Join Clare on Monday afternoons from 1-3pm or on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm … and explore your inner artist in a fun, relaxed and supportive small-group setting.

Clare’s classes run for two hours weekly over an 8 week term. The fee is $320.

Class dates are:

• Monday 29th April - 17th June

• Thursday 2nd May - 20th June

Contact Clare to enrol online at swirlart.com.au or you can give her a call to find out more etc., 0423453160.

We have tiles in the kitchen.

We have plaster with paint! and cabinetry in the new pod in the backyard.

And our new toy library room has a flat floor and shelves …

Hooray. This week we’re expecting the pergola slab to be poured on Monday and the floorboards to be sanded on Thursday … so we’re looking at being on track for Term 2 functionality.

Daniel will be offering guitar lessons from the start of Term 2 at Alphington Community Centre.

His classes will be on a Tuesday in the afternoon and evening. You can contact Daniel by email to book in.

Here is a bit about Daniel.

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I currently run a new community music project I put together last year called Circle of Guitars. This project allows me to run group guitar sessions and provides an opportunity for community members to get together and play music.

I am a performing guitarist with a passion for music. In the music scene, I have been involved in numerous bands and exciting musical projects (Harmony Universe, Bernadette Novembre, Neo Lilac), performed across Melbourne's highly regarded venues (Melbourne Recital Centre, the Night Cat, Uptown Jazz Cafe), and was invited to play live on air (3AW).

With over 15 years experience as a dedicated educator, I have taught students from diverse backgrounds in different settings such as universities (Australian Catholic University), Secondary schools (Ave Maria College), and in studio's across Melbourne.

By incorporating infectious enthusiasm, relatable personality, and imaginative approaches I have been able to help pupils overcome challenges while discovering their unique voices in music. It is my aim to provide students with a practical knowledge of the instrument as well as an explanation of theoretical components that are inherent within the music.

My teaching method draws from performing experience and industry standard pedagogies. I specialise in popular musical styles including blues, jazz, rock, metal, pop, country and more.

Thanks everyone who has come along for the renovation ride this term. It has been an exciting and some days rocky road! But … plaster is going in and the veranda in the backyard is being built … and it is all good. We’re looking forward to a much improved space emerging!

We’re hopeful that by the time we return from the school holidays in 2+ weeks we’ll be functional again.

And be able to host an opening up party - look out for the details.

As you probably are aware, the renovations will enable us to run more activities at once, and we already have the U3A thinking of running another program here, a new guitar teacher keen to start lessons in term 2 and our Japanese Playgroup friends are returning (after thinking last year that they weren’t). If you run a small business and need a venue, or have a great idea for a program that you’d like to see in the local community- we’d really love to hear from you.

Just email info@alphington.org.au or call our office on 9499 7227.

Happy Easter everyone, we’ll be closing the office on Wednesday this week, and will officially restart programming from Monday 15 April, but in the meantime we will be in and out these holidays to keep an eye on the renovation and bed down the planning for next term.

Hi Leanne here. Last week I was at the NHVic conference in Creswick. This is an annual conference that is run by our peak body , Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, that enables the 400+ houses across Victoria to come together to learn and discuss and have a fun time!

I started the first day with this amazing sunrise over the RACV golf course … not too shabby hey?

There was a moving smoking ceremony to kick things off.

And lots of fabulous presenters including Leigh Sales … and lots of the houses gave presentations about interesting programs and NHVic gave sector updates on all the things that are currently impacting on houses. All of which I forgot to take photos of …. but then there was a 70s themed gala ball … see below!

I did a presentation this year on placemaking - 30 things that we have done at ACC to make our house have more of a community presence - including all the changes outside and inside, and then I talked about lots of the interactive community arts projects we have run. It was lovely to be able to share ideas with colleagues.

And to illustrate how participatory public art works we made a miniature gallery - portraits of the people who came to my presentation. It turned out great and i have sent it home with the NHVic staff. Hopefully they put it up in their offices as a memory of the conference.

Anyway, it was a super event! There are so many really committed and amazing and kind people in our sector and it is just fabulous to have these opportunities to connect up and learn and support each other.