We had a great turnout for the AGM, a mix of staff, committee members, volunteers and community members.

We ate dinner together and then reviewed the year through a presentation that featured Kalimna’s beautiful photos. Every year I am amazed at all the things we get done!

Thanks to our Committee of Governance last year - Heather Campbell (Chair), Jane Wilkinson (Deputy Chair), Lorena Felicitti (Treasurer), Wendy Pryor (Secretary), Ina Leung, Michelle Fidler and Anne Crehan for your guidance and support.

We are very sad to say goodbye to both Michelle and Anne this year. Anne has been on the Committee since at least 2007 and Michelle says she has emails going back to at least 2012. They have made an amazing community contribution over that time, and for staff they have been always supportive, enthusiastic, forward thinking and kind.

We will miss them but know we will keep in contact through all the other amazing community things they are involved with - CWA, Alphington Bowls Club, AFCA etc.

I’d also like to thank Wendy for her contribution over the last few years. She is also retiring from the Committee - but I wave to her multiple times a week as she walks by and she is part of The Ukes (our ukulele group) - so I know we will keep connected!

Thanks again everyone for a fabulous year. We look forward to building on the foundations put in place this year - through our renovations- in the coming years.

Leanne

A short message this week as I have been flat out getting the paperwork ready for our AGM. It’s on tonight (Monday) at 6.30pm. All welcome. It’s always nice to have a few people along to share the highlights of the year.

We’ll have some food and drinks, and review the year that has been. Kalimna has taken some beautiful photos to remind us of all of the fun things we’ve done.

If you are coming please email or call so we cater for you!

Other than that … join us for Playgroup Wednesday from 10am-12pm, Crunch on Thursday 12.30pm … or check out our program below for everything else that is on.

Also, I think Kalimna has been in contact with Book Clubs about paying for next year. So a reminder to rejoin if you are planning to keep coming in 2025. Thanks!

Good luck to everyone with VCE kids (for those without, the English exam kicks things off on Tuesday and the kids are gearing up for a couple of weeks of pressure).

And … if you have any ideas for next year please get in contact. Email your ideas or call us. We’d love a couple more music teachers (we have violin and guitar at the minute) and we have a spot on Monday mornings that would be ideal for another playgroup or children's/family activity. More broadly we are open to ideas - the best things we run are always community led!

See you soon.

Leanne

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.

Thanks to everyone who came along to our big cook-up for Preserves Group last week. We now have lots of delicious capsicum relish for sale at ACC, great for a gift!

This week we have AAA Bowls starting up on Wednesday and Crunch is back on Thursday. Come along for some creative fun and a yummy lunch as well … for only $15 … book in on our website.

We hope to see you.

Leanne

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.