Following a small hiccough on the first day of term, we once again opened our doors to welcome back our members. It was always an unknown when the COVID-19 virus numbers would rise in our area but thankfully Victoria infection levels are under control. Members will notice a few small changes but we ask you to work with the committee to keep it safe for everyone.
Please do not attend the centre if you feel unwell, plus use the hand sanitisers frequently and social distancing. At the time of printing this newsletter, masks have been re-introduced for all people within the hall. I expect to see some great handmade colourful masks as well as the disposable ones being used. Take care to wash or dispose of the masks frequently or they will be of little use. Biscuits, sugar and coffee are now in packets and the use of our mugs is to be discontinued in the next week. Please support our fund- raising effort by purchasing one or more of our Coffee Cup Keeper bags for a small $8.00 donation. Rubbish bins will no longer be on the tables so we ask you to take your rubbish home with you. At the end of each class please assist your teacher in the wiping of all chairs, tables and any shared equipment used with disinfectant.
If you have not already filled in an enrolment form, please do this as soon as possible and check with your teacher that she has the correct/updated information in her class folder and her home records. We really do need your correct phone no. and address plus email details if you use it, as we have been advised that some members missed the newsletter mail out.
During the renovation you will see the floor was stripped, lights up-graded, the foyer has a new ramp and the ladies toilet now has an impressive hand dryer. We have advised Council of a problem with the disabled toilet door so please take extra care when opening it or use the general toilets for the moment. We have already had one nasty fall in there. The kitchen looks different but as yet the electric stoves have not been installed due to a power problem.
Rita Hawkins has agreed to join our committee and she is assisting us with our technology up-grades etc. Great to have you on board Rita.
The committee has expressed thanks to the many members for their encouragement to us during the past weeks and the long year of shutdown. I am so relieved to have reached this day and will be ready to jump any future hurdles as they occur during this epidemic. Look around your class and take the time to contact any members who have not returned, as they may have really struggled during 2020 and just need a little help to move on.
Rhonda West
CORONAVIRUS PRECAUTIONS (Subject to change)
- If you are unwell, do not attend class.
- Wear a mask at all times (unless medically exempt)
- Use hand sanitiser when entering the building. There will be additional units placed throughout the hall. Soap and water is also suitable for use.
- All members must sign in or use the QR system on their phone listing their name, contact details and relevant class. (QR stands for quick response)
- Practise social distancing.
- There will be no loose packets of tea, coffee, biscuits, etc. No china cups will be available so please supply your own and take it home for washing.
- Rubbish bins will not be placed on the tables so please take your rubbish home.
- All teachers will be responsible for the cleaning down of tables and chairs between classes and at the end of the day.
Masks Masks Masks
I hope we have your attention. The wearing of masks is not a silly idea the committee have thought up, instead it is a Victorian State Government regulation as from the 3rd Feb., until we are advised otherwise.
This ruling is to protect you, your friends and teachers at the centre. The committee are within their rights to refuse you entry to the building. This puts us in a difficult position but will be done if people do not wear a mask. The DHHS site explains the few exemptions. We ask that you supply your exemption in writing from a medical practitioner rather than go through the embarrassing situation of us always asking.
While there are people who genuinely cannot wear masks, for others, it may take extra time, adaptions, alternatives and support to feel comfortable wearing one. It might involve a little trial and error before finding a mask that fits well or is made from a comfortable fabric. When eating or drinking the mask may be removed for that short period.
If you are in a class doing physical exercises you still need to wear a mask but rest frequently between tasks as you feel necessary.
Please don’t make a scene and argue with the desk volunteers, just wear a mask, supply a written medical exemption or leave the building for everyone’s safety.
FACEBOOK NEWS
Contact is now on Facebook. If you already have an account on Facebook, please join to get up to date Contact news, see a showcase of the wonderful crafts our talented members create as well as support and promote Contact classes.
To access the new Contact Facebook page – Search: Contact Community Centre Bundoora, and join.
DONATIONS
We are still collecting Spectacles and stamps but not ring pulls or plastic lids. Please hand your donation to the front desk. Contact always welcomes donations of patchwork materials or anything that can be sold on the donated goods stall.
DATES TO NOTE THIS TERM
Labour Day Monday March 8
Good Friday April 2
Easter raffle coming soon
COMMITTEE VACANCIES
There is still a vacancy on committee for the position of Secretary. Please contact Rhonda West on 0409 979 243 for further details.
NEWS ON CLASSES
There are still vacancies in some classes and we have some new classes. We will be advertising one day workshops (see Rhonda West’s Make a Easter Decorated Duck Egg Workshop details below), guest speakers and other special activities…watch this space for details.
Walking group
Thursday 9.15 am,.
Book Club
Book Club’s first meeting will be Thursday 3 March at 11.15 am – 12.15 am, cost $10 per term. Books will be provided by the Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Charity Table
A new drop in class has been set up on Wednesdays 9.45 – 11.45 am for volunteers to work on donations to local charities. Contact has a number of partly completed sewing projects which will be completed and donated. If you would like to assist in basic sewing please come along, no equipment required.
RECIPE
Melt’n’mix Fruit Cake
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 kg mixed fruit, chopped 1/2 cup rum, whisky or fruit juice
1 apple, coarsely grated 1 tablespoon honey or golden syrup
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 4 eggs
250 g butter, melted 1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup self-raising flour 1 teaspoon mixed spice
DIRECTIONS
Place mixed fruit in large bowl, then add rum. Soak overnight or for 3 hours if possible. Add apple, honey, sugar and eggs and mix well. Stir in cooled butter, sifted flours and mixed spice. Spread the mixture evenly into a deep 19cm square or deep 23cm round prepared cake pan. Bake at 150°C for 3 to 3½ hours.
FRIENDSHIP QUILT
The Contact shut down and Corona virus lock down isolated all of us, especially the people who lived on their own. Getting together virtually sounded like a good idea to a couple of Contact members and a group was created in Messenger to meet online and have regular weekly catch ups. After a couple of false starts – no sound or picture, cameras aimed at ceilings/ear drums/tv screens etc, we finally worked it all out and managed to see each other, meet pets, compare sewing rooms (my room is messier than that!) and share ideas, including some sewing tips.
Discussions led to using the isolated time to create a Corona Friendship Quilt, the theme was autumn colours and we all had to create 9 squares each. The regular virtual meetings sorted out any questions or ideas we had and we bonded as friends in our joint sewing project.
We met in person when the lockdown was briefly lifted and got to exchange our squares and share lunch. For some of us it was the first time we had met. Yvonne came to the rescue with a Corona virus poem, embroidering a label for each of us to include in our blanket. The memorable blankets or table runners created are a testament to our refusal to letting the Corona virus shut us in.
Some of the other classes were conducted on Zoom and many teachers worked on their phones as well.
WORKING BEE
During the break, a working bee was held to make Coffee Cup Keepers.
Thanks to everyone who helped.
PLEASE Buy a Coffee Cup Keeper $8.00. Available at the front desk.
Comes with free white mug (while stocks last)
ONE DAY WORKSHOP
Wednesday March 24, 2021 Rhonda West will run an Easter Decorated Duck Egg workshop.
$20.00 will cover the cost of the workshop and you can take home your own project!
Limited spaces, bookings essential. Register your interest at the front desk.
WHILE WE WEREN’T HERE!
The Bundoora Hall was a hive of activity and you can now see the results in the foyer and toilets.
WHAT A BRIGHT IDEA!
Always cut thread at an angle to make it easier to pass through the eye of a needle.
If the fluff from knitting mohair or angora gets up your nose and in your eyes, put the yarn in the fridge for a while before knitting. It really helps reduce the fluff.
SMILE A WHILE
My wife sat down beside me on the couch as I was channel surfing with the remote.
She then proceded to say, “Oh, what is that on the TV?”
I replied, “Dust.”
And that’s how the fight started…
It has been raining cats and dogs all week and my husband is really starting to get frustrated and angry. He just keeps standing by the window, staring at us.
If this continues, I am going to have to let him in.
And that’s how the fight started…
I went shopping with my wife to buy me some new business shirts but found that the largest size the store had was still too tight.
I asked my wife, “Where do I go from here?”
My wife replied, “Straight to the gym!”
And that’s how the fight started…
Thanks to Maree and Rhonda (Wednesday jewellery group) for producing this newsletter. Articles are always welcome.
This newsletter is printed courtesy of Anthony Carbines State Member for Ivanhoe
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