We had a great but crazy community lunch on Friday … people who hasn’t been since before COVID came, and Yarra Deputy Mayor Sarah McKenzie came with Kathy who is our colleague on staff at Yarra Council … and there were also some new faces and friends of friends … and we ran out of food temporarily (yikes that never happens) … but it was fun.

And, in the morning the lovely crew from GenU Thornbury came to craft (first time back for the year) and because I was sitting down with them I made some little Valentine’s Day cards - that I then gave out to everyone at lunch - with a Ferrero Rocher chocolate (donated by Margaret - thanks Margaret).

And then, in the afternoon we ran the first session of AAA Arts for the year - it was lovely to see everyone - we had some newbies there as well!

This coming week we have lunch on Monday - Garden to Plate where we’re preparing and eating Asian food - smashed cucumber salad, garlic chicken with coriander and capsicum, rice and then fruit with coconut ice cream.

On Tuesday we’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen with Preserves Group. Zucchini Pickles and Tomato Relish are on our radar.

On Thursday night at 7.30pm we have our first Alphington Arts for the year - where Rob will be sharing how he draws and paints birds - and bringing along his parrot for some life drawing/painting. If you love being arty and want to make arty friends in the neighbourhood this is for you. Book in online.

Or come along at Thursday lunchtime for Crunch - our creative lunch. 12.30pm.

My Our Thursday Supper Club has 4 or 5 people interested now. Call us if you are keen to share a weekly dinner on Thursdays around 5.30pm … we’ll get started when we get 6-8 people signed up.

Also … book into our op shop tours. They’ll be fun. First one is early March - on a Saturday. Great for those working … and students etc.

See you soon.

Leanne

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).
 

Hello to all the nonnas e nonnos out there!

Did you know that 5.5% of fathers and 4.5% of mothers of residents in Alphington were born in Italy. And … 2.4% of Alphinton households speak Italian at home.

Local new nonna Lorena (who is also on our committee here at ACC) is interested in establishing an Italian Language Playgroup - for nonnas and nonnos and/or parents and carers who speak Italian. It would be on a Monday - we have some flexibility for the timing depending on who might like to come along.

If this is something that your family might like to be a part of please click here to express your interest.

Community led programs are always the best! Thanks Lorena for suggesting this idea. We look forward to hearing from other locals who might be keen.

Hi all, Happy New Year.

FOOD FOOD FOOD

With some new funding via the State Government ‘Community Food Relief’ program, we are creating more opportunities for our community to build social connections through food. Sharing a meal regularly is a great way for locals to get to know each other. And with our new kitchen up and running we are in the ideal position to build community food opportunities this year - so we feel super lucky that this fortuitous funding has come along.

We have five food related programs on offer in 2025, and we’d love for you to come along!

• Garden to Plate (NEW) - Learn to cook seasonal food and then enjoy sharing a meal, on Mondays from 11.30am 1pm. This is a free program, but you must book in online as places are limited.

• Thursday Supper Club (NEW) - Do you often eat alone? Are you tired of cooking and/or keen to make some local friends over a meal? Come along and enjoy a healthy weekly ‘family meal from 5-6.30pm (perfect if you don’t like to be out too late at night). Term 1 costs $40 (that’s $5 a week). ’ - food provided but as a group you will need to set the table, serve up, do the dishes etc. - just like you would a home. This program starts on Thursday 13 February. Click here to join up. If cost is an issue for you just call our office.

• Community Lunch - our Friday lunch continues in 2025, join in from 12pm, or come along earlier to catch up over gardening, craft and community shed activities from 10am. This is a free program, but please let know to expect you - call or email.

• Crunch - Like good food? Enjoy being creative? Thursday lunches are for you! Join us from 12.30pm -2pm for lunch followed by a creative arts activity - painting, drawing, 3D art … and more. Book in for the term or by the week here.

• Preserves Group - join us on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 1-3pm to help us turn excess garden produce/ seasonal fruit and vegetables into jams, chutneys and pickles for fundraising. We use donated jars and ingredients (donations always welcome) … and we’ll thank you for your volunteering efforts with good conversations and a light afternoon tea (including a fancy coffee)! Email us here if you’d like to join in. This group is coordinated through What’s App.

ALSO on to other things … join a Book Club

We have a couple of spots in each of our Book Clubs in 2025. They are on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with a daytime group meeting on Thursdays at 10am. Our Book Clubs meet monthly from February (when you come along and collect your first book) and finish up in December. You’ll read 10 books for the year supplied by Darebin Libraries. Our Book Clubs are a great way to meet other locals! Keen to join up? Book in here!

AND … there’s lots more.

• Op Shop Tours

• Sustainability/Repair Workshops

• Art Classes

• Access All Abilities IAAA) programs

• Playgroups

• Music and Dancing Groups and Classes

• Fitness Classes

Check out our full program here. And book in here.

I’ll highlight some of the other great things we’re super excited about in the coming few weeks.

I hope you are having a good break/relaxing summer.

Cheers Leanne