November 8th, 2026Community Cuppa connecting community
Back at the beginning of August I saw a post on the Grapevine by a local woman I hadn’t met, Jodie Hawkins, with photos of the Senior Cits room at the back of the Daylesford Town Hall, asking whether anyone would be interested in getting together there as a community.
Well, there was an overwhelming response to the post, people were keen, they loved the space, and offered suggestions: board games, piano music/singalongs, themed events, bake and bring lamingtons, sponges, community dinners. It was even floated that Max Primmer’s Ageing DisGracefully group might do some tabletop dancing….
I and others said we’d be keen to support the idea, and soon after we met with Jodie and began to figure out how we’d do it. We negotiated with the council to use the space for free, which was wonderful. Not everyone knows that this offer is open to not-for-profit community groups in the shire. We were offered cupboard space for our bits and bobs. Thanks HSC.
Jodie paid the insurance. Kate and Ethan at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre auspiced us so we could receive a bit of funding for tea and coffee. And they’ve printed our posters and supplied milk, tea, coffee, a coffee machine and some treats, and I pick flowers for the tables from their gardens every week.
The generous humans at Daylesford Community Op Shop said we could go shopping and just take anything we needed. Tablecloths, vases, coffee plungers, they were just so wonderful. And they’ve been promoting our posts, as have many others.
Photographer Tommy Campion did photo shoots for us to get things going. We even roped in some visiting uni students who were very tickled by the experience.
Jodie has baked fresh scones every Tuesday morning, and whipped fresh cream for them. She’s now a friend rather than someone I only ever knew from social media.
Natasha Hall, of Walters Café at the Lake, has baked for us extraordinarily delicious gourmet cakes every week. One of Jodie’s neighbours, Robert – who just happened to have been a chef who worked on the QE2 – brought along a truly memorable rhubarb and almond flan.
I’ve had fun bringing my collection of vintage tablecloths, picking flowers and choosing vases to decorate the hall, and hanging streamers. Every week I meet new people, perhaps bearing a delicious offering, they may just have moved to town, or maybe I’ve met them online but never in person. It’s great to just use social media to facilitate connection, but then experience the real deal in person.
Photographer Anthony Scibelli came down to the last session we had and took some photos of us in full swing. He wouldn’t hear of charging us either.
And then a couple of people quietly walk into the kitchen and start washing up for us, so we won’t be left with all the dishes, they say, chatting companionably all the while. And now The Local has offered to include this write-up and get the word out.
We deliberately made the time just before school pickup so parents who feel like a bit of adult company can bring the littlies and have a cuppa before launching into the second shift. Everyone is welcome.
We have board games, jigsaws, knitting and colouring for those who want to do something while they chat, but people mainly seem to want to talk to one another. The idea is it’s your lounge room, we set up the space, and the rest is up to whoever turns up. And yes, there’s a sofa.
Come along, and bring someone you think would enjoy it. Community Cuppa is back on Tuesday, November 10 from 1pm to 3pm.
Words: Teresa Castley | Image: Anthony Scibelli
