Hi friends, we’re looking for some people to contribute to our ‘Honestly’ project. If you‘re partial to a bit of over-sharing (eg. you like a chat at the school gate or down at the shops … or online like me!) … we’d LOVE you to contribute a handwritten letter. Don’t be shy! Start the letter ‘Dear neighbour’. 2-4 pages is enough. No need to sign it, but we’d like a hint of who you are on the envelope. So ‘from a plumber’ or ‘from a gardener’ would be great! You can just slip it under our front door if we’re not home (so it doesn’t get wet if it rains - our letterbox is a bit leaky). We’ll then copy it 30 times and put it out for other neighbourhood friends to collect and read.

Maybe you’d like to share your joy in a project you’ve undertaken, have a story to tell about a grandchild arriving, news of family overseas or just have some thoughts and feelings about this moment in time.

Nothing has to be that exciting … this project is just a little reminder that we’re all in this together … but also uniquely ourselves with our own challenges and experiences. A mechanism to help us all feel just a little bit more connected as a community.

So … we’ll look forward to receiving a flood of hand written letters under our door in the coming days!

Local Kevin wrote to us recently with some nice words (always lovely to receive) and also a post suggestion.

I think it could be something to inspire our craft group … ?

Specifically he pointed us in the direction of Anne Eunson from Scotland, who made a fence from knitted Shetland lace. It really is pretty gorgeous. And check out her needles! Made from curtain rods. She says she knitted with fishing net twine and that the fence only took her about 3 weeks to complete.

I imagine the fence will last a few years … fishing net twine should be pretty robust right?

Also, when I did an internet search I found that you can actually purchase the pattern here from ravelry.

Fun. Can we look forward to knitted neighbourhood fences? Please let us know if you give it a crack.

And thanks for the post idea Kevin!

Alphington CWA is nothing if not adaptable and ready to move with the times.

The ladies have really missed their regular stalls at the Alphington Farmers Market, so as a precursor to getting back into the community they are having a pop up Spring sale.

From this weekend you can buy CWA home cooked scones, cakes and slices, along with some fabulous craft (their dish cloths are super … and it’s never too early to start your Christmas shopping right) from the comfort of your lounge room.

Just order via email and pre-pay (they’ll send you instructions) to receive a selection of their finest baking and making delivered to your door contact free on Saturday 3 October.  

CWA Victoria have been working throughout these difficult times to help vulnerable families, so supporting this initiative is a win-win!

Click here to see what is on offer, and then email your order to cwaofvicalphington@gmail.com.

Since the first lockdown we’ve been busy posting posts (as you’d know because of course you are reading this now) and building our online presence.

Every week we have a few more people sign up to receive our weekly news and follow us on Instagram/Facebook. Slowly and steadily we’re building a broader audience, which we hope will translate to more people knowing who and where we are and what we do … and then accessing our onsite services when we move back to face-to-face activities.

And we’re really pleased that some local micro-businesses have been contacting us as a means of connecting into the local community.

Because neighbourhood houses are about supporting and building a variety of neighbourhood activities and resources. We’ve always supported start-up businesses that align to identified community need by providing cheap community space rental rates, for example, and by holding community makers markets etc. And so, whilst these particular support mechanisms are on hold, helping spread the word is another thing we can do.

Last week Emma, a local who you may know from Alphington PS (she tells me she ran some of the fetes in her time) contacted us to say she is offering free yoga classes for the rest of the month from her studio in Naroon Road.

Here’s what she wrote.

For the month of September, The Little Yoga Room is offering free online classes. Physically located in Alphington, virtually located on your mat at home! A little calm, a little freedom, a little yoga studio:

The Little Yoga Room 🤸🏻‍♀️ Message Emma directly to secure your place!☺️🙏🏻

And here’s the link to her website with the details of how to contact her etc.

Good luck Emma, and happy neighbourhood yoga-ing! folks.

Now Tiramisu is not just good for your waistline (?!) but also good for your wall!

If you follow Broadsheet you may have seen this article.

It’s about Alphington local Gemma Leslie who is currently raising money for FareShare by selling some pretty cute culinary posters via an online shop - with all the profits going to food relief efforts. Her not-for-profit venture is called Food for Everyone.

To find out more visit her website here.