You might know that we (off and on) have the 3078 History Group meeting at ACC, and they have a collection of old letters and written anecdotes etc. from older residents of our neighbourhood. Anyway … if you start to read some of the old archives will see that ALL THE KIDS 70 odd years ago used to swim in the Yarra ALL THE TIME.

And of course, the old baths are down in Alphington … a great reminder of the potential of the amazing river asset that sits underutilised on our doorstep. Just imagine on a hot day heading down to a swimming hole at Darebin Parklands or near the boathouses - it would be super cool right?

In this light, I was excited to get an email from Yarra Council this week …. read on …

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In the lead up to World Water Day 2025 (March 22), the City of Yarra is teaming up with Regeneration Projects to run an exciting new event series. Picture short, guided river walks through Melbourne’s backyard, connecting with community and storytelling. You’ll get to learn practical ways of caring for the Birrarung’s wellbeing and share your ideas about future river swimming places. This aligns with the City of Yarra’s Climate Emergency Plan and commitment as a Signatory of the Swimmable Cities Charter. As the Wurundjeri saying goes, ‘Burndap Birrarung, burndap umarkoo’ (What’s good for the Yarra is good for All).

Join us at one of these upcoming events to connect and learn more about the river:

Business meets the Birrarung – Thursday 6 March 
Book here

Birrarung Cultural Walk & Yarning Circle – Friday 7 March 
Book here

Birrarung Morning Walk & Breathwork – Saturday 8 March 
Book here 

Birrarung & Bubs Bushwalk – Tuesday 18 March 
Book here

Find out more: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/walk-talk-swim-birrarung-3989413

Week 3 has arrived quickly and it is always exciting … as it is the week that lots of our programs start up. This term we have:

• Garden to Plate (seasonal cooking and lunch) on Monday from 11.30am - we still have places if you’d like to join in this week… it’s free but you need to book so we know the numbers

• Beginners Ukulele on Monday from 7pm, $5 weekly

• Active Adults (exercise with Jess from Phase1Performance) on Tuesday from 11am, $15 weekly (pay by the 8 week term)

• AAA Bowls on Wednesday from 10am, free but please let us know you are coming

• Crunch (lunch and an art activity) on Thursday from 12.30pm, $15 weekly or book by the term

• AAA Arts on Friday from 1pm, $5 weekly

Please note that our Community Yoga classes will start next week and our Thursday Supper Club will start up next term. These are both $5 weekly.

We also have our first Thrift Seekers Op Shop Tour coming up on Saturday 8 March, $5 to book in - but we’ll shout you a coffee along the way - so you’ll get a return on your investment! We’ll meet at the station and head off on a train adventure to the op shops in Abbotsford and North Richmond. It will be lots of fun!

You can book in to all our programs on our website here.

Also, please read the post below … we’re asking anyone so inclined to contact the Yarra Councillors (contact details in the post) to ask them to support option 4 (or at least option 2) in relation to the Yarra Neighbourhood House funding decision that is going to a vote this Tuesday evening at Council - although we’ve already done lots of lobbying to Councillors we’d love you - our community - to also add your voice to our call for 3.5% funding increases (or CPI whichever is greater) to ensure that we don’t go backwards …or in other words to ensure that funding matches our projected costs over the next 4 years. Read on to find out more …

And after that pitch, a lighter note! Put the Alphington Show in your diary, Saturday 29 March -11am-2pm, we’ve got the pony rides coming back, we’re sourcing a lolly jar for guess the lollies, we’re looking forward to the crazy Alphington Dog Show at 1pm (start teaching your pooch some tricks!) and of course all the entries into the Show itself - start brushing up your cooking - homemade bread, chocolate cakes, biscuits, jams, preserves, and your gardening - garden produce, flowers, floral arrangements and your art and craft - knitting, crochet, sewing … and more! Such a lovely community event!!! We hope you can be part of it.

And I hope you have a lovely week. See you soon.

Cheers Leanne

This Tuesday, 11 February, Yarra City Council will vote on the next four-year funding agreement for the nine City of Yarra Neighbourhood Houses (which includes us). With rising costs due to inflation and cost-of-living increases, we have advocating (since last year you probably remember from previous posts) for annual funding increases of 3.5% (or CPI, whichever is higher).

Neighbourhood Houses operate incredibly efficiently, delivering significant social value far beyond the funding we receive. However, without funding increases that match our actual costs, we risk losing services and programs because we can no long afford to employ the staff run them.

On Tuesday 11 February, Yarra Council is considering four options:

• Option 1 (Recommended by Council Officers): Funding increases tied to the annual rate cap.

• Option 2 (Our Second Preference): Annual increases of 3.5% (or CPI, whichever is higher) – this is what Neighbourhood Houses need to stay sustainable.

• Option 4 (Our Preferred Option): Annual increases of 3.5% or CPI, whichever is higher and allowing Neighbourhood Houses access to apply for Yarra’s Community Grants Program.

We need your urgent help to ensure elected Councillors hear the voice of the community and support either Option 4 (ideally) or Option 2.

How You Can Help

1. Email Yarra Councillors today and urge them to support Option 4 or 2. It will only take you a couple of minutes and could make a big difference for us.

2. Request to speak at the Council meeting on Tuesday evening to show your support. You can do so at this link: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90801756/e8cb6a47e69d

Want to know more? Read the Council Papers here (from page 203): https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/about-us/committees-meetings-and-minutes/council-meeting-11-february-2025

Councillor emails (so you can easily send a supportive email)

Sharon.Harrison@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Stephen.Jolly@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Edward.Crossland@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Evangeline.Aston@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Meca.Ho@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Kenneth.Gomez@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Sophie.Wade@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Andrew.Davies@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Sarah.McKenzie@yarracity.vic.gov.au (Sarah is the Councillor in our ward).
 

Did you know we have a mini op shop here at ACC - it is just in the doorway inside the front garden .. and it is open whenever we are eg. Monday to Friday 9am-3.30pm. Lots of bargains with most things just a $1 or $2. You can pay by cash or EFTPOS in the office.

Pop in and have a look next time you are passing by!

Gosh … wasn’t Sunday hot! And stormy! I hope everyone is managing to look after themselves through this heatwave.

If you need tips and advice both Darebin and Yarra Council have done lots of work thinking about heatwave planning and have some excellent resources on their websites. If you need a hand give us a call on Monday or Tuesday - we are more than happy to think about and action practical ways that we could help you if we can.

It was lovely to catch up with people throughout the last week - we had people dropping past to say hello, people calling and emailing and had a great start back on Wednesday for Playgroup and then on Friday with Community Lunch. Daniel also started up his music lessons and some of our other music and dance programs were back up and running too.

This week Clare will be starting up her Artful Painting and Drawing classes - so book in if you are keen. CWA has their meeting on Monday night at 7.30pm at the Gleeson Centre in Darebin Parklands (end of Separation Street). Such a great group to join if you like hanging out with action oriented women and being a part of cooking, craft or community/social justice activities. And Yoyo is back from celebrating Chinese New Year with her family in China (lucky thing) … so we’ll be excited that her mum Juliette will have the milkbar back open - just in time for a sneaky icy pole or two … (we missed her over summer) … and Yoyo of course will be starting up her violin lessons for the year.

In the office we’ve got one more week of planning and organising - wrangling the garden back into shape, increasing publicity for new programs and events, and finishing off tidying the Community Shed after our major reorganise at the end of last year.

Then next week we’ll be fully launching into things for 2025. Which will be great!

I hope you can take it easy the next day or two in the heat. Don’t forget to check in with your neighbours, friends and family to make sure they are okay too. And hopefully we’ll see you soon.

Also … don’t stop reading here … please check out the articles below about Toy Library and a possible new Playgroup for nonnas and nonnos … we have such great things on and such a super generous and connected community around us!

Cheers

Leanne