Find out what is happening at ACC and in the neighbourhood.
“connecting our community”
You have by now probably heard about the new ABC education page. It follows the Australian curriculum for kids from foundation to grade 6.
Here’s the link. It looks amazing. I think we could all learn a thing or two!
So, fingers crossed everyone for day one of term two … How will the internet cope with every kid in Victoria logging on at 9am? We’ll see in a couple of hours …
Today’s post comes from Northcote local Polly, who kindly offered to share her love of backyard birds with us all!
She says,
I started bird watching a few years ago when I found a white-plumed honeyeater nest in my garden and I was able to watch the chicks grow from my upstairs window. I love bird watching because they’re beautiful and it’s so exciting when I spot a new bird species I haven’t seen before! Other things about me: I play roller derby, I do a lot of sewing and quilting, and I have a dog called Winter.
Thanks Polly! And if anyone else has a post to share, please send it through. Here’s what Polly wrote for us all …
In these times of self-isolation and quarantine it’s important to keep spending time outdoors. The safest way for you to do that is to go into your backyard, and what better activity to do than a spot of birdwatching!
You don’t need your own pair of binoculars (but whip them out if you do!), just your eyes and some patience is all you’ll need.
Between sunrise and mid-morning is the best time to spot birds as this is when they are most active, but you’ll be able to see birds all through the day.
Birds most often land up high, rather than on the ground, so keep your eyes on the treetops and roofs.
You’ll usually hear a bird before you see it, so keep your ears peeled for birdsong.
Rainbow Lorikeets
Magpies
Common Blackbirds
Various Wattlebirds
Common Mynas
Noisy Miners
Starlings
White-plumed Honeyeaters
House Sparrows
Spotted Doves
Magpie-larks
Galahs
It’s important when birdwatching to not cause harm or stress to the birds, or interfere with their habitats. The number one rule is: if you spot a nest leave it alone. If a bird notices its nest has been disturbed it might not return to look after its eggs or chicks, so it’s essential to keep your distance from any nests you see.
For more information about backyard birds click here.
To get help identifying birds look here.
Every day there are more and more things to do online to keep yourself and your family busy. Here’s 3 we’ve come across this week.
The Sydney Opera House has released a digital season featuring some of the best music and shows/live interviews of recent times from the Opera House. The weekly program is published, and you can also tap in to the back catalogue.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has set up MSO Live featuring some of their recent performances.
The New York Metropolitan Opera (The Met) is streaming one free opera a day. Each performance is available for viewing for 20 hours after it is released. Click here for the latest release.
MSO live #keepthemusicgoing
At ACC our every day job is to support and build community. And this role has become particularly important as we are all compelled to retreat from public life in the face of Covid-19. Our amped-up online presence is purposeful in providing a range of information that is both helpful and entertaining whilst people are no longer out and about. We’re hoping that by sharing stories from others, from our own everyday lives, from the neighbourhood and beyond, we can keep growing our sense of belonging, our sense of neighbourhoodliness and community in these otherwise-isolating time.
And we are also trying to support some of the hardest hit industries in our local area. As I am sure you are all aware, the arts industry is one of these.
Our local Councils have acknowledged the need for support for the arts as whole in their Covid-19 response plans. If you haven’t seen the details of their response, we’ve included a link to Darebin’s here and Yarra’s here.
In the meantime, we can all play our part by exploring local artists that are starting to produce exciting online content.
And here’s a great one! Check out Polyglot Theatre’s new initiative, Polyglot at home - a series of videos for kids to have fun recycling things that are most likely already in the house.
The first video uses the cardboard tubes inside toilet rolls (we ALL know we’ve got these now right? Either you hoarded them and have heaps OR you have now found them back in supply and have adequate).
The second invites your kids to empty the soft plastic bin on the floor (every parent’s dream) to find the materials to make an Easter bunny outfit. I have to say the outcome is very impressive - and worth the mess (although I do suspect that I might send my kids outside onto the back verandah for this activity). It’s a perfect plan for mid morning after you’ve completed your Easter egg hunt - perhaps you could even incorporate some Easter egg wrappers in the inspired creations?
String, masking tape and scissors seem to be the additional supplies needed …
And … not only do they make things, but they then give some prompts for imaginative play and also provide a mechanism for sharing your family’s creativity, using the hashtag #polyglotathome.
The videos and the ideas really are gorgeous! Guaranteed to cheer up your day (even if you don’t have kids). Check them out.
Hi everyone!
Here’s a long story, but my husband Clive’s workmate Stephen put a great list together for the Sumner Estate (North Fitzroy/Northcote) community newsletter of food delivery and takeaway options available. And instead of reinventing the wheel I am modifying his post and links. So thanks for sharing it with Clive, Stephen. I am sure you wont mind your neighbourly love being spread into our neighbourhood too!
And whilst I am acknowledging people, I dedicate this post to Liz, who contacted us about food boxes and delivery options, which was excellent, because we are all keen to know right?
And on a related point, it would be great to know if anyone out there would be willing to shop for others in the neighbourhood? We’ve had some requests … If you could help someone out (you can of course do it on your own terms) you can email us here.
Anyway, here we go.
Darebin Council is partnering with Darebin Information Volunteer Resource Service (DIVRS) and other local agencies to immediately provide 500 households with grocery vouchers weekly. You can contact DIVRS on 9480 8200 Monday-Thursday between 9.30am and 12.30pm. You can also contact us and we’ll facilitate the process for you.
Salvation Army in Preston is also providing emergency food relief and other practical support. This would be a good port of call for those struggling to get by on student visas, working visas, temporary visas etc. You can contact them on 9478 0694 or corpsofficer.preston@salvationarmy.org.au.
A number of Darebin community organisations are also working together to provide and distribute weekly pre-prepared meals. If you or a loved one or neighbour have trouble cooking for yourself please let us know and we’ll drop off some meals for you. The meals come from FairShare and the vegetarian options are prepared by Lentil as Anything. Just call us on 9499 7227 or email us here.
If you are self-isolating, you may also be eligible for an emergency relief package. Call the dedicated coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. The hotline can also refer people to other support services if needed. Each eligible household will receive a two-week supply of essential goods.
Looking for takeaway food options? Here are some Facebook Groups you can tap in to.
Also, this Broadsheet list of restaurants pivoting to takeaway/delivery might be helpful.
Then of course there’s Deliveroo, Door Dash (which delivers Huxtaburger…) and Uber Eats.
Melbourne Food Hub has boxes. $35 for 7-8 items, $45 for 10-11 items. Click on the link to find out all the details, but in summary you can pick up from their Alphington site or from Moon Rabbit cafe in Preston. And there’s also a delivery service for an $5 additional.
Rhubarb Rhubarb Organics at the Preston Market have started a fruit and veggie box delivery business and will deliver their boxes. And you can also order a loaf of Irrewarra bread from them. There is a way to give them a shopping list too pending the full online store getting up and running.
CERES has fruit and veggie boxes. They start at $50. You can find out the details and book here.
Biviano Direct is up on Darebin Road, and an outpost of Station Street’s Biviano & Sons. They have a variety of fruit and veggie boxes for free next day delivery. Email them info@bivianodirect.com.au.
La Manna on Sydney Road is also delivering. They have an online shop. They offer free delivery on orders of $70 or more. Otherwise, delivery is $15. They also have click and collect.
Fresh4U has recently added a useful ‘build a box’ feature for fruit and veggies. The box costs $35 but you get to select what goes into it. Delivery is two days after order.
Melbourne Food Squad describes themselves as ‘fresh wholesale produce delivered to your home’. They have meat boxes, fruit boxes, vegetable boxes, quality meat and seafood as well as milk and OJ and other stuff. Delivery seems to be $14.
Marley Spoon is a good option. They deliver a recipe and exactly the ingredients needed to cook it, including fresh herbs, nuts and spices and excluding some pantry staples like soy sauce. There is an option to get a fruit box.
Hello Fresh is also good.
Woolworths is giving delivery priority to the elderly, people with a disability, those with compromised immunity and people in mandatory isolation. For those who need it, it also provides the option of delivering a ‘basics box’ delivered through Australia Post within 2-5 days of ordering. It requires the creation of a Woolworths Online account or you can call 1800 904 698.
Coles is delivering again as well. You need to create an account.
Piedemontes in Fitzroy North has an online shopping facility and a $10 delivery service.
The Alphington Social has take away and home delivery food options, along with some cook it yourself meal packs and a basic pack that includes bread, butter, milk and eggs. Check them out.
Moon Rabbit bulk foods (a social enterprise of Bridge Darebin neighbourhood house) also offers precooked food, along with 45 grocery items - including milk and coffee. They deliver for $5.
A crowd based in Northcote called ‘My Milkman‘ are offering delivery of full cream glass bottled organic milk for $4.49 a 950 ml bottle. The first delivery is on 13 April 2020. Delivery is between 5.30 – 7.30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and they collect the empty bottles. Delivery is available to Brunswick, Brunswick East, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, Fitzroy North, Northcote, Thornbury, Preston, Alphington, and Fairfield.
Fairfield Books is delivering, you can email books@fairfieldbooks.com.au with the title of the book and your phone number and they’ll call back to take payment or you can call them on 90174748.
Neighbourhood Books, in High Street, Northcote is also delivering.
