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Centre Talk
14 June 2026
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Friday 19 June - Speaker Spot
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Friday 19 June - Last Day Semester One
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Monday 22 June - Monday Classes Make-up Day
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Tuesday 21 July - Semester Two Enrolments Open
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Monday 3 August - Semester Two Commences
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Welcome...
A packed edition of Centre Talk awaits with outgoing Principal Coordinator Annie's report from the 2026 AGM, followed by an introduction to your new Executive Committee members. Bronwyn has the latest on Semester Two enrolments and programme. There is a reminder about the upcoming Speaker Spot, while Katherine reflects on a successful semester in the Crèche.
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Class news from Philosophy and Pottery reflect the diversity of creative pursuits available to express different passions. Scrap to Sculpture is currently showing their work in the display cabinet, while I reflect on the passing of Annamaria Thorn.
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From the Coordinators...
Principal Coordinator's Report
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A quick overview of the year since the last AGM.
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Enrolment week is always an exciting time, especially after the extended winter break, with each one running smoother than the last. We continue to see new faces in our midyear intake.
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Annie, Outgoing Principal Coordinator
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The crèche started its new model with a healthy roster of volunteers and continues to accommodate four children. Orchestrated by crèche leader Katherine Horne.
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Open Day is always well supported and duly organised by Bridget. It is a well-attended event and I am looking forward to this year’s exhibitions and the delicious delights in the café! Bridget and her team will no doubt have a few surprises.
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The Thank You Dinner is the highlight of the year for the tutors and regular volunteers. It was a fantastic night on the cruise ship MV Learnalot. Rosemary and her team have most likely already commenced preparations for this end to our year.
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Summer in the Centre continued over our long break and was popular as always. Thanks again to Anne-Marie for running this.
Enrolments in Feb went smoothly - thanks to many hours of problem solving by Bronwyn and the enrolment team. They managed to clear the waiting area in around two hours! Huge effort.
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In April, once again Anne-Marie sacrificed her weekend and held a stall for KCLC at the Kalamunda Show. By all accounts it was well attended.
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Our eagerly awaited fire drills were conducted without incident!
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Centre Talk is a vital means of communication, keeping members informed about Class News, lost property, events happening or important information that the Executive wishes to be known. The Editor, Marilyn, has certainly made it her own.
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As my time as Coordinator/Principal Coordinator comes to a close, I must acknowledge and thank the wonderful people who have made up the Executive Committee over the past four years and all the behind-the-scenes people who make our job easier.
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It may sound glamourous “Executive Committee” but these people give numerous hours and put in a lot of hard work in their specific roles.
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As I now vacate this seat, I am assured the centre will be in good hands with the incoming and ongoing Executive Committee and I expect they will receive your full support.
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We are ALL volunteers after all!
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That’s me, off to be a grandparent!
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Your 2026/27 Executive Committee...
Thank you to all who came along and supported the AGM.
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A warm welcome to our newly appointed Executive Committee members, Rosemary, Susanne, Lyndy and Vin (who join existing Executive Committee members Anne-Marie, Deb, Bronwyn, Roger and John), and sincere thanks to our outgoing Committee members, Annie and Brian, for their valued contributions.
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To put faces to the new names on our Executive Committee, please visit our Who’s Who page on the website https://kalamundalearningcentre.org.au/whos-who/. We’ll introduce each Executive Committee member in more detail in future editions of Centre Talk.
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Enrolments
Semester Two enrolments will open on Tuesday 21st July.
• In-person enrolments: Tuesday 21st July to Friday 24th July (9.30am – 2.00pm).
• On-line enrolments: 9.30am Tuesday 21st July to 5.00pm Monday 27th July.
• Classes commence: Monday 3rd August.
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Timetable and Programme
Please click here to view the Semester Two 2026 Timetable.
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Please click here to view the Semester Two 2026 Programme.
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You can also use the search functions on the KCLC's website homepage or view the display boards in the Centre foyer to find the courses that will be on offer in Semester Two 2026.
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Postal Enrolments
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Postal enrolments are available for those who will be unable to enrol online or in-person during enrolment week. Please note that online enrolments can be made wherever there is an internet connection; we often have members enrolling while overseas on holiday.
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Postal Enrolment forms can be collected, submitted and paid for at the Reception Desk, before the end of this semester. Forms can also be posted or emailed. Check the link below for full details. Posted and emailed forms must be received at least 4 business days before enrolments open. They will be processed by the end of the first day of enrolments. We cannot guarantee a placement in the course. If there are no vacancies in the course, applicants will be informed and a refund will be arranged.
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Please click here to download a postal enrolment form and follow the instructions on the form to ensure successful receipt of your submission.
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Special Enrolment editions of Centre Talk will be issued during the mid-year break. Keep an eye out for these for updates and tips.
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Speaker Spot back in the Spotlight...
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Speaker Spot (formerly The Centre Presents) is back! Join us on Friday 19 June as Donna West presents 'Surviving a Lifequake’.
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As with an earthquake, a lifequake (a traumatic life event) creates havoc and destruction.
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Donna will share how she transformed from experiencing panic attacks due to an extended workplace-related lifequake to building up her own resilience and courage to stand up for herself. Donna will also share tools and strategies that can help you to survive your own lifequake.
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Date: Friday 19 June 2026.
Time: 12.45pm to 2.45pm.
Location: Kalamunda Community Centre Hall.
Cost: $5 per person (includes afternoon tea).
Booking: To reserve your seat, please book and pay at the KCLC Reception.
Booking deadline: Wednesday 17 June unless sold out prior.
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Speaker Spot is a series of one-off special talks that anyone, members and non-members, are welcome to attend!
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Crèche News...
What a wonderful semester we have had in Thursday morning crèche.
Our delightful children have provided volunteers with opportunities to join in with games and activities not encountered in everyday adult life, with making worms/spaghetti/hair with play dough being probably the all-time favourite.
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There is a waiting list of mums wishing to enrol in Mums and Dads Free Time - and to have their children minded in the crèche during that class time.
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I am very happy to say that Sue Bailey has stepped up to run a second crèche session on Wednesday mornings. This will enable some of the mums and children on the waiting list to be accommodated. My heartfelt thanks to Sue for this generous act of volunteering. Wednesday morning crèche is programmed to start in Term 4.
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With this extra session running with Sue at the helm, we will need volunteers for those Wednesday morning time slots. So please consider this as an option for your workgroup in Semester 2. If you do not currently have a Working with Children Check card, you can get an application form from Reception. The Centre will reimburse you the $11 fee, once your card has arrived.
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It is absolutely OK to put yourself down as a crèche volunteer while you are waiting for your card.
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I am optimistic that there are enough members, who would like to spend time with some beautiful bubs and charming toddlers, to get this new session up and running.
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Thank you so much to all of the volunteers – current and anticipated! You make a real difference in the lives of our young parent members.
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Katherine Horne
Creche Liaison
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Class News...
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Our friendly Philosophy Circle has reconvened for yet another year of lively discussions going beyond the everyday routine events that govern our lives, and digging a little deeper into the important questions life on this planet poses.
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Of course famous philosophers through the ages are often featured in our sessions in a comprehensible if not easier way to guide us to understanding. But it's not all Socrates and Plato, we also tackle the big questions in life in subjects such as happiness, ignorance, consciousness, stupidity, superstition, our present age of connection and disconnection and of course, 'The Meaning of Life.'
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We enjoy a wide range of subjects brought to us by our learned tutor Brian Jones who guides us through the discussion. The sessions giving us a better view of the world that surrounds us and everyone contributes to the ongoing conversations in a friendly manner.
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New people are always made welcome to the group and encouraged to contribute to the ongoing conversations.
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Semester one has been bursting with creativity in the KCLC Pottery Room.
We are thrilled to have 40 enthusiastic students from beginners to advanced, across our three classes, and every one of them with a passion and curiosity for clay and a great imagination for what can be produced.
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Over the weeks, there has been a great deal of experimentation with glazes and different types of clay. Some students prefer to work their magic on the wheel and others enjoy the challenge of hand building. Either way, the result has produced a variety of work from beautiful mugs and platters to ornate bird houses and sculptures.
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Seven facilitators are working behind the scenes and keeping the kiln firing regularly, we are pleased to welcome a fourth class in Semester Two, just for beginners.
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We look forward to sharing more of our work soon.
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Display Cabinet...
Scrap to Sculpture
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This group have created diverse pieces of sculpture from scrap. Moreover, they send many thanks, and gratitude, to the generous members of the Kalamunda Community Learning Centre for their response to their request for unwanted buttons and jewellery. We will await their next display in the cabinet with anticipation.
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In Memoriam...
Annamarie Thorn
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Ukulele Fun and Annamaria are so intertwined it is hard to imagine the group without her. She was unique and a natural teacher and communicator. Her enthusiasm, indomitable spirit and humour united a disparate group of individuals enabling them to play the ukulele together, while allowing a certain amount of vigorous discussion between songs, as she was well aware of her students' need for this socialisation and letting off steam.
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Over the years many “newbies” to ukulele participated in her class, often mastering the basics and moving on to more advanced classes but they did not forget how they started. She delighted in telling us of meeting them over the years and how they remembered her and missed some of the songs she provided. She created song books each semester, was organised and that was reflected in her indefatigable attitude to life.
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Annamaria was born in South Africa and came to Perth via the United Kingdom. She still sang the occasional song in Afrikaans, the language of her childhood, and often shared memories with her class. A Home Economics teacher, she retired from Maddington SHS but maintained her creativity through various pathways. One example was her involvement in a global art project called ‘Reclaim the Void’ when she made a hand-woven rug as part of healing land and history. A quick glance at her Facebook® page reflects her love of flowers, dragons, crafts, gardens, the environment and Gary, her son. Family was important to Annamaria. This was echoed in how proud she was when her daughter Helene was her support person in Annamaria's 'battle' with government bureaucracy.
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She had an unconventional view of ‘spirituality’ but her humanity reflected empathy and compassion; except for my laugh… it gave her a headache 😂.
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The Celebration of Life for Annamaria will be held in Bowra & O'Dea's Chapel, 131 Great Eastern Highway, Bellevue, commencing at 10am on Friday 19 June.
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Please note that submissions for Centre Talk should be emailed to Centre_Talk@kclc.org.au. An email, acknowledging receipt of your contribution, will be sent.
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