With rain and sunshine and warm weather our garden is looking fabulous at the minute. Some beautiful pale blue ixia bulbs have popped up in our front garden. Clare tells me they are from a donation in the seed library - so thanks for sharing neighbourhood friends!

We’ve started growing spring seedlings, and over the holidays Clare took our tomato seedlings home (along with some basil seedlings I think she said) to keep an eye on them, and they are now starting to look strong and healthy … so we should have some ready to give away in our seed library soon - keep an eye out if you haven’t got around to raising your own this year.

Last week Lee and Elena added some more hand-crafted bling to the very front corner. We’re trying to protect that garden bed as it gets established.

More generally all our programs are back up and running this week. AAA Arts recommenced last week, and our AAA Bowls along with our two Women in the Shed courses are starting mid week.

We have our AGM coming up very soon - let us know if you’d like to attend - and then two repair weekend workshops - clothes mending and bike repairs … these are part of the sustainability workshop series we’ve been running this semester with other houses in Yarra.

There’s always lots on at ACC. And we hope to see you here soon.

Haha! We need a Treasure(r) here at ACC - for this financial year. If you yourself are kind-hearted and friendly - and would like to support our kind-hearted and friendly organisation, and have an hour or two available 10 times a year (we meet on a Monday at 6.30pm) … and can read a balance sheet - we need you!

Please note we have a very competent employed Finance Officer - so our Treasurer reports to the Committee of Governance on reports prepared for them - meaning the role is not in the trenches but focused on financial and strategic oversight.

If you are interested in helping out in this way please contact Leanne at info@alphington.org.au or call 9499 7227. Before our AGM on Monday 23 October.

Our upcoming Bike Repair Workshop runs on Saturday 28th October at 10am here at the Alphington Community Centre and costs $25.

It will be super for teenagers who ride to school or anyone who rides to work etc. It is an interactive, hands-on bike maintenance experience, and in the workshop you will learn:

• ABCD check: the essential safety check before every ride.

• Bike fit: how to set your seat at the correct height, and other adjustment related issues.

• Inner tube replacement: what to do when you get a flat tyre, what essentials to carry when riding.

• Puncture repair: how to use a patch-kit to patch a punctured tube (better for the environment).

• Brake adjustment: how to check and adjust your brakes, or replace brake pads as needed.

• If time allows and if it is of interest to the group, disc brake adjustment, care, maintenance, decontaminating, and pad replacement

• Chain replacement: what to do if your chain comes off during a ride.

• Drive-train clean and lube: how to keep clean and lube your drive-train to keep your bike running smoothly and extend the life of expensive components.

Book your place here. Places are limited.

Our popular Women in the Shed course recommences next week - and there are a couple of spots left in the Intermediate class.

if you are keen to repair items around your house or make something from scratch, this is a great opportunity to access our tools and Maylei’s knowledge - whilst hanging out with other lovely people.

You can book in here.

Welcome to Term 4.

There’s lots on at ACC including our weekly playgroups, gardening group on Friday mornings for anyone with a green thumb and morning tea also on Fridays - oh and craft!. Then we also run toy library, line dancing ukulele, art classes etc. etc. etc.

AAA bowls is back for Term 4 - hooray! And our Women in the Shed - Introduction class will be running. Note we still have some spots available in our Intermediate class if you are keen!

Did you know we run a number of book clubs at ACC? We’re renewing our members at the minute for next year - but if you are keen to join a book club for the first time let us know by email info@alphington.org.au - if a gap comes up we can add you in … or even form a new book club if we get enough new people interested.

We also have two sustainability workshops in October - clothes mending and bike repairs. Book in on our website.

Then we have our AGM late October … and a little break (phew) … before we roll into a whole lot of events at the end of the year.

So we hope to see you at ACC soon!

Note also, we have more YES signs in the office if you’d like one …