you think you'd be happy to pass on to another man.

8am, Saturday 6 December

2 Kelvin Road, Alphington

RSVP to John 0439 899 352 to reserve your place (and help with catering) by Friday 5th December.

Looking forward to seeing you.

John

Well summer is arriving and it is exciting to see stone fruit back in our lives isn’t it? On Monday at Garden to Plate we bought the most delicious ‘fireball’ apricots - and will be hoping that we can harvest them soon from the garden. So super to have such delicious early varieties now available to grow and buy!

And we made this recipe. It is really good and makes a great appetiser (served with goats cheese) or dessert (served with ice cream), and you can even give it a try with dried apricots if fresh are not in season. Apricot trees are nearly indestructible (if my garden is anything to go by) and so I am sure there are lots of people in the neighbourhood with a home supply of apricots over the next couple of months who will appreciate this quick an interesting way of using them.

We ate these apricots with ice cream for dessert on Monday. And then I made it for Crunch with goats cheese on Thursday. And with ice cream again on Friday for Community Lunch - it really was good, see! Highly recommend. And so simple …

Fresh Apricots with Thyme, Honey and Nuts

Ingredients

·       6 apricots

·       1-2 tablespoons honey

·       1 teaspoon thyme (fresh or dried)

·       ¼ cup walnuts or macadamia or hazelnuts, lightly toasted and broken into easy to eat pieces

Instructions

·       Cut the apricots in half and remove pip and stalk.

·       In a bowl mix together the honey, lightly toasted nuts and thyme.

·       Fill the hollow of the apricots with the honey nut mixture.

·       Serve by themselves or with a smear or sprinkle of goats cheese for an appetiser or with vanilla ice cream on the side for a dessert.