Hi Kalimna here …

Thank you to Music for the Wetlands and ACC for giving me the chance to capture this magical day.

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.

Congratulations to all the amazing people in our community who put so much work into the Music from the Wetlands event this weekend.

Beautiful weather, yummy food and excellent music. It was just soooo great to see local families and friends of all ages enjoying our neighbourhood. I caught up with neighbours and colleagues and family and friends - so super!

And whilst I was (mostly) running the kids activities tent, Kalimna spent the day taking photos - so we’ll be able to share her (what are sure to be) fabulous pictures in the next week or so. But here’s a few phone snaps from the event in the meantime.

We’re super excited about Music from the Wetlands! Such a fun and fabulous family day down by the Yarra at the bottom of View Street. It is coming up on Sunday 19 November starting at 11am … and we’ll be doing our bit running the kids activities again - put it in your diary and come along for a super relaxing neighbourhood day - and don’t forget to pop in and say hello to us!

Hi Leanne here.

As you probably know, the upcoming referendum is a response to the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart - which was the culmination of a representative consensus vote from the Uluru dialogues. It is backed up by 13 years of work by the Referendum Council. The vote is part of what our First Nations community collectively agreed and prioritised for action.

At ACC we believe that this vote is a social justice, humanitarian issue, not a left or right political issue. We’d be pleased if any Federal government committed to this process. And more pleased if it had bipartisan support.

The facts about disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people outlined in the Statement itself are confronting. And the regularly updated Closing The Gap dashboard is also depressing and distressing reading. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still die earlier on average than everyone else in Australia. Yes the gap is somewhat closing, but as a society we’re not meeting the set targets on this outcome. And other targets like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive in their early years have actually gone backwards from 2018 to 2021. Clearly existing approaches are not working fast enough, or even at all.

It is sensible that the people who experience the ongoing disadvantage have a guaranteed place at the table to provide advice and input to discussions about how to improve their particular circumstances.

Lawyers have confirmed that the proposed changes to the Constitution can do no harm - and may do some good.

At ACC we are hopeful that our community will also think about the bigger picture - the importance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to: be recognised as having a unique place in our society as our first peoples, and have a say in their own destiny - acknowledging both the individual and community benefits that recognition and self-determination can bring.

ACC, in line with our peak body NHVic, and many other neighbourhood houses in Victoria, says YES to the Voice to Parliament.

And we hope that you too accept the direct invitation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (our neighbours, family, colleagues and friends) so beautifully articulated in the Statement,

In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.