Alternative Energy

A relaxed Monday evening exploring the universe from the heart of Melbourne. We’ll begin with an **optional dinner** in South Melbourne, then head to the historic [Melbourne Observatory](https://maps.app.goo.gl/g4R1JhhnDR8ZFEUEA) precinct inside the Royal Botanic Gardens for **Stellar Nights**, hosted by the [Astronomical Society of Victoria](https://www.asv.org.au/Melbourne-Observatory). Stellar Nights is a guided astronomy experience that typically includes: * Telescope viewing (weather permitting) * Viewing through historic and modern telescopes * Short astronomy talks and explanations * A chance to ask questions and learn about what’s visible in the night sky This isn’t a light show or art installation — it’s real observational astronomy run by volunteers who genuinely love space. You’re welcome to join for dinner + the observatory night, or just the main event. **Plan** 5:30 pm – Meet outside **[Oishii Tokyo - South Melbourne](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MehtHSZwghPB7mAm7)** 5:45 pm - Casual seated dinner. Separate bills. 6:45 pm – Walk towards Melbourne Observatory 7:30 pm – Main event begins **Tickets** You’ll need your own ticket for this session. You can purchase it from here [https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/whats-on-melbourne/stellar-nights/](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/whats-on-melbourne/stellar-nights/). I got my ticket for **$45**. **Important Notes** * Everyone must purchase their own Stellar Nights ticket in advance. * Telescope viewing depends on weather conditions. * Even if clouded out, the evening still includes talks and observatory access. * Dress warmly — you’ll likely be outside at times. * This involves light walking within the gardens. **Who This Is For** * People curious about astronomy and science * Anyone who enjoys calm, structured experiences * After-work social without loud venues or alcohol focus **Meeting point:** Meet outside [Oishii Tokyo - South Melbourne](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MehtHSZwghPB7mAm7) at **5:30pm**. I’ll post a photo of myself here once I arrive. If you’re running late, please message me your ETA beforehand.

The Buddhist spiritual path centres on our own mind’s vast potential for peace, compassion and wisdom. True lasting happiness does not depend on external factors but comes from looking inwards to better know our own mind and heart. This course presents key insights from the Buddha’s life and teachings to show how, through meditation and shifting our focus inwards, we can find true, unending contentment. This course presents key Buddhist frameworks that guide our path, including: * The three vehicles of Buddhism, which progressively show how we can nurture our innate peace, compassion and wisdom. * The four seals, which encapsulate what is unique about the Buddha’s teachings and sets them apart from other religions and philosophies. Including teachings from foremost Tibetan masters of our time, space for contemplation, reflection and discussion, and guided meditations, this course will give you practical tools to help you work with your mind and take charge of your spiritual path. **Details** **Where:** Attend in person at Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson Street Carlton North. **When:** Monday evenings, for 9 weeks, starting 27 April 2026, a break on 8 June 2026, and finishing 29 June 2026. **Time:** 7.00pm – 9.00pm AEDT. **Cost:** 9-week module: Full $180, Concession $90. Register https://rigpa.org.au/event/this-life-the-buddhas-guide-to-inner-transformation-melbourne-april-june-2026/2026-04-27/

Join Queer Meditation Melbourne for an evening of self-exploration and mindfulness in a safe and inclusive space. Start the event with a guided meditation session focused on promoting wellness, positive thinking, and spiritual growth. Connect with like-minded individuals from the LGBT community and enjoy meaningful conversations that nurture self-empowerment and consciousness. After the meditation practice, we will engage in social activities, promoting healthy living and dining out experiences. This event is designed for gay men and gay and lesbian friends who are looking to nurture their spiritual journey while building connections within the community. Come together to foster a sense of belonging and support each other in a space that celebrates diversity and self-care.

**Every Monday\, Trivia starts 7PM \| Free Entry \| Prizes & Glory Await** Gather your party, sharpen your wits, and descend upon the Tavern for **Tavern Trivia** — a weekly battle of brains where legends are born one answer at a time. Hosted in the heart of our bustling Fortress Tavern, this isn’t your average pub trivia. Expect an unpredictable mix of **pop culture, video games, fantasy, film, and chaotic curveballs** that’ll test even the sharpest of sages. 🎁 **Epic Prizes** 🍹 **Themed Cocktails & Tankards** 🎲 **Gaming Lore & Curveball Rounds** 🧙‍♂️ **Immersive Vibes. Medieval Energy** Whether you’re here for the glory or just for the vibes, Fortress Trivia Night is your new midweek quest. Entry is free, but tables fill fast, so rally your crew and **[book your spot](https://events.humanitix.com/trivia-fortress-melb)**. *Registered attendance on Meetup doesn't guarantee you a ticket.* **TERMS & CONDITIONS** * *Fortress Melbourne is a licensed venue, and as such, a valid ID is required and checked upon entrance to the premises.* * *Unaccompanied minors are not permitted in the venue at any time. Please make sure any guests under 18 are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.* * *Minors are not allowed in the venue past 8:00 pm; as such, Tavern Trivia is an 18+ Event* * *Any drink tokens must be redeemed on the day of the event, and standard RSA applies* * *No outside food or drinks.* *More information on valid forms of identification and Fortress' minors policy can be found here: [www.fortress.games/minors/](https://www.fortress.games/minors/)*

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/4/e/1/600_434665825.jpeg http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/4/f/3/600_434665843.jpeg FREE Fit Club @ Federation Square Get Active with a FREE Fun Group Circuit-Base Workout. Lose Body Fat, Gain Muscle and Have Fun! Suited for: Any level of fitness Meet positive & like minded people in a FUN and supportive environment! Where: Fed Square Amphitheater & River Terrance When: Tues 6pm-6:45pm Wed & Fri 7am-7:45am Optional $5 Recovery Nutrition and social time after the session Mindset and Nutrition workshop afterwards. It's FREE, it's FUN, Ask me how! For more information SMS or call 0450 023 682 Jimmy Adam Hoang to register your spot.

The Buddhist spiritual path centres on our own mind’s vast potential for peace, compassion and wisdom. True lasting happiness does not depend on external factors but comes from looking inwards to better know our own mind and heart. This course presents key insights from the Buddha’s life and teachings to show how, through meditation and shifting our focus inwards, we can find true, unending contentment. This course presents key Buddhist frameworks that guide our path, including: * The three vehicles of Buddhism, which progressively show how we can nurture our innate peace, compassion and wisdom. * The four seals, which encapsulate what is unique about the Buddha’s teachings and sets them apart from other religions and philosophies. * Including teachings from foremost Tibetan masters of our time, space for contemplation, reflection and discussion, and guided meditations, this course will give you practical tools to help you work with your mind and take charge of your spiritual path. **Details** **Where**: Attend in person at Rigpa Melbourne, 803 Nicholson Street Carlton North. **When**: Monday evenings, for 9 weeks, starting 27 April 2026, a break on 8 June 2026, and finishing 29 June 2026. **Time**: 7.00pm – 9.00pm AEDT. **Cost**: 9-week module: Full $180, Concession $90. **Register here:** [https://rigpa.org.au/event/this-life-the-buddhas-guide-to-inner-transformation-melbourne-april-june-2026/2026-04-27/](https://rigpa.org.au/event/this-life-the-buddhas-guide-to-inner-transformation-melbourne-april-june-2026/2026-04-27/)

A mix of dance classes, connections & laughter! We love offering a diverse range of moves to keep things fresh and exciting, and it’s always amazing to see our dance community connecting on and off the dance floor. It’s all about coming together, learning, and having fun! Brighton Beach Bowls Club 2B South Rd Brighton 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Foundation, Beginner & Intermediate levels $25 CASH or PAYID

In his final presentation on Numerology, Allan Meers takes us on a journey through the 10 energy numbers which form the basis of our psycho-spiritual energy system. Allan’s approach integrates Numerology with the numerical systems of the Chakras, the Enneagram, the Tarot and the Great Rays to provide a holistic approach that assists in answering two key questions: Who am I, and Why am I here? The presentation follows on from previous presentations in May and November 2025 and addresses how the energy of numbers can be used to recognize unhealthy ways of being and doing which limit our ability to connect with the true self. The approach explains how energies can be devalued, disowned and relegated to the shadows, or taken to extremes and adopted as a persona to help us thrive and survive in a challenging world. This presentation will provide an understanding of how we can each move towards a state of energetic health. The starting point for this journey lies in recognizing our current reality and awakening to what it means to become healthy, healed and whole as a spiritual being having a human experience. Much of the presentation is from Allan’s latest book - Living your Numbers – which will be available at the presentation. The session is interactive and designed to provide practical information that can be applied to everyday life.

**Note - NEW location for this month only at the AWS Builder Studio!** IMPORTANT - the list of attendees will be provided the day before to security. Just go up the stairs / escalator to level 1 and check with your Photo ID to security. Please get in touch ASAP if you would like to talk at a future event, send us an email at Melbourne(at)serverless.org.au for more info! First time speakers are more than welcome and we can provide you assistance if you need with your presentation beforehand. Please reach out Melbourne(at)serverless.org.au. It can be a regular talk, lightning talk, demo, workshop, whatever is your thing our community will love it - as long as it is serverless related! Venue: AWS Builder Studio, Level 1, 555 Collins St. Melbourne 📅 Agenda 📅 5:30 PM - Doors Open! 6:00 PM - Welcome from the organizers / housekeeping 6:05 PM - **"Changing the engine mid-flight: A startup data pivot" - By Susan Brander, CTO Kaleida** What happens when your startup’s data model is held together with duct tape, but you still have to fly the plane, ship features, and act cool about it? Startups move fast, and sometimes that means making the best architecture decisions you can, and being utterly wrong because you don’t yet fully understand the domain you’re building for. At Kaleida, we chose DynamoDB as the cheapest way to get our product off the ground quickly, pushing relational logic into separate tables and thinking we’d gotten it right and assuming if we hadn’t that we’d clean it up later (if we survived). SPOILER! We survived and thrived! Later came around fast, and it looked like: \- bloated documents * Relational logic spread across tables * Queries dragging us down We knew we’d modelled it wrong, and that not changing it soon would only multiply the difficulties in the future. So, mid-flight, we changed engines. This talk is a candid case study of what it takes to evolve your architecture under pressure: * found our real data inside our current data * Pivoted to a One Table design * Pulled off a zero-downtime migration * Did it all while shipping features and pretending we weren’t panicking. If your team is battling tech debt, scaling pains, a data model that no longer reflects reality, (or you just want to hear about someone else’s war wounds) then come along. 6:35 PM - Pizza & Networking 7:00 PM - "**Let the Agent Read the Boring Reports: AI-Powered Database Auditing for PROTECTED Compliance on AWS**" - **By Christina Chen, Senior DevOps Engineer, Mantel Group** Nobody reads CSV audit reports. But under Australia's IRAP PROTECTED framework, organisations must continuously monitor and evidence database user activity — and assessors want proof. This talk builds a two-stage event-driven pipeline: Lambda extracts MySQL RDS user activity to S3, then a Strands Agent on Bedrock autonomously assesses findings against ISM controls, and generates assessor-ready output 7:30 PM - Networking and finish the Pizza! 8:00 PM - Doors Close, see you next time!

Get outside and join us for a day of planting trees, shrubs and ground cover on this beautiful property in the Yarra Valley. Your hosts need help planting seedlings to protect waterways, improve ecosystems and create habitat for wildlife. No experience required - we will train you on the day. Morning tea and lunch are provided for free. You'll meet friendly, like-minded people, and return home knowing that you've done something meaningful. You'll need your own transport, approximately one hour's drive from Melbourne CBD. [More info and registration details](https://events.humanitix.com/help-plant-native-seedlings-at-dixons-creek_link) TreeProject is a not-for-profit organisation that has been growing and planting native seedlings for farmers and Landcare groups for over 30 years. We have grown over 2 million trees! This year alone we are growing over 150,000 trees, and helping landowners plant about 50,000 trees! Come and join us!

Join Theosophist Margaret Harris, PhD, in her continuing series of discussions, digging deeper into Astrology every Friday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm WHO AM I? It is not the fear of God' which is 'the beginning of wisdom' but the knowledge of SELF which is Wisdom Itself .. MAN KNOW THYSELF" (Blavatsky,1901, p.15, Studies in Occultism) KNOW THYSELF In this supportive weekly group, through an Astrological lens and connecting with our own birth maps, we explore books that can help us explore paths towards our spiritual unfoldment. Through a variety of texts, from both Theosophists and Astrologers, we look at the energetic connections we have with the heavens and how they can assist us as we journey from our personality selves to our spiritual selves. Various knowledges from participants are also welcomed and encouraged as we continue to work with the 3rd object of the Theosophical Society: "To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in the human being" The Society is a registered charity and these events are free, but donations are welcome.

🎉 **Melbourne AWS User Group – April Meetup** 🎉 📅 Wednesday, 29 April 📍 NAB Events Hub – 395 Bourke Street, Melbourne ⏰ Food at 6:00 pm, talks from 6:30 pm (with live stream) Join us for our April meetup as we dive into real-world AWS architecture and cutting-edge AI workloads on Kubernetes. This month, we’re exploring how organisations make practical architecture decisions on AWS, and how modern AI tooling and GPU-powered platforms are enabling scalable, real-time applications. This month’s lineup features: • Trent Hornibrook sharing how Bell Financial approaches architecture decisions on AWS. • Yongkang He is presenting a live demo on building and scaling Stable Diffusion on Amazon EKS. A huge thank you to our sponsors: 🥇 Mantel Group – Gold Sponsor, 🥈 Cevo – Silver Sponsor, 🏛 NAB – Venue Sponsor The event will be live-streamed on YouTube as always: https://www.youtube.com/@AWSMelb/streams *** 🗓️ **Agenda** 6:00 pm – Food & Socialising 6:30 pm – Introductions 6:40 pm – What’s New in AWS 6:55 pm – How Bell Financial Architects on AWS (Level 200); Speaker: Trent Hornibrook 7:25 pm – Building and Scaling Stable Diffusion with Amazon EKS (Level 300); Speaker: Yongkang He 7:55 pm – Marketplace (Who’s Hiring) 8:00 pm – Networking + Close *** 🎤 **Talk Details** **How Bell Financial Architects on AWS** Speaker: Trent Hornibrook Level: 200 In this session, Trent will share how Bell Financial approaches architecture decisions and the key choices they’ve made when designing and operating workloads on AWS. This talk provides practical insight into real-world decision-making, trade-offs, and architectural patterns used in a financial services environment. *** **Building and Scaling Stable Diffusion with Amazon EKS** Speaker: Yongkang He Level: 300 Imagine generating AI images from text prompts — powered by Kubernetes, GPUs, and built with the help of Amazon Kiro. In this session (with live demo), we’ll walk through building and deploying a full AI image generator using Stable Diffusion XL on Amazon EKS. From containerisation and GPU nodes to scaling inference and pushing to Amazon ECR, you’ll see how it all comes together in a real-world setup. 💡 Key takeaways: • Build and scale Stable Diffusion on EKS • Use Kiro to accelerate development from code to deployment • Understand GPU scheduling and autoscaling in Kubernetes • Live demo of real-time image generation on AWS *** 🙌 **Want to Speak at a Future Meetup?** We’re always looking for new speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk waiting to be shared. If you’d like to present at a future event, reach out at the meetup or via our website: https://melb.awsug.org.au/speak/

* Join us for an evening of professional networking and valuable insights at our Entrepreneur & **Small Business Networking Mixer**. Connect with fellow small business owners, entrepreneurs, and like-minded professionals to share business strategies and exchange ideas for startup success with a drink. * * We have carved a deal with the restaurant of 10% Discount of all Menu items & drinks if you mention the staff "**Friday Business Meetup Deal**" * * We will delve into the power of integrating feminine wisdom with masculine energy for enhanced business strategies and entrepreneurial success. Discover the importance of positive human collisions in fostering innovation and growth, while expanding your network in a dynamic and supportive environment. * * Don't miss this opportunity to meet new contacts, exchange knowledge, and take yourself to the next level! * * **About Host:** Host of the event Sash (Sachin) is qualified accountant in practice. Mostly he is present in the event but it is subject to his prior commitment. However everybody is still invited to chat & socialise whether he is present or not. The place is a platform for everyone to gather,meet & help each other. * * **Address & Timings :** from **6-8 PM** at **500 Victoria Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 (This event will be on every Friday same time same day unless otherwise advised)** * * Join us to meet new friends, hang out and have some laughs. New people are always welcome 😊🍺🍺 * * Come along to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. * * **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being.

Experience the magic of kirtan in one unforgettable evening. Lose yourself in sound, light, and movement. Enchanting Kirtan is a live sacred-music experience blending ancient mantra, soaring melody, rhythmic grooves, and heart-centred meditation. The music wraps around you in rich, immersive surround sound, carrying every note and vibration through the room like a living wave. Giant floor-to-ceiling visuals wrap the space in colour and movement, while candlelight, soft rugs, and cushions invite you to sink in, stretch out, or move freely. Every detail is designed to draw you fully into the experience—body, heart, and mind. The evening unfolds as a flowing sacred sound journey, moving from gentle breath and stillness into joyful singing and free, natural movement. Some come to sing or dance, others to rest and receive. Feel free to move, sing and dance, riding the waves of transcendental sound. Or simply relax, letting the waves wash over you. Come solo or bring friends and family. Everyone is welcome to step into this beautiful, heart-opening world that leaves you feeling uplifted, connected, and glowing from the inside out. Spaces are limited - book now to be part of this unforgettable evening. **Enchanting Kirtan: Sacred World Music & Meditation Experience** **Friday 1st May 7pm - 9pm** **Darebin Arts Centre: 401 Bell St, Preston** **Free community event \| All welcome \| Donations appreciated** **We're running 3 immersive events in Victoria! Check them out here: [https://collections.humanitix.com/enchanting-kirtan-victoria-tour](https://collections.humanitix.com/enchanting-kirtan-victoria-tour)** Enchanting Kirtan is a free community event run by volunteers - a gift of music, meditation, and connection. Donations are welcome to help us share sacred sound with more communities across Australia.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Free Communal Garden Class Series GROWING MUSHROOMS In this class, we will discuss how to raise mushrooms on logs outdoors as a way to raise food in parts of your yard that are usually too shady to grow vegetables or other crops. We will discuss what mushroom species can be cultivated, what tree species they can grow on, and demonstrate how to prepare and inoculate the logs. By following these steps, you can have your own bountiful mushroom harvest! APRIL 27 | 6:00-7:30 PM | WELLS BARN 1851 E BROAD ST, COLUMBUS, OH 43205 INSTRUCTOR: MARC AMANTE Mare Amante is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator with Central State University who is also currently serving as CSU Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resources Interim Program Leader. He has worked on and managed diversified vegetable farms across the Midwest and currently owns and operates an urban farm here in Ohio where he raises microgreens, vegetables, raspberries, and log-grown mushrooms for sale to local markets and restaurants. Registerefor free here https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/cg-growing-mushrooms/

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

This Monday 4/27/26 at 6:30p we will walking at Thompson Park. The address is 5600 Thompson Rd. We will meet at the shelter house. The walk will be approximately 2 miles on paved trails~Join us if you can.

**Pagans on the Patio! Summer/Fall Series** A casual gathering the first Thursday of each month. Time to relax, meet new people, and reconnect with old friends. There is no charge for the event itself and all are welcome but there are a few guidelines: 1. **You are expected to purchase food and/or drink to compensate the Cantina and our server.** 2. **No soliciting. Do not bring samples of your wares or brochures of your services.** 3. **Please respect the spiritual and political views of others that are present. No disruption of the peace.** In case of inclement weather, we will find seating indoors. I hope to see you there. Blessed be! \~ Cynthia ❤️---

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Join us at Unity of Columbus for our Weekly Reiki Share, a peaceful and uplifting gathering for connection, healing, and growth. A Reiki Share is a time where Reiki practitioners and students come together to give and receive healing energy in a supportive and welcoming environment. These sessions will be moderated by Columbus Unity Reiki. Reiki is a hands-on energy healing method from Japan that first came to the United States in 1938. Since then, it has grown in popularity and is now widely practiced throughout the West. All levels are welcome, and you do not need to be a practitioner at Unity of Columbus to attend. If you are a Reiki practitioner, a Reiki student, or simply interested in becoming a Reiki student, we warmly invite you to join us. Come practice your healing techniques, learn new approaches, receive healing energy, and connect with a like-minded community in a space of relaxation, renewal, and positive energy.