This week we planted some dwarf crepe myrtles out the front in our garden beds. When they grow they will only be about 1.5 metres high, but they will match in colour to the beautiful crepe myrtle out the front of the Community Shed. And so we’ll have some consistent planting drifting across the front our site - which will look lovely.

Also, have you noticed our billy buttons - they are growing amazingly out on the hill at the very corner of our site … Clare is feeling very proud!

And Tom and Corrado are also proud of the sculpture they installed out the front last week. Our AAA Arts group has been painting and cutting and connecting it for ages … and we are glad it is finally installed. It looks super.

Thanks to everyone who came to preserves last week. It was lovely to see you cooking and chatting, and the smells were amazing! What did we make?

We now have a winter fruit chutney and a zucchini pickle for sale. So pop past our office and buy some for your next cheese platter or ploughman’s lunch! You won’t be disappointed. Our preserves cost $7 and the profits made support access all abilities (AAA) programs.

Thank you to all that came along and all the artists who participated this year. Check out all the photos below.

Darebin Council has started the formal round of consultation on their next Council Plan. This is the strategic document that sets out their priority areas of action for the next few years - and subsequently steers their investment in our community.

So … this is your chance to have yours say - get in before the 1 September!

Here is the link to the very quick survey you can complete.

And … whilst you are thinking about rubbish bins and street planting and all the ratey- related things … don’t forget that Council also plays a fabulous role in building and supporting social services to help us all out at our more vulnerable times and make our lives better … (like their investment in kinders, maternal and child health care, aged services, neighbourhood houses, sporting clubs and facilities etc.) and are also advocates for the interests of our community at higher levels of government … including encouraging practical action around wicked problems like climate change, immigration policy, gambling harm etc.

It is great to think strategically about how you would like Council to invest their $$ locally - and this is your chance to let them know!

Well it has all been art, art, art this weekend, with our Winter Arts Exhibition running Friday night, Saturday and Sunday.

With 40+ artists work on display, and over 120 works in the show there was a super range of art to enjoy.

We had lots of people come along to enjoy the art accompanied by drinks and nibbles in our lovely new spaces on Friday evening … and works sold - which made the artists happy, I am sure! Then a steady stream of visitors over the weekend. It is great to be able to partner with local artists and support their practice. It is also a thrill for us to be able to provide unique opportunities for our community. There were lots of people who came along who we don’t normally see at ACC - and that is fabulous!

Thanks to all the artists who participated in the show and to everyone who came along.

We are looking forward to touching base with everyone this week as they collect their works and congratulating those who bought a piece as they also drop by to collect them. A reminder that our office is open 9am-3.30pm Monday to Friday.

And … time doesn’t stop! This week we have our:

• Preserves Group on Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm. It will be super to top up our preserves that we have for sale after a busy weekend of sales at the Winter Arts Exhibition.

• Movie Club on Tuesday evening - we’ll be Iris and the Men at 6pm at Westgarth Cinema if you are interested in coming along please let us know.

• Life Journaling workshop series starting this coming weekend, from 10am-12pm. It runs for 4 weeks with journalist Carmela Ferraro here to help you write your autobiography! How fun! It should be really super. Book in ASAP if you are interested here. We will need minimum numbers for it to go ahead.

Looking forward to seeing you at ACC soon.

Leanne