Well, we’ve done quite a lot in what feels like a very short first term. In particular we:

• Opened (then closed for a bit then reopened)

• Ran 3 Women in the Shed programs

• Restarted playgroups

• Consolidated our Friday community mornings

• Yarn bombed the ramp

• Made good progress with setting up up The Cupboard - our new podcasting studio

• Featured our first artist in the Alphington Neighbourhood Gallery - Ross O’Meara

• Officially met the new mayor of Yarra

• Moved choir and CWA offsite (due to our small space and their numbers and corona and all that … we’re sad not to see you guys regularly but happy you could find great venues nearby)

• Reorganised the front yard and paved the Community Shed seating area

• Started some new programs such as Drawing in the Shed and Matthew’s Guitar Lessons

• Restarted old favourites like Line Dancing, Ukulele and Lego Club

We’re all feeling so pleased that things are getting back on track again, and that so many new ideas are starting to come to fruition.

And we’re a bit exhausted. That’s quite a lot for our little community organisation to manage in only two months … So, we’re looking forward to the Easter break and a little down time. And then we’ll be raring to go once again!

Hi friends, school holidays start today. Our office will be closed for the holiday period. So we’ll be back on deck on Monday 19 April.

If you desperately miss us (huh!) or need anything urgently just send an email or give us a call.

If not, see you on the other side!

We’ve had 18 people in our Women in the Shed program over 3 days in Term 1 and have been delighted to see proud faces and confidence beaming from the women as the finishing touches were applied to their projects. This term we saw some gorgeous mosaics produced along with wonderful woodwork projects including tool boxes, chopping boards and planter stands.

The Women in the Shed program has been a great success. It is fully booked again for Term 2, but we will open bookings for Term 3 and 4 in June. If you are keen to join in you can join our waiting list here.

Above is a picture of our Thursday group who paused in their final session to enjoy morning tea together.

And some snaps from the class and final shed projects below.

When we were planning things at the end of last year we were a bit unsure how 2021 would roll … so we scheduled most of our first semester one-off workshops in term 2. Which is now fast approaching …

Here is what we have on offer:

1. Sewing Machine Maintenance on Saturday 1 May - I can’t tell you how great this session is. If you have a sewing machine you REALLY should book in.

2. Chai Tea Workshop on Saturday 8 May - we accidentally scheduled this on Mother’s Day, but we’ve changed the date to the Saturday instead. Join local Manu as she shares her knowledge. Take home your own chai tea blend.

3. History Walk on Sunday 16 May - postponed last year. Join Anne and the History Group crew for a stroll through South Alphington and learn more about our interesting suburb.

4. Overlocker Maintenance on Saturday 19 June - a follow-on for sewing enthusiasts who also have an overlocker.

If any of these sound just like your cup of tea you can click here to get all the details and book in.

And … also please let us know if there is anything else you’d like us to run, or if you have a workshop or session you’d like to run for the community. We’re really keen to share neighbourhood skills and talents!

We’ll be putting together our program for the second half of the year soon, and publishing it late June.

A second coat on Wednesday … and the second wall started as well. Thanks Manu for stopping by and rolling your sleeves up for a while! It’s starting to really come together now don’t you think?