East Melbourne Community Christmas Picnic at Bishopscourt

The annual Christmas community picnic, organised by the East Melbourne Group and East Melbourne Neighbour Network as a joint community initiative, will be hosted by the new Anglican Archbishop, Dr Ric Thorpe and his wive Louise Arden-White at Bishopscourt on Sunday, December 14 from 12pm to 3pm.

Dr Thorpe was elected in May 2025 and was previously the Bishop of Islington in the Diocese of London. East Melbourne warmly welcomes Dr Thorpe and his wife to our community and are grateful to them for opening Bishopscourt Gardens to the community.

The organising committee encourages residents to come along and invite neighbours, friends and family to an afternoon of community music and entertainment for all. BYO picnic hamper and rug (or order a picnic hamper from Roccella's). Accomplished soprano and local resident, Alex Lidgerwood, will perform alongside her father John, and another local legend, Leno del Giudics, of Il Duca fame will entertain the audience with his Italian classics. The East Melbourne Community Choir will also lead us in a community singalong of Christmas carols.

Market stalls and children’s entertainment too. And look out for Santa who will arrive on a Fire Truck!

Get fit in ‘26!

The East Melbourne Neighbour Network (EMNN) has created an expanded range of health and wellbeing activities for people of all ages.

The 2026 Health & Wellbeing Program of NEW and ongoing activities for Term 1 will commence in February.

Activities include:

Monday: Mindful Mat Pilates (9.30am); Chair Yoga (10. 30am); Yoga & Movement (5.30pm); Book Group (7pm)

Tuesday: Yoga (8.45am); Mindful Mat Pilates (9.45am); Walking Group (8.30am); Pilates (9am); Book Group (12noon); Community Choir (7pm)

Wednesday: Mindful Mat Pilates (9.15am)

Thursday: Morning Meditation (online – 7.30am) FREE; Yoga (8.00am); Pilates (9am and 10. 30am); Ukulele (3pm);

Friday: Gentle Exercise (9.30am); Social Morning Coffee & Guest Speaker Series
(10. 30am) – monthly);

Rotating Days: Intergenerational Activities (with kindergarten children and seniors), 10am (monthly)

For further information check out EMNN website: emnn3002.org or email: [email protected]

Do you like to sing?

Would you like to try, or do you miss, singing in your life?

The East Melbourne Community Choir is seeking new members for 2026 and welcomes anyone interested in joining.

No auditions. You don't need to be a “good” singer; just enjoy singing together.

If you want to be involved in something special in your community, join this welcoming choir which places more accent on fun than the formal.

Rehearsals: Tuesday night (during school term)

Time: 7pm to 8.30pm

Venue: Powlett Reserve Community Room, Cnr Grey & Simpson streets, East Melbourne.

Cost: $100 per term

For more information email: [email protected]

Or call Richard on 0401 555 498 or Ann-Maree on 0417 173 818 •