Kids First has recently contacted us about some of the programs they run and the resources they offer. Here is the link to their website. And check out the brochures attached to find out more about some of the specific programs they offer.

Hi everyone,

We had a particularly gardeny productive week last week with Community Lunch (where we cooked a yummy Thai meal with vegetables from our garden) and Preserves Group … we made cumquat marmalade, lime marmalade AND tomato relish. Big thanks to Margaret for donating the cumquats and to Megan for donating the limes. Pop in and buy some of our excellent (not bragging - it is good!) marmalade if you like.

We are going to have our Annual General Meeting next Monday the 31st of August. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come along. It’s free, but you need to RSVP by booking in online at this link.

Also coming up in our calendar we are going to be running another of our Op-Shop Adventures on Thursday the 10th of September. These events are $10 and include lunch after a fun day out shopping. Book in online here.

And this week, we look forward to seeing you all at:

• Heart-Centred Breathwork with John on Tuesday from 7.30-8.30am (book in here).

• Line Dancing at Alphington Scout Hall on Wednesday at 10am-12pm.

• Alphington Playgroup here at ACC on Wednesday at 10am-12pm.

• U3A Armchair Theatre on Wednesday from 12-2pm.

• Cardboard Playgroup on Thursday at 10am-12pm.

• Cook by the Book on Thursday from 11.30am-1pm (book in here).

• CRUNCH on Thursday from 12.30-2pm (book in here).

• Embracing Life and Death on Thursday from 1-3pm (contact eoldoulasinmelb@gmail.com).

• Community Morning on Friday from 10am-1pm.

Lastly, here’s another link to the Yarra Council website - this time featuring Rob in the video. Thanks Rob, for talking about why you come along to ACC and why neighbourhood houses are great places for social connection.

Cheers Leanne

Thanks to those that donated tiles for our mosaic project. We’re making a new garden bed for the very front corner of our site.

After a busy weekend and some more creativity during the week the 4 panels are well underway (we ‘re doing the fiddly bits first). We’ll continue working on this project sporadically over the next month or so and hopefully it will be installed by our next big art event, being Alphington Open Studios, coming up in November this year.

Here are some progress pictures for those that are interested. If you’d like to help out just get in contact with us and we’ll let you know when we will be mosaicking (most likely Thursday and/or Friday mornings … ). Just email us at info@alphington.org.au or talk to Leanne or Lee or Clare if you are here.

Last year (or was it the year before …) Thomas came along to Gardening Group with a fresh chilli, and asked Clare to teach him how to grow his own chilli plant from it. So Clare and Thomas started the process - drying the chilli pod, saving the seeds, planting the seeds, nurturing the seedlings … planting and growing the plants, harvesting the chillies, drying them … and saving the seeds … AND NOW … if you pop past our little seed library out the front you can pick up some of Thomas’s seeds to plant in your own garden! And Thomas is an expert in growing chilli plants.

Also … we’ve got some dried chillies (that we put in the dehydrator) in the kitchen for our community cooking too!

If you would like to learn more about the processes and practicalities of gardening and growing food at home, join Clare on Friday mornings in the garden from 10.30am-12pm … spring is a great time to get going so you have a wonderful summer vegetable garden to admire (and eat!).

Phew … we’re recovering from the Winter Art Salon this week … a fabulous and very busy few days (check out the separate post for photos etc.) and we hope you made it along to see all the beautiful art and local talent for yourself!

Speaking of local talent, Yarra Council came along and interviewed Marlene a couple of weeks ago at Crunch - check out the little video they made here. Thanks Marlene for being such a good sport (and saying such lovely things about us) when put on the spot!

And of course time doesn’t stand still here at ACC … we’re straight into another action packed week.

Of note:

• Preserves Group on Tuesday at 1pm. I think we’re making cumquat marmalade.

• Alphington Arts on Thursday night from 7.30pm. Come along and get arty! Have a chat etc.

• Also two Book Clubs on Monday and Tuesday evening given it’s the 3rd week of the month!

• And all the usual things - playgroups, toy library, art classes, music lessons, play reading, choir, line dancing, community lunch, gardening. AAA Arts etc.

Finally … our AGM is coming up on 31st August. We look forward to reviewing the year with a quick slide show, ticking off the finances … and we’ll share some food etc. Book in and come along if you’d like to help us celebrate what we’ve been up to over the last 12 months.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Cheers Leanne