Firstly, thank you to everyone who has joined me for a cuppa so far. It's been such a pleasure getting to know some of you and hearing about your experiences within our Knox community.
I wanted to take a moment to share my hopes for The Village Circle, because I can't bring this vision to life alone—I need your help to grow it.
At its heart, The Village Circle is about connection.
While we are already part of the school community through our children's enrolment, I believe we have an opportunity to create something deeper: a village where families know and support one another beyond school drop-offs and pick-ups.
This vision has been inspired by my hometown of Mullumbimby, where community care was simply part of everyday life. When a new baby arrived, families rallied around with meal trains to nourish and support the mother during those early postpartum weeks. When someone experienced illness, hardship, or recovery, neighbours stepped in to help where they could. Small acts of kindness made an enormous difference.
I would love to see this become the "done thing" here too.
Can you imagine being part of a school community that rallies around you when you need it most? A community where a family facing a difficult season receives a meal, a helping hand, or simply the reassurance that they are not alone.
For the past two years, I was involved in running a weekly drop-in centre and clothing exchange for babies and toddlers. Each week, families gathered to donate what they no longer needed, collect what would help their growing children, and most importantly, connect with one another. What I witnessed was that people weren't just seeking practical support—they were seeking friendship, advice, encouragement, and belonging.
In time, I would love to bring some of these ideas to The Village Circle. Whether that's organising meal trains for new parents, supporting families experiencing hardship, creating opportunities to exchange children's clothing and resources, or simply providing a warm place to gather and connect.
The school has generously offered us the space. Together, we can create something truly special.
When mothers gather, magic happens.
If you know someone who could use support, are expecting a baby, have ideas to share, donations to contribute, or simply feel called to help build this village, I would love to hear from you.
I believe every family deserves a village.
Perhaps it's time we created our own.
I’ll be at our School Hall every Friday from 9am till 10am. I look forward to meeting you and if you have donations; I'll be ready to receive them.
Kind regards, Brooke Wagstaff
