NECCHi

What's Happening at NECCHi! From the whole team at NECCHi, we hope you're having a lovely start to the year! As Iuk Season rolls around, the common Short-Finned Eel will make its way down the Merri and Edgars creeks and back into the Yarra. Keep an eye out for them passing! The sun's coming back out, so remember that you're always welcome to drop into one of the Neighbourhood Houses if you need to escape the heat. Take a look at what's on offer between March and May, ahead of our Term 2 Program.

Emi is getting ready to host the second round of her much-loved Turning Japanese workshop series. There are just 10 seats available, so get in quick! 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?  Book Now

Join ecologist Michael Longmore from the Merri Creek Management Committee for a walk along the merri merri to visit and learn about our glorious local eucalypts! We'll be meeting at the Newlands Neighbourhood House on Sunday morning, before heading down to the merri merri. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather! 10-11.30am, Sun Mar 15, Newlands Neighbourhood House 20 Murray Road, Coburg.  Book Now

Necchi's 6th Annual Passata Party 🍅 Get in quick, there are only a few places left at the table for NECCHi's Sixth Annual Passata Party! We're inviting you to a day of cooking, crafting, and sharing delicious food in the Newlands Community Garden. Nonna Rita & Nonno Umberto will be taking us through the process of making homemade passata from cutting and washing through to bottling. Join us in the beautiful Community Gardens afterwards for a long table lunch with your neighbours, and some cool summer treats! Saturday 21st March, 9:30am - 2pm. Wear something red (or something you don't mind turning red), and join us for a day of festivities, family activities, and delicious food 🍅 Click here to book your ticket and secure a spot at the table! More details to come!

Join poet and editor Simone King for a morning of observing and writing in NECCHi’s Community Garden. From Seeds to Streets is a fortnightly creative writing workshop in which participants are encouraged to respond to a range of exercises and prompts, read and discuss evocative pieces of writing about gardens and the suburbs, and deepen our understanding of the Wayi Garden and Newlands area. No writing experience is necessary. You can write in any form: poems, stories, essays, fragments, journal entries, or stream-of-consciousness ramblings.                                 ***** Please note, because of the public holiday, the upcoming sessions of From Seeds to Streets have been moved to the 23rd & 30th of March.  Book Now

Rain Moth Community Nursery Working Bee The Rain Moth Community Nursery are running a working bee next Sunday, and are on the lookout for helping hands! All welcome to join us at this inclusive, family friendly event. Learn propagation skills from experienced green thumbs Help out with starting seeds and cuttings, potting up seedlings, washing pots and more Chat with other lovely plant nerds over a cuppa If you like, you can take home some trays of plants to care for until the sale The working bee will be at the Newlands Neighbourhood House, from 2 - 3:30pm, Sunday 15th of March.  Click here for more info and to sign up!

You pick 'em, we'll churn 'em! 🍦 If you've got some excess fruits and you're not sure what to do with them, bring'm into Newlands and help us churn 'em into delicious local sorbets with our small community-run ice creamery! So far, we've developed a few favourites: Backyard nectarines, lemon, and rosewater (pictured) Nature strip plums, purple basil, and birdseye chili (far out) We're on the lookout for bold flavours and even bolder tasters! Get in touch: programs@necchi.org Don't let'm go to waste!

Become a NECCHi Neighbour in 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 We now offer 'Membership only' option, too, if you're keen to join come on as a voting member at our AGM. Become a NECCHi Neighbour!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLAIRE MOSLEY Newlands Neighbourhood House 20 Murray Rd Coburg North VIC 3058 Ph 03 8528 2332 enquiries@necchi.org www.necchi.org East Coburg Neighbourhood House 32 Nicholson St Coburg VIC 3058 Ph 03 9913 5472