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    A haven for learning and connection:YCC’s short courses and workshops

    Yarraville Community Centre offers over fifty short courses and workshops each term. Each class offers individuals a different opportunity to explore and learn valuable skills with like-minded people in a welcoming and inclusive environment. With so many different options each term, the possibilities for upskilling or venturing into a new hobby are always available. 

    NAIDOC events in the west – July 7 to 14, 2024

    It’s NAIDOC Week, and local councils in the west have a range of events and programs planned to celebrate and amplify the history, culture and storytelling of First Nations people and communities!

    Anniversaries, centenaries, train stations and mulch-gate

    Council updates for Melbourne's west: Anniversaries, centenaries, train stations and mulch-gate chambers to be voted on. 

    Does living in the western suburbs increase your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease?

    For many years Westies have been concerned about the adverse health effects of living in a heavily air polluted area. Increased exposure to toxic ultrafine particles chugging out of the diesel trucks that frequent the western suburbs leads to strokes, bladder cancer, type two diabetes, asthma, coronary heart disease, and more. Now, there are increasing studies connecting air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Who and what makes Sunshine ‘shine’? 

    I have come to the conclusion that what makes Sunshine shine is its residents, many of whom are working class migrants with roots from all continents of the world. Of course I will not gloss over the fact that some people associate Sunshine with characters who have a shady past. These folks simply have not quite found the light within them try as they might. Some Sunshiners are clouded by thick, dark clouds. They are who they are. Their sunlight just cannot be seen or we have to look a little harder for it in them. 

    The importance of friends: An invitation for migrant women to connect

    Being a new migrant, I faced the usual struggles of leaving behind family, friends, and a way of life. Instead of being super qualified in India, I had to start over and it was very hard to settle here.  Things in Australia were a bit different back then. Women from overseas struggled to find work, friends and good company. With study and perseverance, I managed to get into my line of work but there was a part which I was missing: the part called friends.

    Neighbourhood House Week

    Victorian Neighbourhood House Week is a vibrant annual celebration of bringing together local communities to engage in various activities hosted by community houses across the state. The week celebrates the important role that neighbourhood houses play in fostering connections and supporting individuals across all walks of life. This year’s theme for Neighbourhood House Week was; Stronger Together. When people come together, they can achieve great things. These annual celebrations provide a great opportunity for community members to learn about the valuable resources available to them.

    Thank you Mr McGann! 

    Years ago, while still seduced by the empty promises of self-help books, wedged somewhere between trying to identify the 'toxic people' in my life and learning to 'fully maximise my potential', I read about the therapeutic value of writing thank you letters. Being pig-headed and slightly arrogant as I was (probably why I was given that particular book in the first place), I couldn't immediately think of anyone to thank; after all, I was a self-made man who’d done it all on his own, and worked super-hard, right? 

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    #102 November 2024

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