NECCHi

See you all next year! From everyone here at NECCHi, we'd like to wish you all a wonderful and relaxing holiday break! We look forward to seeing you all in Biderap season, and welcoming you back into the house for with our term 1 program :) Our Houses are closed for the holiday period, but we'll reopen our doors on January 19. Pop by for a brew at Brewlands and say hi to the team!

Indigo Moon Dye with Patch-Work Join us to experiment with the process of natural dyeing in relation to the lunar cycle in a series of group practices with Patch-Work.  At each gathering, we will experiment with ways of working with Indigo dye to mark time and place, responding to the motif of the moon. This stems from our seasonal way of gardening with Indigo Persicaria tinctoria — a plant that creates a blue dye— through cycles of seed saving, propagation, harvest, and dye making. Slow and labour intensive, this yields a small amount of dye that we use to make textiles together. This series is an invitation to contribute to a group dye practice. We see group practices as a way of collective experimentation and learning, acknowledging that each person brings different knowledge to the table. Book now Turning Japanese: an 8-week Japanese Language and Culture Workshop Turning Japanese is an eight-week beginner’s Japanese language and culture workshop for curious people who want more than just the language. Over eight weeks, we’ll learn Japanese alongside an exploration of the country’s nine regions—diving into local food, dialects, rituals, festivals, history, and politics, all while building practical grammar and language skills. You’ll be guided by Emi, an experienced Japanese teacher and proud language and history nerd. Emi is also a trained chef who has spent the past 10 years working in various restaurants around Naarm. With her passion for both language and food, each lesson will be fun, interactive, and served with a homemade treat inspired by her childhood. Whether you’re preparing for a trip, starting your language-learning journey, or simply looking for something new in the coming year, Turning Japanese is for you. Are you ready to turn Japanese? Join now—there are only 10 seats! Turning Japanese starts January 23 Book now

Kid's Cooking Corner with Kat! Join Kat at the Newlands House on a Friday morning for this kid-friendly cooking class, introducing children to making yummy, healthy dishes! Each session will be a fun, hands-on exploration of foods and food growing, followed a long (kid's) table lunch in the lovely Newlands Community Garden (weather permitting)! Our 'Carrot' Class is for kids aged 3-5, with the help of a parent. Children will learn about flavours, health, cooking, kitchen safety and hygiene while developing basic cooking skills in a fun, inclusive space. Stay tuned for upcoming dates! Book now We're adding a Tuesday afternoon to our lineup of Little Seeds Playgroups in Biderap Season! Connect with your kids and other local families at Newlands Little Seeds Playgroup on Tuesdays from 10-12pm and join us for a range of enriching activities to support your child’s physical, mental and social development.  Play games, be creative, make music, and listen to stories with your children while meeting and connecting with other parents and carers in the Newlands, Coburg, Preston, and Reservoir areas. Our incredibly experienced facilitator Rose will devise a range of engaging activities and set up the space every week – all you need to do is show up!  Book now

Shapes & Vessels: Handbuilding Ceramics Class with Chris Ellis Shapes and vessels is a 4 week course in hand building with clay. We will use a variety of hand building techniques to assemble a vase, a vessel, or a sculpture by stacking and joining spheres, cubes, triangles and cylinders we make. The class is a playful approach to hand building. Each week, we will meet for 2.5 hours and will cover: Hand building, assembling/joining, the firing process, and decorating and glazing. Materials and tools will be provided, just bring yourself! Book now Baby Massage Workshop with Bibha Sharma Join Nurse and Infant Massage Specialist Bibha Sharma for this three-week workshop on full body baby massage, held at the Newlands Neighbourhood House. In each one-hour session, parents will be guided through a number of specific strokes for baby massage, with the aim of practicing the methods at home. Sessions two and three will begin by addressing any questions or concerns parents had in their home practice, before introducing new techniques and strokes. The three-week course is designed to allow for an intuitive approach to baby massage, and one that prioritises confidence and comfort, where both parents and babies can gain the full benefits of this practice. Book now

Blow Your Horn: Beginners' Brass and Horn Big Band at NECCHi Basil returns in 2026 with NECCHi's own beginners' brass and horn band! Blow Your Horn is a beginner-friendly Horn and Brass band group, for those who have been learning but are keen to play alongside others. The fortnightly session is a fun, beginner-friendly space to play that horn that has been sitting in its case, waiting for a revival! Come with your wind instrument (trumpet, saxophone, trombone, clarinet, tuba, oboe, bassoon, etc.), and all equipment needed to play. The session will include a warm-up and we will learn to play a simple tune together, with opportunities to improvise. All ages and abilities welcome :) Book now From Seeds to Streets: Creative Writing about Local Places with Simone King Gardens are restorative and fertile places for writers. They are vital, dynamic and can teach us about life’s cycles. They are spaces of mystery and uncertainty where things change, emerge or stir under the surface beyond our control or understanding. The NECCHi Wayi garden sprawls out into a suburban landscape with an interesting history, which adds layers of sensory experiences and stories to this special place. Come enjoy some slow time paying attention and writing with me in the beautiful Wayi Garden at NECCHi, Newlands. We will engage in meditative writing practices in the garden, write creative pieces in response to a range of exercises and prompts, and read and discuss evocative pieces of writing about gardens and the suburbs. We will also deepen our understanding of the Wayi Garden and the Newlands area. Depending on participants’ interest and capacity, some sessions may involve short walks from the garden into the suburban streets around it. Book now

🌒 Vinyasa Led by Rachael, each Vinyasa class starts gently and builds up, options will be offered throughout and you will be encouraged to move in a way that listens and honours your body. This might mean taking stronger or more gentle options depending how you are feeling and your intentions for the day. This evening class will finish with a 10 minute guided relaxation. Book Now 🌓 Slow Flow Led by Jemmi, Slow Flow allows the body to become more familiar in a pose & can invite an opportunity to make adjustments and modifications to support what feels best for each individual. The deliberate and mindful practice of a Slow Flow yoga class can help to ease tension in the body and mind and bring a sense of calm & rejuvenation. Book Now 🌔 Merri Meditation Join Rachael, as we gather together for a five-week series of guided meditations inspired by the nature of the creek. Surrender your stress, dissolve tensions and reclaim a moment of calm and quiet presence in your day as we explore the beautiful spirit of an element each week. Book Now

Get Your NECCHi Membership for 2026! NECCHi is a member-based not-for-profit organisation, which means that as a member, you can play an active role in shaping the organisation.  As a NECCHi Neighbour, you get:  10% discount on full-priced tickets 4 free brews from Brewlands (that includes coffee, tea, chai, and hot chocs!) 1 pkt seeds from the NECCHi garden (subject to seasonal availability) Attend any $5 per session programmed activities for free  Free hotdesking at East Coburg Invitation and voting rights at our AGM Become a NECCHi Neighbour!