Community Lunches

Come together over a warm meal at Notting Hill Neighbourhood House with our weekly Community Lunches, held every Thursday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.

Each week, we serve a simple and nourishing lunch of bread and soup, open to everyone in the community. These gatherings are about more than food. They create space for connection, conversation, learning, and celebration.

Throughout the year, our Community Lunches have featured:

• Guest talks from Victoria Police, Suburban Rail Loop Authority, City of Monash, nutritionists, and the Carers Network.

• Celebrations of important days such as Wear It Purple Day, R U OK? Day, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, and Women’s Health Week.

• Live music from Players, formerly known as Travelling Wannabees, a talented group of musicians from University of the Third Age.

• Seniors Paint Workshops delivered in collaboration with the Social Inclusion Team at the City of Monash.

Over the past year, we have served more than 1,500 meals, with attendance steadily growing. Weekly numbers average around 35 people and have reached more than 80 guests during special events such as our Christmas Lunch and Seniors Festival Flavours of the World Day. Our guests range in age from 5 to 97 years old and reflect the rich cultural diversity of our neighbourhood.

For us, Community Lunches offer more than a plate of food. They are an open door. Many participants have shared that they had seen one another around the neighbourhood but had never spoken. Now they greet each other with warmth and familiarity, strengthening local connections and building a greater sense of belonging and safety in our community.