Hi all, Happy New Year.

FOOD FOOD FOOD

With some new funding via the State Government ‘Community Food Relief’ program, we are creating more opportunities for our community to build social connections through food. Sharing a meal regularly is a great way for locals to get to know each other. And with our new kitchen up and running we are in the ideal position to build community food opportunities this year - so we feel super lucky that this fortuitous funding has come along.

We have five food related programs on offer in 2025, and we’d love for you to come along!

• Garden to Plate (NEW) - Learn to cook seasonal food and then enjoy sharing a meal, on Mondays from 11.30am 1pm. This is a free program, but you must book in online as places are limited.

• Thursday Supper Club (NEW) - Do you often eat alone? Are you tired of cooking and/or keen to make some local friends over a meal? Come along and enjoy a healthy weekly ‘family meal from 5-6.30pm (perfect if you don’t like to be out too late at night). Term 1 costs $40 (that’s $5 a week). ’ - food provided but as a group you will need to set the table, serve up, do the dishes etc. - just like you would a home. This program starts on Thursday 13 February. Click here to join up. If cost is an issue for you just call our office.

• Community Lunch - our Friday lunch continues in 2025, join in from 12pm, or come along earlier to catch up over gardening, craft and community shed activities from 10am. This is a free program, but please let know to expect you - call or email.

• Crunch - Like good food? Enjoy being creative? Thursday lunches are for you! Join us from 12.30pm -2pm for lunch followed by a creative arts activity - painting, drawing, 3D art … and more. Book in for the term or by the week here.

• Preserves Group - join us on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 1-3pm to help us turn excess garden produce/ seasonal fruit and vegetables into jams, chutneys and pickles for fundraising. We use donated jars and ingredients (donations always welcome) … and we’ll thank you for your volunteering efforts with good conversations and a light afternoon tea (including a fancy coffee)! Email us here if you’d like to join in. This group is coordinated through What’s App.

ALSO on to other things … join a Book Club

We have a couple of spots in each of our Book Clubs in 2025. They are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with a daytime group meeting on Thursdays at 10am. Our Book Clubs meet monthly from February (when you come along and collect your first book) and finish up in December. You’ll read 10 books for the year supplied by Darebin Libraries. Our Book Clubs are a great way to meet other locals! Keen to join up? Book in here!

AND … there’s lots more.

• Op Shop Tours

• Sustainability/Repair Workshops

• Art Classes

• Access All Abilities IAAA) programs

• Playgroups

• Music and Dancing Groups and Classes

• Fitness Classes

Check out our full program here. And book in here.

I’ll highlight some of the other great things we’re super excited about in the coming few weeks.

I hope you are having a good break/relaxing summer.

Cheers Leanne

Christmas.

It is very hard to believe that this is our last week of programming for 2024 - but there you go! I hope you are more organised than I am with present buying and general planning …. aagh! Usually I have my shopping complete by the first week of December - this year I have barely scratched the surface. Never mind … it’ll all come together I am sure (it has to right?).

On Thursday we have our last session of Alphington Arts at 7pm. We’ll be doing some paper weaving led by Corrin. If you are interested in joining in this creative group experience look out for it next year and join up!

And … of course everyone is welcome to join us on Friday for an end of year celebration and early Christmas Lunch at 12pm. We’ll have a yummy celebratory buffet, with something for everyone, like chicken and ham and salads … some Christmas cake, brownies and lemon slice. And Santa will be there! We’ll sing a few carols. We’ll have our traditional lucky door prize! RSVP if you can. Gold coin donation appreciated.

We also have Christmas Carols at 7pm, coming up on Sunday 22 December at the Alphington Bowls Club. Another chance to meet Santa … and sing loudly to your hearts content. Always a great local night.

We hope to see you this week.

Leanne

Hi all, we’ve got our Christmas Makers Market on Saturday … and it is going to be hot. It is on from 11am-2pm for Christmas shopping, with food and drinks and some Christmas crafty fun!

We’ll have the a/c on inside - you’ll be able to check out the artists exhibiting as part of Alphington Open Studios and cool down … and we’ve got plenty of shade in the garden with our plane trees and pergolas … we’ll also get out our umbrellas and have some icypoles and cool drinks etc. for sale.

More broadly … at this stage it looks like we’ll have a run of days over 30 degrees … which also means homes will heat up and people who rely on public transport for shopping etc. might need to plan ahead.

Darebin Council and Yarra Council have some great info about heat health … with lots of sensible reminders - like shopping for meals that you can eat cold, putting wet washers in the freezer, shading west windows, and more.

And - once you’re all set up at your place you might also like to check in on any neighbours and family who you suspect might find managing the heat difficult. Knowing there is someone to call on is always a good thing!

Also a reminder about the QR code and participant survey running this week. We’d love you to complete it if you can.

See the details in the post below.

Wishing you a great week. Hope to see you here - despite the heat.

Leanne

Hi all, a reminder that if you come to ACC we’d really appreciate if you could fill out our participant survey this week. Just click here.

Alternatively, you can scan the QR code below. Or you can complete a hard copy in the office … but ONLINE IS BEST.

The survey is about what you do at ACC, why you come along and how attending ACC makes you feel - particularly in relation to community connections.

Thanks so much for taking the time!

Our annual Christmas Makers Market is coming up next weekend on Saturday 23rd of November.

It looks like the weather will be nice … and the amazing makers will have so many options on offer. This is a great opportunity to get cracking with your Christmas shopping and spoil family and friends with unique gifts.

• Jan the Tea Lady will be here - with her home crafted blends to lift spirits and soothe ailments.

• There are several options to find the perfect piece of jewellery for someone special. Hand crafted Sterling Silver pieces from both Rita and Lee. Jeanie and Ella are also offering jewellery and accessories.

• There will be hand crafted toys for little ones as well as fun accessories, handmade playdough, bath bombs, tote bags, felt items, printed textiles, paintings, silk scarves, pin cushions, device bags, lavendar bags and Betty’s cookbook too!

• The CWA will also have a stall with the many wonderful things they make and bake.

• We’ll have a range of baked goods, preserves, chutneys and curry sauces available for the foodies.

• There are also stalls supporting volunteers - local groups like Friends of Darebin Parklands and stalls that send their sales to support charities overseas.

• There will be a sausage sizzle going, supported by the wonderful volunteers from the Rotary of Ivanhoe and Friends of Baucau coffee (using our coffee machine) inside …

• We’ll also have hand printed Christmas Cards and wrapping paper for purchase - to get your gifts ready to put under the tree or deliver to friends and family.

Come along on Saturday 23rd of November from 11am - 2pm.

Please note not all stalls will have tap and go so bring some cash if you can.