Cooking With Christy

On Wednesdays the children at Pinaroo OOSH cook with Christy. While they cook, they learn about where the food has come from, what dishes can be made from it, and how what they cook supports vulnerable people in the community.

Dishes are different every week; plumb sauce, bread and butter pudding, pumpkin soup, all of these delicious meals are then frozen and donated to our Centre. The meals are then given to people who are finding times tough.

While the children learn invaluable cooking skills, they are also contributing an important kindness to our community.

The Young and the Young at Heart - 
Creating Caring Communities

The intergenerational project came about after undertaking smaller programs in Winmalee. When Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre manager Morna was speaking with Uniting Minister Leigh Gardiner about social isolation, especially in nursing homes, the idea of undertaking an intergenerational project with Springwood Uniting Care and Uniting Kids Care was born. We know that one in five older Australians are socially isolated, however this rises to a third of older people living in residential aged care.

With a successful Club Grant from Springwood Sports Club, we met with Springwood Service Manager Lucinda, and Sara, Director, Springwood Uniting Kids Care about the idea of a garden where the older people could interact and share knowledge with the children. Repurposing a strip of land that needed the removal of weeds and agapanthus, the garden began to take shape.

The land now has had a retaining wall built, along with raised garden beds and filled with rich garden soil - thank you Jamie at Shantana for supporting the project. Each week the children and residents will tend the garden and plant new vegetables, herbs and learn where fresh food comes from. The next stage is a mosaic art project for seating, and we are hoping a mural will be installed. The project will continue into the future to include other activities. A huge thank you to Springwood Sports Club, Barney for his garden building skills, and Ken his offsider.

FUSE

NEW - Little Free Library

We have opened a local Little Free Library which is situated at Coles Shopping Village.

Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre has now made available at Our Community Shop, with the assistance of Marion Silk, The Little Free Library. The library is an option for families, they can pick up a book/s for the children while in Coles Shopping Village.

The aim of Little Free Libraries is to encourage children, and parents, to read by providing ready access to books in public places. Readers are encouraged to browse, borrow and return a book, or replace it with a similar book if they wish to keep it. The Little Free Libraries motto's are simple: “Take a Book, Leave a Book” and “Always a Gift, Never for Sale”

Developing early literacy skills is essential in preparing children for success in school. Children who enter school with strong literacy skills are better equipped to understand and communicate with their teachers and peers, and to comprehend the information presented to them in class.

We now know that 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life, and so it is important to make the most of this time. Reading, and engaging in conversation turns, with children creates a positive relationship, which further enhances their development.

New books are coming all the time so please come and enjoy this new resource.