Keen to join a daytime book club?

We are hoping to get a couple more people interested so we can start a Tuesday morning book club from July.

The group will meet monthly with books supplied by Darebin Libraries.

Click this link here to book your spot.

This week Darebin Council endorsed new funding and leasing agreements for our neighbourhood houses.

We now have secure tenure for the next 8 years (4 + 4 lease) and funding for 4 + 4 years (with a review process built in along the way).

It is a great outcome and it was lovely to attend the meeting and hear just how much our local Councillors value neighbourhood houses.

A photo from the Alphington Show - Leanne with Mayor Emily Dimitriadis and Cr Alex Sangster.

Choko, choko, choko.

We had a week overflowing with choko this week … on Tuesday we used it to make a Choko Chutney in Preserves Group, and on Thursday we used it in a Thai Green Curry AND also as an ingredient in vegetarian spring rolls at Garden to Plate (yes my plans to cook from our own garden were waylaid temporarily - but next time for sure!).

Everyone loved them -.flavour absorbing and little bit crunchy … only Monika had some complaints as the sticky resin got stuck all over her hands when she peeled them (by Thursday we’d learnt our lesson and used gloves …).

Also this week we had a wonderful time celebrating all the people who volunteer at neighbourhood houses across Yarra at our shared afternoon tea event on Wednesday. Thanks to those who came along to the new Fitzroy Neighbourhood House! See the post below for some great photos taken my colleague Tony.

Councillors, council staff, neighbourhood house staff and volunteers all attended - and it was heart-warming to soak up all the goodwill from the lovely community minded people in the room!

This week I am pretty boring and in budget mode in the office (we’re getting our $$ plan together for the next financial year), whilst in other office news poor Kalimna has broken her finger! She’s all splinted up … and waiting to hear if she needs an operation. In the meantime she is soldiering on. Say an extra kind hello to her if you see her …

This week we have CRUNCH on Thursday at 12.30pm. Come along for some yummy food and an arty experience. Book in online. In the evening Keiko is back from Japan and running Sound Healing at 7pm. Book in with her directly.

And then there are all the usual things happening … Playgroup, Line Dancing, AAA Art, AAA Bowls, Community Lunch etc.

Hope to see you soon! Can’t believe we’re nearly at June (yikes).

Cheers Leanne

So many people help out at ACC … from our committee of governance members to those organising groups (book clubs, ukulele), helping with community lunch (cooking desserts, doing the dishes, setting up and packing up), cooking preserves, crafting, running activities (line dancing, community yoga), gardening, assisting with our AAA programs … and then those who help out at events! CWA Devonshire tea makers, BBQers, dog show wranglers and judges, kids activity helpers, ACC stall sellers … setter upperers and packer upperers. AMAZING!

ACC is an amazing community partnership that relies on so many people.

It was super to celebrate with some of our volunteers … along with volunteers from other houses in Yarra at a shared afternoon tea last Wednesday. Here are some lovely photos.

Were you separated from your baby through forced adoption?

The Victorian Government has established a redress scheme to acknowledge the impact of historical forced adoption practices on mothers who continue to live with the serious, complex and ongoing effects of forced separation from their babies.

The scheme has been open since 2024 and is taking applications until 31 January 2028.

The Historical Forced Adoptions Redress Scheme provides a one-off payment of $30,000, access to counselling and support as well as an apology process.

The Scheme is open to mothers who gave birth in Victoria, or were Victorian residents who gave birth interstate, and who were forcibly separated from their newborn babies soon after birth, prior to 1990.

Forced adoption refers to institutional past practices that separated mothers and their babies, where women were forced, pressured or coerced to give up their babies.

A support team is available to guide you through the application process, answer questions, and assist you with any supporting information that may be required. To find out if you are eligible or to talk about your options:

• call 1300 217 425 (9:00 am-4:30 pm, Monday to Friday)

• visit https://www.vic.gov.au/redress-forced-adoptions

• or email forcedadoptions.redress@justice.vic.gov.au

Other Support Services

VANISH - Telephone: 1300 826 474 Email: info@vanish.org.au

Link-up - Telephone: 03 9287 8800 Email: linkup@vacca.org

Relationships Australia Victoria - Telephone: 1800 210 313 Email: fass@rav.org.au

Lifeline -Telephone: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue - Telephone: 1300 224 636

Suicide Call Back Service - Telephone: 1300 659 467