Are you interested in social outings by private bus … with lovely neighbourhood house folk?

My colleague Alison, who runs North Carlton Railway House, has a super ‘winter bus 🚌 trip series’ running, and has extended the invitation to attend.

If you are interested you’ll find the details below. To book in just give them a call (or pop past). Their house is at the former Railway Station on the old inner north line accessible from Park Street in North Carlton.

Sounds fun right? Thanks Alison!

• Monday 3 July - To The East (from Narre Warren to Brighton) $10

• Monday 7 August - Flagstaff Precinct Museum $10

We often have enquiries about art classes, so we’re excited that Clare (who is here on Friday running Gardening Group in the morning and AAA Art in the afternoon) is starting a new Art Class in Term 2.

She will be running it in the new light-filled Bellfield Community Hub, just up the road in Bellfield … (hooray - you’ll be able to stop in at Tamby Food and buy some treats on the way home - I noticed it has reopened last time I went past).

Clare’s social and fun small group adult art classes will run on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm with Term 2 beginning on 17th May and running for 5 weeks. The cost is $225 and her classes are suitable for beginners and also intermediate artists.

This term the focus will be on COMPOSITION & COLOUR in LANDSCAPE ART.

Visit Clare’s website swirlart.com.au to find out more and book in. Or you can call her on 0423453160.

What a great weekend we had for the 2023 Alphington Show!

Entries for the show arrived on Friday. We had over 100 entries from people of all ages - it was lovely to see so many people keen to share and showcase their skills and talents.

Michelle and Anne from Alphington CWA were there to oversee the judging on Friday night from 5.30pm, and they brought in the experts, Nola from the broader CWA family (and an expert show judge) along with Bill and Wayne from the Preston Garden Club. We thank them all for their time and enthusiasm for our local event. And we thank everyone who entered. So much talent in our community!

On Saturday we held our annual makers market with 22 stallholders lining the street, whilst inside Devonshire tea was served by the Alphington CWA - and thoroughly enjoyed in the front garden with perfect autumn weather.

Our Show also included face painting and nature crowns, a raffle, a BBQ … and even a leaf pit for nature play!

Thanks to Nelson Alexander, Bunnings, Alphington CWA and Friends of Baucau for our raffle prizes!

Our raffle prize winners were very happy!

And pony rides. And a guess the lollies in the lolly jar (there were 207!).

Another happy winner!

Once again this year a raft of volunteers helped out to make the day a success. Thanks so much to you all! Including (but not limited to) Elaine, Anne and Serene for managing the craft and eftpos machine, Cheryl who again ran nature craft, Corrado, Jo, Ina, Heather and Anne who wrangled the BBQ and Marie-Louise, Lola and Jackson our dog show judges.

Thanks to Kalimna for organising so much of the overall logistics and once again taking amazing photos. And to Lee, Clare and Jill who worked to make the event a success.

Look at this gorgeous knitting that came from St Michael’s in North Carlton for the ASRC this week.

Did you know we are a collection location for the ASRC? We’re very pleased to be able to help out by providing a local point for dropping off food and material relief … and to witness firsthand the kindness and generosity of our community.

Interested in donating? Find out more here - including what we accept!

This Friday our lovely crafty friends Marie-Louise and Anne added some ADDITIONAL craft bling to our already craft-blinged tree in the community shed garden … now it looks extra fabulous.

Anne uses up all her wool scraps and turns them into pompoms - and we are very grateful to be the lucky recipients.

Thanks ladies! Your crafty goodness is good for us all!