Find out what is happening at ACC and in the neighbourhood.
“connecting our community”
This semester in addition to our Wednesday playgroup we are introducing a new playgroup that will be running on Thursdays! Both will run from 10am-12pm, and you can book in online here. We also have Toy Library running at the same time, and you can book toys to borrow out beforehand at this link and collect them during playgroup.
Over the last 18 months we have launched and been running two new and very tasty programs: Garden to Plate and CRUNCH (Creative Lunch).
This year they are both back with a bit of a variation - they will be running on alternate Thursdays!
So, Garden to Plate will start next Thursday the 12th of February from 11.30am-1pm, and Crunch will start the following Thursday the 19th of February from 12.30 to 2pm. Each program will run for 4 weeks per term. The cost is $10 per week and places are limited so you will need to book in if you plan to attend.
At Garden to Plate we cook a meal together using fresh seasonal ingredients (including from our Community Garden when possible!) and then sit down and eat our creations (admiring what we made and chatting about life). And at Crunch we eat a lunch cooked by Leanne and then get into the creative spirit with arts and craft activities led by Lee! Both are lots of fun and very social. A real highlight of the week.
See some of our favourite things we made at Garden to Plate and Crunch last year are in the photos below … and don’t forget to book in online here for our first sessions!
Keen to get into reading this year? We run 5 Book Clubs that meet at ACC. Books are provided by Darebin Libraries. And they are all just about to begin! The perfect time to join up if you are interested. Just jump on our website to sign up.
You can book in here.
Kalimna will then get in contact with you with all the details (note she is in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday each week).
This year we have the following vacancies:
2nd Monday of the month Book Club (evening) - 2 places
3rd Monday of the month Book Club (evening) - 3 places
1st Thursday of the month Book Club (evening) - 2 places
2nd Tuesday of the month Book Club (morning) - 9 places (this is a new book club that will begin when we have 5 people signed up … )
We look forward welcoming you to one of our Book Clubs.
A simple table. Real talk. Stronger men.
After the busyness before Christmas, it’s time to come back to something steady.
The Men’s Breakfast is a monthly gathering for men to reconnect — with themselves first, and with other men who value honesty, responsibility, and heart.
To make catering and logistics smooth, this breakfast is run as:
✔ Pre-booked tickets only – $15 each
✔ Seats must be secured before the breakfast
The breakfast runs from 8am-10.30am. Click here to book in.
For more information you can contact John on 0439 899 352 or email coachinglifework@gmail.com.
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
