Howlong Community Learning Inc. is a fairly young community group - we were formed following a community forum in early 2003, to address a need for local, accessible and affordable learning opportunities for all in our township.

We are volunteer run, and community driven - we regularly survey our communtiy to see which courses and activities people would like to participate in and which skills they would like to share with neighbours and friends.

Successful courses so far have been held on topics such as parenting skills, communication skills (especially for committee meetings!), health matters (weight management, fitness, strength training, early childhood), cooking and nutrition, leadership skills, computer skills (all levels, various applications, all age groups), arts and crafts, lifestyle issues (yoga, tai chi etc.).  Over 200 people have particiapted in our courses so far.  Childcare is often available for day-time courses, thanks to the services of Wodonga's Mobile Child Care Service.

We have also established a local Toy Library, which was launched early this year and is well-supported.  Children are encouraged to bring their parents, and also to attend Story Time when the mobile library arrives in town - for this activity, volunteers read children's stories and encourage related play.  Other family activities include an excursion to see Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing, an OzOpera production held in Wodonga in August.

We depend on donations of time, goods and services.  Our aim is to have a purpose-built facility within 5 years; in the meantime we are very grateful to the congregation of the Howlong Uniting Church, St Andrews, for the use of their Hall. 

In November 2004 we were awarded the NSW Premier's Bronze Award for Excellence in Community Development, together with our 'guardian angel' Julie Woodrow, Senior Healthy Communities Worker with GMAHS.

If you want to know more about our work and can't find it on these pages, please feel free to contact us at howlongcommunitylearning@gmail.com