We had the first session of Crunch on Thursday and did some drawing out from broken pieces of china. Check out some of the creativity below. Gorgeous hey?

Crunch is running at 12.30pm on Thursdays for the next 5 weeks. Only $15 for a yummy lunch and a creative art activity … and great company! If you are keen to join in just book in on the enrol page on our website.

Vote. It is a bit tricky this postal voting biz. Particularly fitting the ballot paper into the envelope I found (but maybe that’s just me. It was really tight though … and I had to stick my whole hand in first to make a little air pocket so that I could then put the voting slip in … ).

Anyway … remember … not only do you have to complete the paperwork before 25 October … but you also need to ACTUALLY SEND IT. This is a reminder to me as much as you. It is always the last step on these sorts of processes that catches me out (a bit like returning library books …).

And, you may be surprised to find the post boxes that used to be in the neighbourhood (such as the one just on the corner outside ACC) have now disappeared … 21st century and all I guess. There is still one on Grange Road near Becca Foodstore, one up the top of Perry Street (near Separation Street) and obviously you can still pop past the Post Office on Station Street or Heidelberg Road … or the Plaza!

Good luck to all the candidates who I have seen out door knocking and connecting locally. It is a real commitment to run for public office and I am personally full of admiration for anyone willing to put themselves out there like this - whatever level of government.

So happy voting! And … don’t forget to do it … vote that is.

We are excited to once again be part of the Alphington Open Studios Weekends - coming up in late November. Numerous local artists are opening up their home studios, and there will also be artists here at ACC and at the Parklands (in the office/management area at the end of Separation Street). Put a place holder in your diaries to take a trip around the neighbourhood!

This year the event is supported by our wonderful friends at the Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy Community Bank on Queens Parade. Bendigo Banks really do have a fabulous community model for banking that gives back up to 80% of their profits to the community.

If you have kids at schools, you play sport with a local club … or come along to places just like ACC, you will have benefited from them for sure!

Alphington Open Studios is a fabulous way to support local artists and also learn more about art processes - from painting to pottery to 3D sculpture. You can find out more about the artist involved at www.alphingtonstudios.com.

Coming up this Friday - the launch of the Alphington Bowls Club history book. 100 years. Amazing right! See the details below.

Interested in seeing the new Adam Elliot animation Memoir of Snail?

Friends of Baucau is having a fundraiser night at Westgarth Cinema coming up on Thursday 17 October. See the poster below for details.

You can book in via Trybooking or scan the QR code.

You possibly know that Alphington Community Centre and the Yarra and Darebin neighbourhood houses have a long-standing relationship with Friends of Baucau … I was lucky enough to go over to Timor-Leste a few years ago with them, to learn more about women’s empowerment and community development on a shoestring, in an international context.

There are similar friendship groups dotted across Victoria that support community empowerment in towns and cities across Timor-Leste. They are wonderful … and make a real difference for our international neighbours who live in the poorest country in our region.

I will be ant the movie and look forward to seeing you too hopefully.

Leanne