We hop into our April edition of Snippets with a report from our Art Appreciation class and a lunch at Parliament House; plus, we feature some interesting initiatives in the Whitehorse Positive Ageing newsletter; a chance to enrol in Appy Hour; a volunteering opportunity; a link to ANZAC Day services; and a helpful reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries. Happy Easter!
Appreciating the art of fashion
By Barbara Sommers
The Art Appreciation class recently visited the Martin Grant Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Martin is a local Blackburn boy who has been a very successful fashion designer in Paris for many years and is the son of Bev Grant, a member of the Art Appreciation group. In the lead-up to the excursion, the class explored fashion and the photo at right is of class member, Jillian McEwan, who made the hat she is wearing.
Lunch at Parliament House
Course Co-ordinator Elsie Mutton and Class Leader Valerie Donlon enjoyed lunch as guests of Victorian Upper House Member Mr Nick McGowan at Parliament House in March.
Nick has been a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the North-Eastern Metropolitan since 2022 and is very interested in community matters. He donated the lunch as a lucky door prize at last year’s Melbourne Cup celebration. Carl Di Giovine, who was working on the Cup Sweeps table with Elsie and Valerie, won the prize and kindly offered the opportunity to his co-workers.
Get help with your technology at Appy Hour
Are you having a problem with your phone, tablet or computer? Get help solving your problem at Appy Hour, a help-desk service provided for members by members. Currently the help-desk is available on Tuesdays from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (Helen Smith) and on Fridays from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm (Ben Tse). Each help-desk session is half an hour. Bookings are essential and are made through Reception.
Are you a whiz with technology? We’re interested in expanding the service, so if you would like to volunteer your time to help others, please contact Helen Smith at
If our times are not convenient, Whitehorse Manningham Libraries offer one-on-one support with setting up phones, navigating social media, transferring photos, installing apps, and exploring their online collections of eBooks, magazines, music, and films. The service is free, but booking is essential. Call your local library branch to schedule a session.
What’s happening for seniors in Whitehorse
The Whitehorse Council’s Positive Ageing newsletter is a wealth of information for seniors. A couple of articles of interest in the April edition include:
- a chance to get a broken item fixed at the healthAbility Repair Café on Saturday 12 April at Strathdon House and Orchard Precinct, 449/465 Springvale Rd, Forest Hill from 10 am until 2 pm. To learn more about the healthAbility Repair Café go to:
healthability.org.au/services/repair-cafe - Wills and Power of Attorney information sessions will be held at various locations and online in the coming months. Bookings are essential. For more details go to: eclc.org.au/what-we-do/community-legal-education/wills-poa/
To find out more about what’s happening for seniors in the City of Whitehorse go to the Positive Ageing newsletter at mailchi.mp/whitehorse/positive-ageing-news-april-4885180
Volunteers needed to help youth
Youth Referral & Independent Person Program (YRIPP) is a not-for-profit program that delivers trained adult volunteers called “Independent Persons” who attend police interviews with young people in police custody when a parent or guardian is not available. YRIPP also seeks to divert young people from future offending through early intervention at the point of police contact. They are currently seeking volunteers for this service, for more details go to: cmy.net.au/yripp/volunteer/
Local ANZAC Day services
ANZAC Day 2025 is on Friday 25 April and RSL Victoria has provided a list of local dawn services which you can view at rslvic.com.au/anzac-day-services-victoria/
Keep safe, change your smoke alarm batteries
The end of daylight saving is a good reminder to change the batteries in your smoke alarms if they still use the 9-volt batteries. For instructions on how to do it, go to: bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/home-improvement/safety-security/how-to-change-a-smoke-alarm-battery