News from PRACE

The Darebin Neighbourhood House Network organised a fundraiser for the Kinglake Neighbourhood House – a film night on October 8th. The film was “Mao’s Last Dancer” and it was at the Palace Theatre in Westgarth.

The film was well attended by people from neighbourhood houses and community centres all around Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Tickets were $20 each with roughly 50% going to the Kinglake House – thanks to everyone who came and enjoyed the film so that Kinglake NH could benefit.

Here’s the movie trailer:

Tags: bushfire, community, fundraiser, Kinglake, network

Wonderful news for everyone the Reservoir Neighbourhood House.. the new Neighbourhood House has been completed on schedule and is open to all. You will now find a range of classes, programs and groups for all ages, enjoying the incredible new building with its beautiful design full of space and light. Please come and visit us, at the corner of Cuthbert Road & Strathmerton Street Reservoir.

Stay tuned for the official opening later in the year.

(Click on photos for full size.)

The new Neighbourhood House is walking distance from Reservoir train station. Full details on our contact page.

Tags: beautiful, community, dynamic, East Reservoir, new

On Tuesday the 16th of June at Merrilands Community Centre, the people of PRACE celebrated Refugee Week with stories and demonstrations of tea and coffee around the world. We had:

* Kenyan tea by Elizabeth,
* Greek coffee by Tina and Panayota,
* Indian tea by Surinder, and
* Japanese tea ceremony by Yuko.

Daniel from Fair Trade talked about the coffee trade around the world. In poor countries, farmers do not always get paid. In some places children are working long hours for no money. Fair Trade makes sure that the farmers get enough money for the coffee they grow. Oxfam Australia recommends Fair Trade coffee.

• Were you there?
• What did you enjoy most about the day?
• View some photos on the Preston Leader site, or
• Read the story from the Leader newspaper.

Thanks to everyone who came along, especially the wonderful people demonstrating their own tea and coffee.

photo credit: Darwin Bell

Tags: celebration, coffee, refugee week, tea

Remember the wonderful community oven launch from last year, when Ima Forni donated a wood-fired oven to the Merrilands Community Centre, and Vasili from Channel 31 came along to film the event? People cooked bread in the oven, people danced and sang together, there was music and feasting. (Story back here.)

Well now’s your chance to see your friends and colleagues on television! Channel 31 screened the show this week, and it’s being repeated Wednesday 6th May at 7.30pm.

If you don’t get Channel 31 on your television, you can find the video on their website at c31.org.au. (Search for “Vasili’s Garden”, and watch the program from 3rd May 09. Could be there for the next 6 weeks.)

It’s a great show, full of interviews with many people in the community, and also featuring Don the amazing horticulture teacher with his students.

Watch and enjoy! Tell your friends.

Plus:

• Find out more about our horticulture programs on the program information page.
• Find out more about Merrilands Community Centre via the Merrilands category.
• Still don’t know where Merrilands Community Centre is? We’re in Reservoir! Details here.

Tags: celebration, Channel 31, community, food, launch, oven, Vasili

PRACE management and staff wish to congratulate all the 2008 graduates on achieving certificates/statements of attainment in Hospitality, Retail, Horticulture, Information Technology, English as a Second Language, Adult Literacy & VCAL. Approximately 130 certificates were issued throughout 2008.

Tags: certificate, congratulations, graduation

Our very first Twilight Market and Family Picnic was a great way to enjoy local community.

Tags: arts/craft, family, market, picnic

Development continues at the East Reservoir Neighbourhood House, at Andrews Reserve. This is a brand new house to be managed by PRACE (Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education).

The building is going well and the house will be open in July for the beginning of Term 3. The exact location is on the corner of Strathmerton and Cuthbert Streets beside the Reservoir Leisure Centre.

We invite you to call us  or drop in with all your questions about this new building going up in your community and to gain information about

1. what the Neighbourhood House can do for you,
2. what things happen in a Neighbourhood House and
3. how you can be part of it.

The building of the Neighbourhood House is progressing really well

This is an exciting new opportunity for Reservoir with the beginning of a new community building that is there for everyone.

Call us on 9462 3755

Drop in at 252 Broadway, Reservoir between 9–4pm Mon–Fri

Here are some of the photos, showing the progress that is being made.

Very exciting!

More about the house on our community page, or you can follow the Neighbourhood House category.

Tags: afternoon tea, East Reservoir, photos