Category: Special Events

2024 Christmas Workshops

Posted on by Alison La Rose

With the festive season around the corner we are excited to invite you to join us for a series of Christmas themed workshops in Eynesbury, Harkness and Hillside.

Bookings are now open for these special vents for both children and adults. Click the link under each listing below to secure your place before they’re all gone!

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER

Christmas Creations for Kids – SOLD OUT

  • Location: Eynesbury
  • Time: 4pm – 5pm
  • Cost: $5 per child
  • Age group: Primary school age children
  • BOOK

MONDAY 9 DECEMBER

Culinary Christmas Creations for Kids

  • Location: Harkness
  • Time: 4.30pm – 6.30pm
  • Cost: $15 per child
  • Ag group: 8-13 years
  • BOOK

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER

Christmas Creations for Kids – SOLD OUT

  • Location: Hillside
  • Time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm
  • Cost: $5 per child
  • Age group: Primary school age children
  • BOOK

MONDAY 16 DECEMBER

DIY Christmas Wreath Workshop

  • Location: Eynesbury
  • Time: 10.30am – 12pm
  • Cost: $30 per person
  • Age group: Adults
  • BOOK

National Science Week 2024

Posted on by Alison La Rose

National Science Week, Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology, is returning from 10-18 August 2024!

Pre-school and primary aged children can learn through fun activities and experiments at our workshops in Fraser Rise and Eynesbury!

Bookings are required for all activities. Click the links on this webpage for more information and to secure your child’s place.

Monday 12 August
Bee Hive Science: 3-5 years

During this engaging session, children will observe a beehive, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of these buzzy creatures. Children will also dress up in specially sized beekeeper suits and veils before sampling different varieties of honey, learning about its production and the crucial role bees play in its creation.  

  • LOCATION: Fraser Rise
  • TIME: 3pm – 4pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK
Bee Hive Science: 5-12 years

During this engaging session, children will observe a beehive, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of these buzzy creatures. Children will also dress up in specially sized beekeeper suits and veils before sampling different varieties of honey, learning about its production and the crucial role bees play in its creation.  

  • LOCATION: Fraser Rise
  • TIME: 4.15pm – 5.15pm OR 5.30pm – 6.30pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK 4.15PM
  • BOOK 5.30PM – BOOKED OUT
Tuesday 13 August
DIY Science Workshop – BOOKED OUT

With the help of a STEAM science kit, your child will be guided to make a simple water filter that will turn dirty water clear! They’ll also make their own slime and a lava lamp. Your child will be delighted to see other scientific experiments unfold before their eyes including exploding bags and elephant toothpaste! Suitable for children aged 6-12 years. 

  • LOCATION: Eynesbury
  • TIME: 4pm – 5pm
  • COST: $7 per child
  • BOOK

 

2024 City of Melton Learning Festival

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Council is celebrating wonder, curiosity, fun, knowledge and learning at the 2024 City of Melton Learning Festival! From 31 August – 7 September you can participate in an exciting range of workshops and activities across Council’s libraries and community centres, for free! 

Get creative in our nature printing workshop, discover the best way to build your veggie garden, learn the traditional indigenous basket weaving technique and so much more.  

Join us to discover a new skill or passion whilst connecting with others in your local area.  

Browse all activities and workshops held at community centres on this webpage. You can discover more opportunities available at the libraries on Council’ website.   

Bookings are essential for all activities held at community centres. Bookings for all workshops open at 9am on Thursday 1 August. 

Sunday 1 September 

Nature Printing with Gel Pads – BOOKED OUT

  • TIME: 10am – 12.30pm 
  • VENUE: Botanica Springs Children’s & Community Centre, Brookfield
  • AGE: 18+
  • BOOK

Discover the art of mono printing using nature and gel pads in our engaging workshop. This eco-friendly creative process explores the textures and shapes of leaves, flowers, and other natural elements. You’ll be guided through the steps of creating stunning, one-of-a-kind prints that capture the beauty of the outdoors.  

The Sustainable Kitchen – Zero Waste Recipes – BOOKED OUT

  • TIME: 11.30am – 1.30pm 
  • VENUE: Diggers Rest Sport & Community Pavilion, Diggers Rest
  • AGE: 12 years+
  • BOOK

Learn how you can reduce waste in your kitchen and save money in this hands-on cooking workshop. Working in small groups, our passionate and experienced facilitator will guide you to create zero waste recipes which can be used to prepare quick, easy and delicious weeknight dinners. All equipment and ingredients will be provided. Free cookbook for all attendees. Limited spaces available.

Monday 2 September  

Powerful Pollinators 

  • TIME: 2pm – 3pm 
  • VENUE: Hillside Community Centre, Hillside
  • AGE: 3-12 years
  • BOOK

Little Sprouts Program are here to engage your child in their interactive, play-based, fun and inspiring sustainability education session! Over 60 minutes your child will discover what pollination is, a range of important local pollinator animal species, why we need pollinators, how we can help pollinators. They’ll also make pollinator friendly seed balls to take home, to help grow pollinator plants.

Tuesday 3 September  

Sauerkraut Demonstration – BOOKED OUT

  • TIME: 10:30 am – 12pm 
  • VENUE: Eynesbury Discovery Centre, Eynesbury
  • AGE: 18 years+
  • BOOK

Did you know fermented foods can provide health benefits when consumed regularly? Join us for an exciting demonstration to discover how to prepare a batch of your own fermented cabbage, called sauerkraut! All attendees will take home their own fermentation kit. Spots are very limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

Wednesday 4 September

How to Grow a Successful Veggie Garden – BOOKED OUT

  • TIME: 10am – 11:30am 
  • VENUE: Stevenson House, Caroline Springs
  • AGE: 18 years +
  • BOOK

Growing your own fruits and veggies at home brings a great sense of joy and pride but it can also save you money at the supermarket. Set yourself up for success and learn insider tips and tricks from our qualified horticulture expert including seasonal planting tips, environmentally friendly pest and disease management strategies and optimisation of soil, sunlight, and water for a successful harvest.

Thursday 5 September  

Traditional Basket Weaving – BOOKED OUT

  • TIME: 1pm – 2:30pm 
  • VENUE: Mt Atkinson Children’s & Community Centre, Truganina
  • AGE: 18 years+
  • BOOK

Join Samantha Bennett, a proud Bunurong/Boonwurrung and Wiradjuri woman, as she guides you through the traditional art of basket weaving. Connect with traditional practices and create beautiful, meaningful art. Using natural elements, you will learn how to craft baskets utilising unique techniques that intertwine the natural elements and stories of Samantha’s culture.

Produce Swap Project

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Are you enthusiastic about growing your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, seedlings, and flowers? Are you open to exchanging surplus produce, connecting with fellow gardeners and engaging with your local community?  

Melton City Council invites you to join our bi-monthly produce days across the City of Melton where you can interact with other local gardeners and trade your excess produce whilst having a cup of tea or coffee. Share tips, tricks and insights from your gardening experience and learn something new. 

Have excess produce but cannot make the swap session? Contact us to organise drop off of your produce and we will distribute it out to local families in need.  

2024 Produce Swap Days at Stevenson House  

2024 Produce Swap Days at Kurunjang Community Hub

SPECIAL LAUNCH EVENT

To celebrate this special community project, Council also invites you to join us at a launch event in Caroline Springs or Kurunjang. Along with swapping your produce you can also take home free seedlings from Bunnings Warehouse to add to your garden and enjoy a cooking demonstration by Western Health to gain ideas on how to prepare nutritional meals straight from your garden.

Light morning tea provided.

EVENT DETAILS

CAROLINE SPRINGS

  • DATE: Wednesday 6 November
  • TIME: 10am – 12pm
  • LOCATION: Stevenson House: 10 Stevenson Crescent, Caroline Springs, 3037
  • BOOK

KURUNJANG

  • DATE: Thursday 12 December
  • TIME: 10am – 11.30am
  • LOCATION: Kurunjang Community Hub: 33 Mowbray Crescent, Kurunjang, 3337
  • BOOK

This project is delivered in partnership with Western Health and Bunnings.

NAIDOC Week 2024

Posted on by Alison La Rose

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

NAIDOC Week (7-14 July 2024) celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

The theme of NAIDOC Week in 2024 is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Council is supporting a number of local community activities that will bring the richness of local Aboriginal culture and achievements to light.

Meet the Rainbow Serpent

We’re starting NAIDOC Week celebrations early these school holidays with an exciting wildlife encounter filled with native animals! Children will discover the story of the rainbow serpent as they explore the fascinating world of creatures that feature in Dreamtime stories.

  • Location: Bridge Road Children’s and Community Centre, 260-266 Bridge Road, Strathtulloh
  • Date: Friday 5 July 2024
  • Time: 11am – 12 noon

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

NAIDOC Week Film Festival at the Libraries

Taking place across both branches of Melton City Libraries, the NAIDOC Film Festival showcases three films commemorating First Nations peoples achievements and contributions.

  • Location: Melton & Caroline Springs Libraries
  • Date & Time
    • Caroline Springs Library and Learning Hub, 193-201 Caroline Springs Boulevard, Caroline Springs
      • Monday 8 July 2024 @ 1pm – ‘Murundak: Songs of Freedom’
      • Wednesday 10 July 2024 @ 6pm – ‘Undermined: Tales from the Kimberley’
    • Melton Library and Learning Hub, 31 McKenzie Street, Melton
      • Thursday 11 July 2024 @ 6pm – ‘Namatjira Project’

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Arts and craft activities for kids and teens will also be available at the libraries throughout NAIDOC Week.

Djirra in the West – Family Fun Day

Council is supporting Djirra in the West to host a Family Fun Day filled with cultural activities, entertainment, performances, story time, displays and much more.

  • Location: Djirra in West, 1927 Gisborne-Melton Road, Kurunjang
  • Date: Tuesday 9 July 2024
  • Time: 10am – 2.30pm

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Seniors Art Project | Hillside, Melton & Thornhill Park

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Melton City Council is calling upon our creative over 50s to take part in our ‘Ageing Artfully’ Seniors Festival Project. If you live in the City of Melton, we encourage you to join this special project. 

Over three separate sessions, you will work with an experienced artist to create your own painting using acrylic or water colours. At the end of the workshops, you will have created an artwork on canvas that conveys your perspective of ageing well in your community. 

All abilities are welcome to participate and no previous art experience is required. The workshops are free to attend and all materials will be provided. Places are limited and bookings are required to secure your spot.  

Workshops will be offered from 10am – 12pm at three locations: 

Pop-Up Art Exhibition

Excitingly, all artworks created throughout this project will be displayed at a pop-up art exhibition during the month of October as part of Council’s 2024 Seniors Festivals celebrations.    

To make this project a success, we ask that you: 

  • Only book at one location.  
  • Attend all three workshop dates at your chosen location 
  • Agree to your canvas being displayed at the ‘Ageing Artfully’ exhibition during the month of October   
  • Attend the exhibition launch being held on Thursday 3 October, 11am at Thornhill Park Children’s & Community Centre (optional, but encouraged).

Please note: Participants will be photographed as part of this project, and images may appear on Council’s social media, be provided to local media and otherwise used to promote this project.

Neighbourhood House Week 2024

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Melton City Council is celebrating Neighbourhood House Week (NHW) from 13-18 May! NHW, an initiative of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, is an annual national celebration, recognising the important contribution over 1,000 Neighbourhood Houses make in local communities across Australia.

In the City of Melton alone, 7 neighbourhood houses operate alongside our other community centre locations, bringing people together to connect, learn and contribute to our local community through social, educational, recreational and support activities.

Join us to celebrate at any number of our free workshops and activities across the week. Bookings are required.

Monday 13 May

Super Science Kids Workshop – BOOKED OUT

Across 50 minutes, your child will explore how chemicals can change as they participate in a range of activities including bubbles filled with dry ice fog, fizz rocket launching and experiment with gasses, pressure and irreversible changes, make polymer chains and trap gasses from acid/base reactions.

Suitable for children aged 5-12 years.

  • WHERE: Hillside
  • TIME: 4pm OR 5pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK
Tuesday 14 May

Hand Building Pottery for Beginners – BOOKED OUT

Learn how to make your very own platter using the slab building and coiling pottery techniques before ending the program by decorating your creations ready for firing. 

Suitable for people aged 18 years and over.

  • WHERE: Eynesbury
  • TIME: 4pm – 6pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK

Restorative Yoga & Candle Making Workshop – BOOKED OUT

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in a blissful journey of relaxation and renewal. Our workshop is designed to help you unwind, recharge, and reconnect with your inner peace through DIY candle making and gentle yoga practices.

Suitable for people aged 18 years and over.

  • WHERE: Caroline Springs
  • TIME: 6.30pm – 8pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK
Wednesday 15 May

Pet Portrait Workshop

Over a 2-hour period, our expert artist will show you how to create a rough sketch before using acrylic paint to bring your pet to life on Canvas.  

Suitable for people aged 18 years and over.

  • WHERE: Taylors Hill
  • TIME: 10am – 12pm
  • COST: Free ($20 refundable booking fee)
  • BOOK

Elder Rights Workshop

Presented by qualified professionals from Elders Rights Advocacy, this free community information session will provide information and guidance on accessing aged care, your rights in aged care and advocates and volunteers who can assist you.

  • WHERE: Melton South
  • TIME: 1.30pm – 2.30pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK
Thursday 16 May

Bonsai for Beginners – BOOKED OUT

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be shown how to stunt a tree’s growth by skilfully pruning the branches and roots. You will learn how to select your outdoor tree and pot before discovering wiring, repotting an pruning techniques.

Suitable for people aged 18 years and over.

  • WHERE: Fraser Rise
  • TIME: 10am – 12pm
  • COST: Free ($20 refundable booking fee)
  • BOOK
Friday 17 May

DIY Herb Bowl Workshop – BOOKED OUT

Join Bunnings Warehouse for this DIY workshop where you’ll be shown how to create your very own herb bowl. You’ll not only discover which herbs thrive together harmoniously in a single bowl, you’ll in turn create a visually stunning display for your home. 

Suitable for people aged 18 years and over.

  • WHERE: Caroline Springs
  • TIME: 11am – 12pm
  • COST: Free
  • BOOK

Zero Food Waste Cooking Workshop

This interactive cooking experience led by Open Table, will teach you practical tips and tricks to minimise food waste. Come along to watch a demonstration on how to transform ordinary vegetables into an irresistible, rich, and flavourful Shakshuka.

Suitable for adults and children aged 12 years and over. Children aged 16 years and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian for the duration of the workshop.

  • WHERE: Taylors Hill
  • TIME: 4.30pm – 6pm
  • COST: Free ($20 refundable booking fee)
  • BOOK
Saturday 18 May

Safe Food Handling – Accredited Training for Young People

If you’re aged between 16-25 years, boost your employability in the hospitality industry by participating in this free Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety course. In this course you will learn how to safely handle, prepare and store food to avoid contamination and food-borne illnesses in order to prepare you for work in restaurants, catering, cafes and other food-related roles.  

Suitable for people aged 16-25 years.

  • WHERE: Taylors Hill
  • TIME: 9.30am – 3.30pm
  • COST: Free ($20 refundable booking fee)
  • BOOK

Neighbour Day Celebrations

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Council celebrated Neighbour Day (31 March) with a series of community events from 24-28 March 2024. The initiative, led by Relationships Australia, seeks to increase social connection in our neighbourhoods by offering opportunities for residents to come together, meet new people in your local area and create new friendships. The theme for 2024 was Neighbours Every Day – Create Belong, Share Belonging.

Sunday 24 March

Neighbour Day Colour Fest in Taylors Hill

On Sunday 24 March, Taylors Hill Youth & Community Centre came alive in a wash of colour at a Colour Fest event. Local community members came together to celebrate the Indian festival of Holi, the festival of colour, alongside Neighbour Day. People of all ages and faiths enjoyed the throwing of coloured powder before sharing a selection of traditional foods.

Thursday 28 March 

Community Walk & Morning Tea in Kurunjang

Community members local to the Kurunjang area were treated to a delightful get together where 30 participants took a 2.5km scenic walk with Council officers from Kurunjang Community Hub and around the Little Bind Creek Reserve. Along the way, walkers learnt about the reserve itself and the recent addition of the Disc Golf Course, whilst discovering family friendly walking paths and playgrounds. Upon returning to Kurunjang Community Hub, attendees relished in friendly conversation as they enjoyed a free morning tea prepared by the hub’s on-site social enterprise café, YouthGrounds. Participants also received a goodie bag filled with Nature Passports, coloured pencils, disc golf discs, Community Garden worksheets designed by the in-house gardening group, nature and gardening books, community centre information, postcards and much, much more!

Morning Tea & Mural Reveal in Caroline Springs

In the lead up to Neighbour Day, the Caroline Springs community were invited to contribute to a community mural under theme ‘What makes you belong to the Caroline Springs community?’ Those wishing to participate were provided with art supplies and a piece of material to decorate. Stevenson House’s in-house sewing instructor, with help from volunteer Cathryn, were then tasked to assemble each of the 31 completed pieces into a distinct and imaginative mural, showcasing the rich diversity and individuality of our community. The meticulous stitching process consumed a total of 13 hours of work to create the final piece. 45 people including local community members, contributors of the mural, representatives from local groups and more, attended a morning tea event to celebrate the success of the project and to mark Neighbour Day at Stevenson House, where the mural is now displayed permanently.

Cultural Diversity Week Festival Celebrations

Posted on by Alison La Rose

Council celebrated Cultural Diversity Week in a brand new festival format from 18-24 March 2024!

This new delivery mode of Cultural Diversity Week Festival (CDWF) meant that community members were able to attend a series of events across the City as opposed to the single event held in previous years.

Across the week, hundreds of residents joined us at several planned events including a free middle eastern cooking experience,  a community artwork celebration, our main CDWF event as well as a social media camapign showcasing the dreams of notable community members. Read on to find out more about these events.

Monday 18 March | Ramadan Craft Workshop

To begin CDWF, Stevenson House in Caroline Springs welcomed attendees of all faiths to participate in a Ramadan craft workshop. Whilst learning about Ramadan and it’s importance for our Muslim community, participants created and decorated traditional paper lanterns and wooden moons. Our Muslim attendees expressed their gratitude for the inclusion of a specific Ramadan session in the CDWF program of events.

Thursday 21 March | Middle Eastern Cooking Experience
On Thursday 21 March we welcomed Hamed from Cafe Sunshine & SalamaTea كافه سلامتى to Fraser Rise Children’s & Community Centre for a free middle eastern cooking experience. Our participants were absolutely wowed by Hamed’s story of his personal journey of coming to Australia, the challenges he faced in settling in, and his pursuit of a career in the hospitality industry. Participants were then split into groups to work at different stations, ensuring everyone had a chance to learn the recipes being prepared. The Baklava station definitely proved to be the most popular! All participants really enjoyed the cooking experience, experimenting with new recipes and spices, and were impressed by their creations. Our team were delighted to share the meals with our lucky participants at the end of the event. You can view a video of the event on the Melton Learning Directory Facebook page.
Friday 22 March | Our Community, Our Story

On Friday evening, Timbertop Children’s & Community Centre in Aintree celebrated our diverse community by sharing pictures, stories of our families and culture, food and dance with a splash of Holi colour! Attendees at the ‘Our Community, Our Story’ event worked together to create a collage artwork which will be displayed in the centre, providing an immediate visual connection to the space for all of our community, fostering a sense of belonging and creating a culturally safe environment.

Saturday 23 March | City of Melton Harmony

On Saturday 23 March, Fraser Rise Children’s & Community Centre came alive as it played host to CDWF’s official flagship event. Attendees enjoyed cultural performances, interactive activities for all ages, multicultural food and more. The chill out/quiet space was popular for those attending with additional needs and families with babies.

18 – 24 March | My Dream! Portraits & Stories

The ‘My Dream! Portraits & Stories’ campaign was delivered via Council’s main social media channels and website as well as printed posters in our Libraries. The 12 posters showcase 12 active community members who have made a significant contribution towards making the City of Melton an inclusive and welcoming place where diversity is embraced and celebrated. The images and stories will also be featured in Council’s Interfaith and Intercultural Calendar 2025.

Neighbour Day 2024 Activities & Events

Posted on by Alison La Rose

We’re celebrating Neighbour Day (31 March) and you’re invited to join us!

Relationships Australia is passionate about increasing awareness of Neighbour Day, acknowledging that it provides the perfect opportunity to increase social connection in our local area. By being neighbourly in your own neighbourhood you open yourself to creating meaningful connections with those around you who call the same place home.

Join us across the municipality at a range of free events.

SUNDAY 24 MARCH

Taylors Hill Colour Fest

  • WHERE: Taylors Hill
  • TIME: 4pm – 6pm
  • BOOK

THURSDAY 28 MARCH

Community Walk & Morning Tea

  • WHERE: Kurunjang
  • TIME: 9.30am – 11.30am
  • BOOK

Community Mural Morning Tea

  • WHERE: Caroline Springs
  • TIME: 10am – 11.30am
  • BOOK
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