Moongala Women's Community House

Drop in for a visit this week, you are always welcome!

Drop in for Chatty Cafe this week! 🌻🌻🏠
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10.30am - 12 noon. Both are a friendly morning where you can share in some friendly company!
Tuesday morning we play card games - no experience necessary, newbies welcome and we have a friendly Crochet and Knitting group who would love some new members! And Wednesday we have a walking group from 10 - 11am who meet back at Chatty Cafe and we also have a Crochet Group.
And we have barista coffee! ☕️

Mondays is our Charity Day! Baking, sewing and cardmaking (full)

You are welcome to come and visit!

Yesterday we celebrated four of our wonderful volunteers at the Glen Eira Council Volunteer Recognition Award Ceremony! 🌼 A huge congratulations to Deidre, Kris, Mina, and Jenny (who unfortunately was unable to attend at the last minute).

Deidre so generously helps out every single morning—opening up and setting everything up for the day, putting out the flag, clearing the dishwasher, and turning on the heating and urn so we are all warm and ready to go. Deidre also steps up to assist with barista duties when needed and regularly helps distribute our flyers and brochures. We were absolutely delighted to see her receive this award for 500 hours of volunteering!

Kris celebrated an incredible 10 years of volunteering with us! From regularly helping in our childcare program and maintaining the garden at the old Moongala, to setting up rooms, distributing flyers, and serving as one of our regular Chatty Café baristas, Kris simply helps in any way she can. It was wonderful to see her receive this well-deserved award.

Mina expertly runs our Wednesday Chatty Café program, making beautiful coffees and setting up morning teas for our groups. She graciously leads the other volunteers involved and is an absolute delight to both participants and staff alike. Mina also helps with events and even instigated an ESL study group to help a friend with her English. Congratulations, Mina!

Jenny was our amazing Crochet Group facilitator for 5 years, giving her time and incredible expertise to assist others on their crochet journeys. She leads with compassion and community spirit. Showing incredible dedication, she continued to travel down weekly—and later fortnightly—even after moving to Bendigo! Thank you, Jenny; we missed you and are so sorry you weren’t able to be there.

Our community is what it is because of their dedication and commitment. We warmly thank these four wonderful women, as well as all of our incredible volunteers—you truly are the heart of our organisation!

Thank you, Glen Eira Council, for the opportunity and for such a lovely afternoon!

A quick reminder to our lovely community that Moongala will be closed this Monday, 8 June for the King’s Birthday public holiday. We hope you all enjoy a safe and relaxing extra day off!
But don't worry, we’ll be back and raring to go on Tuesday morning! ☕✨
Drop by on Tuesday for our wonderful Chatty Cafe—the perfect place to catch up, meet new friends, and enjoy a warm chat. We have plenty happening to keep you entertained:
🃏 Card Games – Bring your competitive spirit! We are playing Quidditch - beginners welcome!
🧶 Crochet & Knitting Group – Bring along your latest project or start a new one.

☕ Barista Coffee – Freshly brewed and ready to warm you up!
Everyone is welcome! Whether you're a regular or dropping in for the very first time, we would love to see you.

📅 Plan Your Visit:
🌐 Check our website for full program details and upcoming events.
📞 Call us: 9570 3468
📧 Email: [email protected]
See you on Tuesday! 👋💛

What’s On at Moongala this Week!

Monday Morning Tea Baking Session

Join us tomorrow, Monday 1 June, from 10.30 am – 12.00 noon for a warm and welcoming morning of baking, learning and conversation at Moongala.

This week, Lisa will be showing us how to make Kourabiedes – delicious traditional Greek shortbread cookies dusted with icing sugar. Whether you're an experienced baker or simply curious to learn something new, we'd love to see you there.

☕ Enjoy a cuppa, meet new people and take part in a friendly community activity.

Tuesday

Chatty Cafe and Games! 10.30-12 noon

This is a fun morning where you are treated to morning tea, a cuppa or barista coffee plus join in and learn a game or two!

We are currently playing Quiddler! It’s a word card game, easy to pick up and no experience is necessary. Why don’t you join us!

Tuesday Crochet and Knitting group is led by our wonderful volunteer Vickie and it is for beginners as well as those with experience and just looking for like minded people to share ideas, skills and company. 10-12 noon.

The session includes morning tea, cuppa or barista coffee.

Wednesday

You are welcome to join us in our walking group and our Chatty Cafe session. Our wonderful volunteer baristas would be happy to make you a cuppa and enjoy a morning of friendly company and connection! 10-12 noon.

Wednesday Crochet is a wonderful group of kind and caring crocheters who are willing to share their skills!

Spinning and Knitting Group this wonderful bunch of women have been meeting for many years! They are always keen to share their skills with others who would like to learn! 12.30-3pm

Stretch, Strength & Balance 1.15-2.15pm under the expert instruction of Ange.

Chair Yoga 2.30-3.30pm is for those who may not wish to exercise from the floor anymore but value the importance of regular exercise. Ange will guide you according to your ability.

Thursday

Art Matters - A self led art group. Materials supplied 10-12 noon.

**NEW - Social Sewing 4 June - 25 June (and likely to continue each week!) 1-3pm

Join in our new group and learn or practice skills you already have. Work on your own project or make something together. BYO materials. Call for more information

All are welcome.

Please let us know if you would like to attend any of our groups or activities: 📧 [email protected]
📞 9570 3468 (please leave a message)
🌐 Visit our website and send an enquiry www.moongala.org.au

We hope you can join us!

We recently gathered for National Volunteer Week, for a special Volunteer Morning Tea to celebrate the amazing people who give their time, care and talents to our Moongala community.

Our volunteers are truly the heart of our organisation. Their generosity, kindness and willingness to help create the welcoming and supportive environment that makes Moongala so special.

A heartfelt thank you to our regular volunteers — Leanne, Vicki, Noelle, Karen, Olga, Helen, Lisa and Rose — who help facilitate and contribute to our groups each week. To our wonderful Chatty Café baristas Lee, Adrian, Mina, Kris and Erika, who always greet everyone with warmth and a smile.

Thank you also to Deidre, who opens up and prepares Moongala each morning, Annette who faithfully letterbox drops our flyers, and Carmel and Wendy who regularly assist with administration behind the scenes.

To our Board members who generously dedicate their expertise and time to guide our direction and decision making.

We are also so grateful to Rosy, who lovingly makes jams, chutneys and crochet-top tea towels to support asylum seekers, along with the many others in our community who knit, crochet, sew, bake, cook meals and assist with admin, to support others with care and compassion.

Every contribution matters, and together you help make Moongala a place of connection, belonging and community.

Thank you for all that you do. We feel so supported and incredibly lucky to have you as part of the Moongala
family. 💜

💜 Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers 💜

During National Volunteer Week, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the extraordinary volunteers who are the heart and soul of our Moongala community.

Your generosity, kindness, creativity and willingness to share your time and talents make our neighbourhood house a place of connection, support and belonging.

🍲 To our wonderful baking and cooking groups, who prepare delicious meals, community lunches, special event catering and freezer meals for those in need.

☕️ To our amazing volunteer baristas, who join us at our Chatty Cafe sessions to make barista coffees for regulars and visitors who drop by to enjoy receiving such a heart-warming treat! And our Tues baristas are currently training anyone who is interested to learn how to make a brew, giving us more opportunities for volunteers to be involved!

🧵 To our dedicated Charity Crafters, who sew for community projects, create practical items for people doing it tough, and lovingly make wraps etc for injured wildlife.

🧶 To our knitters and crocheters, who create beanies for babies and people experiencing homelessness, and contribute to meaningful projects such as Heart to Heart, our 16 Days of Activism displays, and other community initiatives that spread care and awareness.

💌To our talented cardmakers, who design beautiful handmade cards for our art and craft table, raising funds to support asylum seekers.

🍓 To Rosy, whose delicious jams and preserves and crochet-topped tea towels are lovingly made and sold to support the same important cause.

📋 To those who assist in the office with reception and administration, helping to keep everything running smoothly.

🚗 To the volunteers who provide transport, ensuring others can attend activities and remain connected to our community.

🎨 To those who keep our VICROCKS Facebook group rocking both with administrating, painting and hiding rocks for others to find and enjoy!

🌟 To our generous group facilitators, who share their skills and expertise so others can learn, create and enjoy activities they love.

🤝 To our dedicated Collective and Board members, whose guidance, wisdom and expertise help ensure Moongala remains strong, sustainable and true to our vision.

Every meal prepared, every stitch sewn, every card crafted, every lift offered, every class facilitated and every task completed makes a real difference.

Thank you for the care, compassion and community spirit you each bring to Moongala. We simply could not do what we do without you.

🌟🌟We are celebrating our volunteers at gathering enjoying a cup and sweets and savouries on Monday 25 May 12 noon -1pm

www.moongala.org.au

Community, Connection and a Delicious Lunch!

We had a wonderful Soup Lunch on Thursday as our contribution to Australia’s Largest Community Lunch, celebrating Neighbourhood House Week.

Our guests enjoyed two delicious homemade soups:🌽 Corn Chowder🎃 Thai Pumpkin Soup🥖 Served with croutons and fresh bread rolls

We were delighted to welcome 29 people to share a warm meal and great company.

Our “What Does Moongala Mean to You?” Community Wall was filled with heartfelt messages about friendship, support, belonging and connection.

Many people also generously purchased tickets in our Indoor Plant Raffle, which will be drawn next week so that others who were unable to attend still have the opportunity to contribute. All proceeds will go to the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP).

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers who worked tirelessly shopping, preparing ingredients, cooking the soups and croutons, and serving our guests.

Your kindness and dedication help make Moongala such a welcoming and caring community. 💛

🍰☕ The Morning Tea Group – You’re Invited! ☕🍪

Join us for a relaxed and friendly morning as we make a delicious Apple Spice Cake and enjoy with a cuppa afterwards! Karen will guide us and if you haven’t been before, come along! Lots of fun and a very friendly, caring bunch!

It’s a lovely way to connect, share a cuppa, and enjoy some homemade treats. 💛

This group meets fortnightly to create and connect

⏰Monday 18 May, 10.30-12 noon
💲 Cost: $2
📞 Call: 9570 3468
📧 Email: [email protected] to book your spot

We’d love to see you there!