Hi everyone, just confirming that ACC will be physically closed for the next 6 weeks. We’re super keen to play our part in driving Covid-19 numbers down - and accordingly will be limiting our own movement and contact with others.

We will be answering calls and emails, writing posts and working behind the scenes, but our staff will not be engaged in any face-to-face activities and we will all be working from home.

Please note we will continue to sell face masks on our website. $10 each. The link is here if you need to buy some. Kalimna will package them up and deliver them to your door with contactless delivery (you can expect them to arrive on a Wednesday or Friday) if you live within 5km-ish of us.

We’ll continue our ‘Honestly’ project so look out for this weekly letter from a neighbour - find out what they’ve been up to and what they’ve been thinking about lately. 30 copies of the same letter are posted on the Alphington milk bar window each week - usually on a Friday. Take one home to read. They are super interesting!

Unfortunately our ‘Blind date with a book’ project will be on temporary hold … but will be back on the other side!

And we’ll be working on some new ideas as well, including our new ‘Craftberry Jam’ project … great name hey? We’ll keep you updated as it progresses.

Finally … I know I’ve said it before, but it’s really true. If you need help at this time please don’t hesitate to let us know. We’re here. We have access to food relief and can connect you in to a vast array of services … and in addition we have a number of volunteers who are very happy to call anyone who needs a regular chat, to drop off some food on their daily walk or to pick up a prescription etc.

Oh, and finally, finally … remember the wise words of Burt Bacharach (on a completely unrelated topic … but none-the-less), ‘Make it easy on yourself’. Sung best (in my humble opinion) by The Blackeyed Susans. You can listen here.

12 things to get you through Iso 2.1. You pick up this poster from the bin outside ACC if you pass by whilst doing your 1 hour of exercise!

In pre-corona times we had loads of young families attending ACC regularly. We usually host a variety of playgroups, including Czech Playgroup, two Japanese Kilin Playgroups, Community Playgroup and Peer Support Playgroup each week. And we are missing all the familiar faces! So it is wonderful to have a list relating to resources for young families to put out into the universe this week.

We’d like to thank Jacinta and the Family Programs and Inclusion Team at Yarra Council for this list. We’re very lucky to have such a supportive relationship (and such lovely colleagues) across both Yarra and Darebin Councils.

So, here’s the list of local activities and services for young families that are free and can be accessed online in corona times:

• Join in playgroup at home with Playgroup Victoria

• Join a free music zoom session running weekly with Playgroup Victoria

• Join a free movement group - dance and sing with your toddlers to keep fit and healthy

• Enjoy storytime for toddlers. This is a series of podcasts by Yarra Libraries

• Register for family Lego sessions

• Learn about baby massage and yoga in practical online sessions for babies up to 12 months

• Join a family music group for babies up to 12 months featuring soothing music

• Dads - learn how to manage your preschooler in lockdown with a bloke called Ben

• Mums - get some techniques for stress management (we all need this sometimes right).

We hope you find these links useful! Thanks again Jacinta!

Our Community Shed has not just had an external makeover, but it has also had an internal makeover in the last couple of weeks. Getting things away so that surfaces can be cleaned down after use has been motivation to find a home for every last nut, bolt and screw.

We’re super pleased with the outcome. We look forward to resuming our Women in the Shed program on Tuesdays (with 2 sessions, one running from 9.30am-12.30pm and the second running from 1-4pm) and our Men in the Shed program, running from 12-3pm on Thursdays when we can.