Next week on Tuesday the 17th of February we’ll be back with our first Preserves Group of the year! We’ll be making seasonal jams and tomato relishes… mmm delicious … hopefully we will be able to restock our supply in time for the Alphington Show next month. It’s free to come along, please book in online here to let us know you’ll be joining. See you Tuesday from 1pm.

Local arty folk … join us!

On the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7.30pm we run Alphington Arts, where anyone with an interest in exploring art can come along to try something new.

Lino printing, watercolour, life drawing, landscape painting - each month is different. We tap into the skills that locals bring along .. or we find something that we are interested in learning more about collectively ... and give it a creative crack.

And it is all very casual - we have a drink and some snacks and get arty … and a laugh!

It is creative and friendly and lots of fun.

If you’d like to join in this year you can book in on our website.

The first session is running on Thursday 19 February, from 7.30-9.30pm and in this session we will be creating pieces for a shared community clay sculpture that we plan to install in our front garden.

Hope to see you there!

As previously mentioned, we were super pleased to have Project Stationery here once again over summer. They do an amazing job redistributing school supplies so that they don’t end up in landfill - and at the same time remind schools about the waste that can be generated so easily if families are asked to purchase materials that just aren’t really needed.

So, what do they do with all the stuff they collect?

Things that are basically brand new/never been used go to school packs for organisations like St Kilda Mums to save families $$$ where needed, whilst organisations like kindergartens and neighbourhood houses are VERY happy (well just speaking on ACCs behalf really) to receive a charming mix of metallic markers (for example) that can be used for our art classes … and a variety of stickers that can be used for name badges or for our art sales when we have events etc. … and various colours of sharpies that can be used for our signs …. oh the list goes on! Paper, cardboard, white folders for our office, plastic dividers for the folders …pens, pencils, watercolour crayons !?! … $$ saved on these basic office and admin supplies and fun arty materials means more $$ for other things -improving our programming for you, our community!

If you are interested in finding out more about the outcomes of Project Stationery for this summer, you can read their report here.

We’re so lucky to have dynamos like Brigitte and Amelia in our community getting everyone organised and stuff done. Thanks … and thanks also to all the volunteers who helped out!

If you want to find out more about Project Stationery or find out about their next stationery drive, you can contact them directly via Facebook or Instagram!

The new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Northcote is now open at the back of 42 Separation Street.

The clinic is right next to the Northcote Library - opposite The Plaza on Separation Street and you can enter the clinic from Balgonie Place (which is the street around the back that you enter by the side laneway).

The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic provides people of all ages with bulk billed care for when it is urgent, but not an emergency. Some of the conditions the clinic treats include:

• Minor cuts, burns and infections

• Minor fractures, sprains and sports injuries

• Minor eye and ear problems

• Insect bites and rashes

• Neck and back pain

• Asthma or difficulty breathing

• Symptoms of minor illness: fever, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, headache, muscle ache

• Pain when urinating (UTIs)

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• Symptoms of gastroenteritis: diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever.

The clinic is open from 8am-10pm, 7 days per week, including public holidays and walk-ins are welcome, with or without a Medicare card. When you arrive, the doctors and nurses will look at your needs and make sure you receive the right care. If you need specialist treatment, they will arrange for you to be taken to a nearby emergency department.

To find our more or book an appointment you can call 8470 1108.

Great hey?

Love a bit of political campaigning? Love your neighbourhood house? Enjoy an outing to the city? Know your local MP?

Join us on the steps of Parliament on Wednesday 18 February for our “Day of Action” - we’re hoping to keep the momentum going for our ask for fairer support for neighbourhood houses from the State Government.

Logistics wise, we’ll leave from ACC and catch the train from Alphington Station, meeting up with other houses along the Hurstbridge line on the train.

If you are keen to help support us please email us here so we can know to expect you - and keep you up to date with any information for the day and beyond.