Community notices

Wild At Art tasks Aussie kids with a powerful mission: draw or paint their chosen threatened Australian animal or plant to raise awareness of the 2,000+ endangered species and help protect them from extinction.

Do you have a child, niece, nephew or friend aged 5-12 who loves nature? Tell them about Wild At Art!

Last year we had just under 5,000 incredible entries from kids around Australia. Entries close on Monday 10 August 2026.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

Mount Barker 1 Portfolio have partnered with The Bridgewater Arts Centre, The Hut Community Centre, One50 Dance and a bunch of local artists and teachers to provide a fun, creative program from kids from 3-18 to provide activities from the 14th-17th of July.

Have a taste of Weaving, Henna, Mandalas, Ink Painting, Hip Hop Dance, Foam Printing, Zine Making, Cardboard Automata, Cooking, Cupcake Decorating

Tickets through:

https://events.humanitix.com/host/the-village-well

Food donations for unhoused people in Adelaide

While everyone is finding shopping a bit more expensive these days, unhoused people in Adelaide are finding it extra tough. Could your family add an extra item or 2 into their shopping to help people who don't have as much as you do? We are specifically looking for the following items that are easy to carry in a backpack and don’t require refrigeration:

*one pot meals

*pasta and a pasta sauce

*instant soups

*2 minute noodles

*baked beans

*tinned soups

*tinned spaghetti

*small tins of tuna

*tinned meat

*teabags and instant coffee in smaller jars, long life milk with a lid that screws back on so it doesn't end up all over everything. Sugar in sachets.

*savoury biscuits and maybe a packet of sweet biscuits.

Items can be left in the box in the front office and Gus Brodie-Tyrrell and family will collect weekly this term and donate to Pathways in the North-East. Pathways Community Centre in Modbury is providing hampers for over 2000 households every two weeks. However; not everyone who lines up for food takes a hamper because they are unhoused, don't have access to a kitchen and often have to sleep in their cars or a tent in someone's garden. Gus' grandma Sally who volunteers at Pathways will help make sure the food goes to people who need it most.

Mt Lofty Kindergym

Kindergym has moved back to Uraidla, and we will need volunteers to help us remain affordable and sustainable. Pack up will be Thursdays at 11am, and set up will be the following Monday from 2-4pm, to allow for the Uraidla Markets to use the hall. Even if your child is no longer Kindergym age, consider coming along to help or sending a family member, getting some incidental exercise and helping your community! Also, we are always welcoming new committee members.

For more information, please contact Genevieve at coordinator.mtloftykindergym@gmail.com

AusAlert: Australia's New National Emergency Warning System

Australia's new national emergency warning system, AusAlert, is coming later this year. The new national emergency warning system sends urgent messages to compatible mobile phones and devices within a specified area. There are two types of alerts:

Critical Alerts – cannot be turned off
Priority Alerts – can be turned off

The warning system will provide clear, consistent warnings and advice during emergencies such as bushfires, storms, floods, heatwaves and other significant events. AusAlert will become the nationally recognised source of official emergency warnings, helping Australians better understand risks and take action when needed.

As part of the rollout, a nationwide Critical Alert test will take place on 27 July at 1:30pm in SA. At the scheduled time, compatible mobile devices will vibrate, automatically wake, and emit a loud siren for approximately 10 seconds. This alert cannot be silenced. The alert will be a planned national test and not a real emergency.

You are encouraged to visit www.ausalert.gov.au to learn more about the new warning system, the scheduled test in July, and to understand the warning levels and prepare for emergencies before they occur.

This information is being shared by the Adelaide Hills Council Community Development Team, the Adelaide Hills Community Emergency Resilience Network (AHCERN) and the Uraidla & Summertown Emergency Resilience Group (USERG), a local volunteer group working to strengthen community preparedness, resilience and recovery during emergencies. Through community resilience education, planning and the establishment of a Community Support Hub, USERG aims to help local residents stay informed, connected and supported when it matters most.

USERG have recently joined the Adelaide Hills Community Emergency Resilience Network (AHCERN), whose purpose is to empower and connect communities to build inclusive, accessible and safe approaches to disaster preparedness, relief and recovery across the Adelaide Hills. AHCERN emerged from the the Adelaide Hills Community Action Bushfire Network (AHCABN) — a network of volunteers from various Adelaide Hills organisations and community groups, formed following the Cudlee Creek and Cherry Gardens/Bradbury bushfires which brought together community members with lived experience of bushfire events who were passionate about supporting their local communities.

USERG represents the Uraidla and Summertown district on AHCERN alongside representatives from Woodside, Houghton, Bridgewater & Aldgate, Charleston, Onkaparinga Rotary, BlaizeAid and others.

USERG welcomes community members who would like to help build a safer and more resilient Uraidla and Summertown. We would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in learning more about our work, attending a meeting or becoming involved.

For further information, please contact: userg.community@gmail.com or speak with Sandy Edwards, Socorro Wickens or Sonja Williams

It is important that vulnerable community members who may be at risk of domestic or family violence are aware of options that are available to manage the New National Emergency Warning System alerts.

Advice from Women’s Safety Services includes:

turning the device off or switching to aeroplane mode approximately one hour before the test
keeping it off or on aeroplane mode for up to 24 hours if needed

There are also helpful resources available from:

Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing (1) Facebook
1800 RESPECT(1) Facebook (scroll down) and also website Home | 1800RESPECT

For some members of our community this alert may cause anxiety or difficult emotions, due to past experiences of bushfire. Please take care of yourselves and each other. BeyondBlue is a great service if needed. 24/7 Support for Anxiety, Depression and Suicide Prevention. - Beyond Blue.

USERG - Sandy Edwards, Socorro Wickens, Sonja Williams