Auskick, Port Melbourne
We enjoy coaching the kids and watching their skills improve. Footy skills or background isn't a prerequisite; being fun, having patience and engaging with the kids is more important ...
It's fun to do and Auskick has a great community spirit.  
By Anthony
Photo by Michelle 

 Lulu, Mia and Bob have been friends and neighbours for 10 years.  I asked them what they like about each other.  Mia and Lulu said the best thing about Bob is that he is so helpful.  Lulu says Mia tries so hard to understand and speak English, she grew up in Russia and came to Australia twenty years ago. Bob wonders where Lulu gets the time and energy to do all her volunteering.
Every Thursday morning they go to the Queen Vic market, they go for the great variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and the good prices.
Lulu’s best buy this week were bananas for a $1.00 a kg. The bananas are added to her morning juice with granny smith apples, celery, grapes, plums and pears she says ‘It’s so good!’ Bob got half a dozen fruit buns for $10.00, down from $11.00. He warms the buns then puts butter on top and has it with one of his famous coffees. More bargains to be had next week.
Sally

The old and the new
Does community progress mean tearing down of the old to make way for the new, or can old and new survive together? Without history we could forget the past and lose our character. You choose? 
Peter

 Paul Littmann is the President of the Port Melbourne Business Association.
‘We met through working together on the Waterfront Welcomers Steering Committee.  Paul is a straight talker who is committed to making Port Melbourne a more vibrant place.’
The Business Association provides rickshaw riders for the program that take passengers from the cruise ships to Bay Street. I coordinate a group of 28 enthusiastic local volunteers who greet the cruise ships and provide the passengers with local information. This year the volunteers greeted over 4000 passengers and provided over 1000 rickshaw rides to Bay Street. 
‘It’s fantastic to work with someone who is so enthusiastic and with such a can-do attitude.’
by Dani (story) and Kate (photo)

 Heidi and her husband have lived in Port Melbourne for 10 years and raised 4 boys .   Heidi says, “My favourite place in Port Melbourne would have to be Crichton Reserve. As we don’t have a back yard Crichton Park across the road became “Our Backyard”. Many of our neighbours use the park as their play area also and it has become a central area for us all and has sparked some wonderful friendships. We have often enjoyed a spontaneous and relaxing dinner and drink with our neighbours in the park. I have hosted Christmas and numerous kids’ parties in this park. My children have learnt to crawl, walk, climb and ride a bike in this park. The kids have the neighbourhood kids to play big games of cricket, soccer or footy and skills have been developed. There isn’t a day when my gate doesn’t get knocked on by one the neighbourhood kids wanting my kids to go to the park. This park has been the best asset to my family. 

This is a great place to live. We love the community feel and participation in the area. This is what makes Port Melbourne what it is.”
Michelle

Zara is three. She thinks she's human. She likes to sit in people's laps and getting stuck in the trampoline! 
Zara can be found every day at 5pm with the other dogs at the local park in Port Melbourne.
Michelle