Every neighbourhood needs a Rebecca.
Rebecca – or Bec to just about everyone – “moved to Kensington as a young professional over 25 years ago and never left. My partner and I raised our kids here and spent years involved with the local schools and sports clubs.”
Now she works at Kensington Neighbourhood House and, it seems, she spends most of her time unravelling Kensington’s many and varied threads to connect people.
Beyond the parks, “the Kensington Good Karma Network (Facebook page) is excellent for linking up with people; and obviously all new residents should drop into Kensington Neighbourhood House for a chat. We can link people in with everything from art and exercise classes to playgroups and code clubs. Kensington Neighbourhood House also offers lots of volunteering opportunities for people who want to help out locally.”
Bec draws on deep wells of local knowledge and relationships forged over decades of Kensington living. But you get the impression that Kensington’s unique personality makes it easy.
Convenience is another Kensington specialty.
“Personally, I love the many parks and being so close to the river. I also love that everything I need is within walking distance”
“…My workplace, cafes, library, recreation centre/pool (when it reopens), GPs, dentists. If I actually have to leave the suburb, there are two train lines, a bus route (the 402) and the tram (No. 57) to get me where I want to go.”
And every now and then, locals-in-the-know enjoy something that very few people beyond Kensington even know exists. For example, “there is a Kensington Community Fresh Food Market once a month in Skinny Park. Fresh produce grown locally is sold for very low prices or given away. Zero food miles and improved food security for those who need it most. Brilliant.”
According to Bec, Kensington’s diversity is emblematic of the neighbourhood’s openness and tolerance. More than that, this diversity goes to the heart of Kensington’s unique brand of community, one built around the idea of finding room (and a home) for everyone.
And through its diversity, Kensington is Melbourne’s story of multiculturalism down through the decades. Some of the new arrivals stayed, others have moved on, leaving behind their mark – one of Melbourne’s largest Coptic churches crowns the Kensington hill.