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

Keen to learn music, share music or dance to music?

At ACC you can join:

• Ukulele on Monday evenings. We have a new Beginners Ukulele group starting up. It is self-led (eg. there is not a formal teacher) but one of our more experienced Uke players is helping the new players get going for a little bit (how lovely is that). Call our office to find out more,

• Daniel on Tuesdays teaching guitar. If you are a keen guitarist you can contact him on 0432 674 498.

• Line Dancing on Wednesdays from 10am at the Alphington Scout Hall - always lots of fun and well attended! Call Shirley to find out more on 94892102.

• The Alphingtones Choir who meet over at St Andrews Church in Fairfield (just behind the shops) on Thursdays from 7.30pm

• Yoyo on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to learn violin. You can contact her on 0415 357 698.

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.

---

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.

What a lovely, connected community we live in!

Another fabulous year of carol singing last night - Jan (our unflagging and entertaining host) and Jan (on piano for the first time) led a packed out Alphington Bowls Club audience through nearly every song in the ACC songbook once again. You never miss out on your favourite carol at this event - because they all get sung 🎵.

And it was just lovely to hear our local choir The Alphingtones perform. They sounded gorgeous.

Thanks David for your bagpiping … and Anne - always a powerhouse behind the scenes. And Mish for her running around! And Geoff (secret Santa business).

And everyone who comes along every year and contributes by leading a carol etc.

These carols have been running for around 40 years … and have been hosted at the Scout Hall, in the outdoor amphitheatre at Kate’s house (1 View Street) and now at Alphington Bowls Club. Last night I heard someone say they typed up the original songbook! Amazing.

And we raised about $275 through our gold coin donations. This year we’ll support some people doing it tough through The Salvos.

Merry Christmas.

We’re getting excited about this fabulous event returning. And the weather looks great at this stage … so come along this coming Sunday

• Follow the music - march from Alphington Park at 11:45am

• Arrive for lunch. BYO picnic or buy food from the Bowls Club Sausage Sizzle, Alphington Soccer Club and Little Bertha Crepes, Woking Amazing, and the CWA who will be offering fruit sticks and zooper doopers.

• The first band playing is Wing Defence - some of our talented young locals!

• Don’t forget your water bottle - a filtered water hydration station will be on site.

• This is a licensed event so sorry, no BYO alcohol. Drinks at Bowls Club prices!

• Always wanted to hone your juggling skills?  Now’s your chance - juggling workshop open to all from 2pm to 4pm

• There are LOTS of kids’ activities all day - Paint The Wetlands, nature crowns, face painting, the Scout climbing wall and more …

• And bands and music all day!

• Along with displays from local environmental groups - including the Field Naturalists and Friends of Merri Creek.