Glen Eira Community Hub - Caring | Connections | Conversations

Melbourne has been wearing face masks for the last week and we would like to commend you all on adapting and working together to keep our communities and ourselves safe.

Your mission this week is simple - take a photo in your mask in your best superhero pose and send it to cengagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au. We want to see the most creative photos possible! You could make use of a zoom background you have been saving, showcase your photo editing skills or use some extra special tricks with your photo composition. I tried a few using some instagram filters to give you a little inspiration (you will have to trust me those flame powers are only used for good!):

We are so excited to see you making the most of your masks that the most creative photos will go into the running to win a $25 gift card

Are you feeling lonely or bored in isolation? Do you love to write letters, draw or colour? Are you looking for new ways to give back to your community? We have a solution! Why not join our Glen Eira Connect program, and use your skills by sending us mail we can pass onto residents in our local aged care facilities.

Our senior residents have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 as many are at increased risk and are suffering from ongoing social isolation. Though we can no longer visit in person, we all know the joy that recieving an unexpected letter or package in the post can bring. GE Connect partners with Warrawee Community who are looking forward to receiving and passing your letters on to their senior residents.

All you need to do is write, draw or create something special and post it to:

GE Connect

854a Centre Road

Bentleigh East 3165

If you are feeling stuck on what you can contribute, we even have some ideas for you:

• Write a short story about what your ideal post COVID world would look like;
• Talk about your dreams and what goals you have set to help you meet them;
• Ask for advice on any current friendship, work or romance issues you are having;
• Talk about the plot of the latest TV show you are hooked on and what you would change;
• Draw a picture of your most imaginative invention
• Create a collage of your life 10 years from now using old magazines and newspapers;
• Talk about your favourite childhood memory and why.

Let your imagination run wild! All ages welcome to participate and if you include your return address, who knows, you might even get a letter back to brighten up your day too (although this isn't always possible)!

Hello, welcome to another weekly challenge. We hope you are all keeping well and looking out for each other during this second lockdown. This weeks challenge is to help spread some joy through the Glen Eira Community by having a rainbow displayed in your windows or the front of your home.

This rainbow can be a realistic drawing, collage, abstract art, physical objects – whatever sparks your inspiration and might make people walking past smile.

We know some of you have already been spreading rainbows around, such as this great chalk rainbow from Shruti and her daughter.

Send us a photo to Cengagement@gleneira.vic.gov.au once you have installed your rainbow or of any you see while exercising outdoors. Lets show how we can come together as the Glen Eira Community and build the biggest gallery of different rainbows ever seen!

Council, Victoria Police are co-delivering Glen Eira’s first Virtual Coffee with a Cop over a series of four events to discuss current community safety topics in Glen Eira. For the first session, join our expert panel from Victoria Police, Better Place Australia, VicRoads, and Glen Eira Council to discuss elder abuse what is being done to address this issue, as well as looking at the broad range of support services available to senior citizens. Pose your questions directly to the panel, all from the comfort of your couch.

Where: Via Teams https://tinyurl.com/yadtm9ys

When: Wednesday 29 July from 7pm – 8pm

Note: Don't worry if you don't have teams, you can still participate by clicking on the link and joining through your web browser!

Hello, we hope you are all doing okay during this tough time for the city. At many times the ongoing impact of COVID-19 can feel overwhelming. To help with these feelings, this week’s challenge is to take 20 minutes from your day this week and try meditation and/or mindfulness.

Studies have shown that there are many benefits of meditation including; reduced stress, better focus, improved mood and more compassion for yourself and others (see: https://www.headspace.com/science/meditation-benefits).

Yet, there is no one way to meditate and it can take time to find the style that works for you. Maybe you like an app, complete silence, sitting on the floor, sitting on a chair or even mindfully colouring in. This week, why not try a few different approaches and let us know what worked best for you?

Here are some resources to help get you started or spark an idea for a new approach:

• https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
• https://www.peacefulkids.com.au/meditations.html
• https://www.headspace.com/meditation/guided-meditation
• https://www.mindfulness.org.au/general-public
• https://www.geleisure.com.au/group-fitness/gel-anywhere/yoga

Here are a few examples from our library staff to get the creative juices flowing!

Keep up to date and follow Glen Eira Libraries on facebook here for more!

The latest Healthy Ageing Newsletter is now available online!

This newsletter offers information on how to access local services, programs and events and is for perfect for any of our older adults, those caring for older adults or planning on ageing in Glen Eira themselves.

These fortnightly newsletters provide ideas for staying healthy, safe and connected during this trying time

To see the most recent newsletter and sign up, visit: https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/services/seniors/health-and-wellbeing/ageing-and-health

This weeks challenge is simple – to say hello and check in on a neighbour that you don’t normally talk to and tell us about it. Last week I bumped into my neighbour outside our local coffee shop and we walked home together with our take away flat whites. It was surprising how great it felt to get to know what my neighbours have been doing throughout isolation and feel a little closer to those that live so close to me. We now stop and chat more often and have even enjoyed a (physically distanced) lunch in the sun together. Definitely a plus for me as I miss lunch with my co-workers!

If you need more inspiration before you reach out, you can listen to the Pineapple Project podcast episode ‘Howdy Neighbour’. The podcast features stories about how meeting your neighbours can be life changing, not just something that feels good.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-pineapple-project/howdy-neighbour/12295654

Last night, SBS insights also had a program on relationships with our neighbors, if you missed it you can catch it on demand here:

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1755203139586/neighbours

And once you've had a chat with a neighbour, let us know what connections you make – you never know where it will lead!”

Since 1996, the My Brother Jack Awards have been uncovering and celebrating local writing talent, and the stories that shape our community. Prizes are awarded annually for short stories and poetry in the categories of Primary; Junior Secondary; Senior Secondary; and Open.

Here is a message from award winning author, Julie Koh:

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.

This year, perhaps more than ever, why don’t you pick up that pen or open that laptop. In these uncertain times, creative writing be deeply therapeutic - a way to express fears, hopes, and joys. Writing can help you reflect, form new ideas, and make sense of our world and our place in it. Writing can also be fun!

My Brother Jack Awards are open to all – from novice writers to future literary stars. So even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer, why not have a go? You might surprise yourself.

Visit www.library.gleneira.vic.gov.au/mbj for more details and to enter.

Our first local project being showcased on the hub is the Carnegie Laneway Project. A team of volunteers have been working tirelessly with the community to transform Laz’s Lane and Rita’s Way into a glorious garden and gallery for everyone to enjoy.

We spoke to Kirsten from the project, who let us know that thanks to a COVID-19 Grant received from Glen Eira City Council (through Carnegie Lions Club) they have been able to purchase more art tiles for the community to paint and contribute to the gallery. To join in, visit the project page here: https://www.facebook.com/CarnegieLaneway

Once you have taken in all the great artwork already submitted you can send a message to Kirsten to arrange a tile to pick up, take home and create your own!