Hi all we’ll be starting program planning for the second half of the year next week. So if you have a course you’d like to run for our community, a group you’d like to start or a great idea or a recommendation please get in touch!

Email info@alphington.org.au.

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.

Alphington Grammar

With our new podcasting equipment in place and our four local maps recently published, it is an exciting time to join the 3078 History Group. If you are interested in coming along the first meeting will occur in April. The group meets as a rule on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm here at ACC.

The scheduled regular meeting dates through to the end of June will be :

• Tuesday 12 April at 7.30pm

• Tuesday 10 May at 7.30pm and

• Tuesday 14 June at 7.30pm.

At the second meeting on Tuesday 10 May we will run a formal ‘introduction to podcasting’ session, to enable the group to start exploring the possibilities around recording oral histories from locals in the area.

If you are keen to find out more or register to come along you can email us here or call us on 9499 7227 so that we can add you to the group email list.

Jill and our wonderful community partners Alphington Bowls Club started up the access all abilities (AAA) bowls program for 2022 this week.

Jill was delighted to reconnect with some of the regulars who come from local supported residential care houses such as Arnica Lodge in Como Street, Alphington and Austin Street Villa Maria … which is in Austin Street (obviously haha). And she said that quite a few new people came along too which is super (if a bit chaotic the first week in).

We run our AAA bowls program for 6 weeks a term, 3 terms a year (avoiding the colder months in July and August).

It is supported through our annual project funding that comes from Yarra City Council and by fabulous volunteers at the bowls club who turn up each week to show participants the ropes. We so appreciate that they take the time to share the joy of their sport with kindness and commitment … and in doing so work with us to foster and strengthen the foundations of our wonderful diverse and inclusive local community.

This year we’re running Playtime in the Garden on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm out in the front yard - making the most of the new cubby house, pergola and sandpit.

This week at least 8 families came past for a play whilst it was on. Some met up with existing friends, others came by themselves. There were mums bringing their kids and grandparents bringing grandchildren for a play. And a few families also borrowed toys from the Toy Library whilst they were here.

It is just so lovely to see our community making themselves at home at ACC and utilising our play-spaces and resources.

If you’re home with children on a Wednesday morning you might like to pop in too!