Hi, we are really looking forward to saying hello to everyone as we resume our action packed Friday program. It has been great to get some phone calls and emails from our regulars already.

This year we will be running a similar program to last year - but with a few tweaks to the timing of things, so please note …

Community Gardening/SHEd

From 10am, come along and join Clare and Corrado outside as they work to improve our lovely grounds. Over the year you will have the opportunity to learn about growing and maintaining an urban orchard and vegetable garden, composting and pruning and how to save seeds, grow seedlings … all the things! And depending on interest, there is also the opportunity to work collectively on small scale projects in our community shed.

If you have passed by recently you will see that our raised garden beds will be looking for some love after a month of wild growing (the tomatoes definitely need staking!). And as always I am sure Clare has lots of creative plans for the year ... This is a great opportunity to meet local people. No need to enrol, just come along with your hat and gloves and join in.

Community Craft

From 10.30am we’ll be running our inside craft group - suitable for knitters and crocheters etc. We are always delighted to welcome new people of all abilities and skill levels to join in. Bring your own materials along if you’d like to work on your own project, or you can use our donated stash if you’d like to make things that we can sell to support the program. Again, no need to book, just come along and join in.

Community Lunch

At 12pm you can join us for a light lunch. We’ll come together to enjoy foods such as pasta bakes, soup, toasties etc. with a cup of tea or coffee and dessert, including fruit. This program is supported by our lovely friends at the Alphington CWA who donate amazing sweet and savoury home cooked dishes. Yum!

AAA Art in the Shed

For anyone needing to access all abilities programs, you can join Clare, Corrado and Hazel from 1-2pm for some arty fun. This program is tailored to the interests of participants. It costs $5 weekly, and you must book in for the term on our website. Please note that places are limited.

I finally went past at night … our solar light installation is starting to look good!

When it rains fabulous arts and creative community events in Alphington, it pours it seems!

This coming weekend is the start of Alphington Open Studios - our annual event where local artists exhibit works here at ACC, in the Parklands, and in home studios dotted across our suburb.

Grab the map and check them out.

If you come to our Christmas market you’ll be able to go inside and see works by Sharon West, Katie Roberts and Maxine O’Brien and find out about all the other artists who are part of this wonderful neighbourhood event.

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.

This week we were delighted to welcome a new group of men to use our community shed facilities on Friday morning.

They came along with support (eg. transport) and project supervision from two Merri-bek Council staff - as part of a program designed to help older men connect with each other and build community friendships.

The men were from North Fitzroy, Coburg etc. and I think it really is super to be able to share our resources across the inner northern suburbs - and also connect up with community development colleagues at a neighbouring Council.

They were a great fit for our Friday community morning program and we hope they come back into the foreseeable future.

We’re looking forward to sharing a cuppa and chat with them in future weeks and seeing the outcome off their hard work (they are working on constructing ride-on toys for toddlers).