Amateur Astronomy

**At Happy Hour Toastmasters - We make public speaking** **FUN!** **Do you want to get better at speaking in front of people?** Maybe for that important presentation at work, or that big wedding speech you've been asked to give? Do you want to have fun and make a bunch of great new friends while doing it? Then **our club is the place for you!** Our club is a diverse and supportive group of people, from beginners to world championship finalist-level speakers, who meet regularly to practice and improve our public speaking skills. **You'll also** **learn:** * **leadership skills** * **networking and 'soft skills'** * **how to provide constructive feedback** * **how to control your 'ums' and 'ahs'** * **how to think quickly and creatively while speaking on your feet** * **and much more!** **Guests are welcome** to come to any of our meetings, and we are also to chat with you about questions you might have, so please get in touch! **Please note - Bookings are essential**, as we need to let you into the building when you arrive!

Applied Scholastics Study Technology is able to improve anyone's ability to study. Millions of people are already using this technology and whole countries are now adopting it. - You can learn Faster with less stress - You don't forget the information - You stay interested in the subject - Your marks increase English literacy rates routinely improve by 25 to 35 percent. Likewise, student test scores improve dramatically with students routinely meeting or exceeding grade level expectations in EVERY ACADEMIC SUBJECT. Our workshop will be focusing on how students learn. Study Technology can easily be incorporated into any educational activity—from classroom instruction and curriculum design to employee training or homeschooling. It provides a stable foundation enhancing all educational efforts. Study Technology is what teachers, tutors, trainers, parents and students can use to improve the quality of teaching and learning. No matter the curriculum in your current academic setting, Study Technology offers proven teaching strategies and resources that can help resolve classroom issues and improve student achievement. No matter if you are a teacher yourself or a good students or bad student we can all do better at study once we have this technology under our belt. Teachers who use this technology report amazing turn around with once troubled students. The application of Study Technology has quite literally changed millions of lives. You are most welcome to bring along a friend or those that struggle with study. (any topic) If you are unable to attend this meetup then let me know, We can arrange for you to meetup at a different time and date. Light refreshments will be provided.

Hey, mates! If you're looking for an evening kick, we'll be playing 5-a-side at Monash University every Wednesday **from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.** To join us, download the Stranger Soccer app and register for free. If this is your first time playing with us, use the code **WELCOME** to book your first game for free! Book your slot now and get involved!

Enjoy lunch at a member fav in Carlton

Want to be able to articulate your thoughts with clarity and precision? Want to overcome your public speaking anxiety and become a confident presenter? Want to develop leadership skills and become a better communicator? Join Chadstone Oaks ToastMasters Club! Toastermasters is a not-for-profit organisation that is run by volunteers. We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. We have meetings regularly, each meeting has a range of activities for you to participate in, such as impromptu speaking, prepared speech, etc. You will also receive constructive feedback which helps you improve your performance. Guests are welcome! We offer three meetings for free to our guests before joining as a member, so you can get a taste of how ToastMasters works and decide if it's right for you. When: 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 7.30pm-9.30pm Where: 22 Rob Roy Rd, Malvern East, VIC 3145 Visit our website to find out more: https://chadstoneoaks.org.au/ Send us a contact form through our website to reserve your spot if you'd like to attend our meeting as a guest.

Learn to play pickleball with us! You'll learn the basics of pickleball; scoring, rallying, dinking and it'll be a great time overall! Sundays 9AM-10AM Wednesdays 12PM-1PM Tuesdays 6PM-7PM It's only $15 to join in, inclusive of paddle and ball hire! Lock in your spot via the link below! https://book.therallypickleball.com.au/programs/learn-to-play-pickleball-lvl-0-

Let’s spend a Friday evening at Planetarium Nights at Scienceworks. We’ll be watching the 7:30pm session: Worlds of Ice (33 min) + What’s in the Sky Tonight. Worlds of Ice takes us on a journey through icy worlds, from the Arctic and South Pole to the far reaches of the solar system. It explores ice through science, astronomy, climate, oceans, culture, and our changing planet. The session also includes What’s in the Sky Tonight, a presenter-led tour through the current night sky. We’ll meet at 7:00pm outside the Melbourne Planetarium entrance gates so we have time to say hello, find the group, and head in before the session starts at 7:30pm. This is a ticketed event, so please book your own ticket in advance. Meetup RSVP does not include entry. **Who this is for** This meetup is good for people who enjoy: * Astronomy, planets, space, climate, and science * Planetarium shows and immersive dome experiences * Relaxed cultural / nerdy Friday night events * Low-pressure social meetups * Coming solo and meeting a few new people Solo attendees are very welcome. **Links** * Meetup start point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/MGaqJ7wXDwymAerLA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/MGaqJ7wXDwymAerLA) Planetarium Nights / Tickets: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/planetarium-nights](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/planetarium-nights) **Timeline** * 7:00pm — Meet outside the Melbourne Planetarium entrance gates * 7:15pm — Head inside and get ready for the session * 7:30pm — *Worlds of Ice + What’s in the Sky Tonight* starts * Around 8:30pm — Session ends and meetup finishes The exact finish time may vary slightly because the official page lists *Worlds of Ice* as 33 minutes but does not list the exact duration of *What’s in the Sky Tonight*. **Tickets / cost** This is a ticketed event. Please buy your own ticket for: Planetarium Nights — Friday 5 June 2026 — 7:30pm session — Worlds of Ice + WITST Please note: RSVP on Meetup does not reserve your planetarium ticket, and ticket availability can change. **Transport** Scienceworks is in Spotswood. Public transport option: take the train to Spotswood Station, then walk to Scienceworks. Please check the latest train times before coming. **Bring** * Your planetarium ticket * Warm layers for the evening * Myki / transport card if using public transport **What to expect** * Vibe: relaxed, friendly, low-pressure, nerdy/science-friendly * Group style: casual social meetup, not a formal tour **Weather / backup** This is an indoor event, so normal rain should not affect the meetup. Please still check transport updates before coming, especially if using public transport. **Important notes** * This is an 18+ adults-only event. * Please book your own ticket for the correct date and session. * Meetup RSVP does not include entry. * We’ll meet outside the Melbourne Planetarium entrance gates. * Please arrive on time so we can head in before the 7:30pm session starts. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear.

Let’s visit Melbourne Museum after dark for Nocturnal, an adults-only evening where the museum stays open late with talks, performances, exhibitions, music, and a more relaxed evening atmosphere. We’ll meet outside the museum gate at 5:45pm, say hello, and head in together before the program starts at 6:00pm. The plan is to catch a few highlights from the evening, including a live harp performance by Genevieve Fry, the Antarctica talk with Dr Joanna Sumner, and ROME: Empire, Power, People spot talks. After that, we’ll keep the last part of the evening flexible and explore the exhibition/galleries at an easy pace. This is a relaxed, low-pressure event. Solo attendees are very welcome, and it’s completely fine if you only want to stay for part of the evening. **Who this is for:** People who enjoy museums, science, history, exhibitions, after-dark cultural events, and relaxed social evenings. **Links:** Event/tickets: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Meetup start point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/yQG71XTvTR2CVeuM8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/yQG71XTvTR2CVeuM8) **Timeline:** * 5:45pm — Meet outside the Museum gate and say hello * 6:00pm — Special performance by Harpist Genevieve Fry * 6:30pm — Antarctica with Dr Joanna Sumner * 7:30pm — ROME: Empire, Power, People spot talk * 8:30pm–9:30pm — Explore the exhibition/galleries at a relaxed pace * 9:30pm — Meetup ends **Tickets/cost:** Please buy your own ticket in advance through the official event link. Meetup RSVP does not include entry to the museum event. Tickets may sell out or details may change, so please check the official page before booking. **Transport:** Melbourne Museum is in Carlton Gardens, opposite the Royal Exhibition Building. Please plan your own transport and allow enough time to arrive before 5:45pm. **Expect:** * Distance: Mostly indoor walking around the museum * Difficulty: Easy * Pace: Relaxed and flexible * Vibe: Friendly, curious, social, and low-pressure * Group style: We’ll attend some program highlights together, but people can also explore at their own pace **Important notes:** * Please buy your own ticket before attending. * Meetup RSVP does not include entry to the museum. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear.

Hi all, us at NeuroSparks are having another fortnightly meeting and we'd love to see you there! When: Sunday 7th June from 12:30-3:30PM. Where: we will be meeting at the Majorca Room at the City Library. Access to the room is via a lift or steps in the foyer. The City Library is located at 253 Flinders Lane, right next to Flinders Street/Town Hall Station. This social gathering will be for those looking to connect with others in the community. It'll be a very casual setting, where everyone can be themselves and can and go when they feel like it. For anyone wanting to continue socialising after the room booking ends, we encourage you to get out and hit the town together! **People are welcome to bring food/drinks to the event. Conveniently for us, there is a cafe on the library's ground floor and there are many cafes also nearby on Degraves Street! But for the sake of continuing to use the venue, please tidy up after yourself.** This event is open to all neurodivergent people and anyone who values a friendly, inclusive space. Many attendees come on their own, so if you’re feeling a bit hesitant, know you’ll be in good company and warmly welcomed. If the group/noise feels too overwhelming at any point, there is a silent study room next door to decompress in. If at any point you have concerns or feel uncomfortable about any group member, please notify one of the organisers. **For the purposes of not overwhelming attendees, we will be capping RSVPs at 50 people maximum. If you have RSVP’d and can no longer attend, please cancel your booking, to allow others to attend. If you sign up for the waitlist and Meetup prompts you to pay, please ignore this, as this event is not intended to be paid for.** Looking forward to seeing all of you there! Disclaimer & Safety Notice By attending this Meetup, you agree: • Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. • Organisers are community volunteers, not medical or professional providers. • You are responsible for your own safety, choices, and belongings. • Organisers are not liable for injury, loss, or damage at any time. • If you have health or access needs, please make your own arrangements. • In an emergency, call 000 immediately. By joining, you accept full responsibility for your actions and well-being.

Join me to explore the stunning '1000 Steps' in the Dandenong Ranges, the first section of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk. For those who would like to, we can catch the train together from Southern Cross to Upper Fern Tree Gully, a chance to chat, connect, make new friends before we begin our walk. The track starts at the Fern Tree Gully picnic grounds, the staircase winds up a steep hill along a creek through rainforest, before emerging into a clearing where we can enjoy beautiful views of Melbourne through the trees. We will complete the loop by taking the Lyrebird Track back to the picnic grounds, and will stop in at the 1000 Steps Cafe for a coffee or something to eat. The Dandenong's is home to beautiful flora and fauna, including giant Mountain Ash trees, Rainbow Lorikeets and Lyrebirds. The path has steep sections on both the staircase and down Lyrebird Track, and is described as moderate to challenging and suitable for reasonably fit people. The track is **3kms** and takes around **1.5 hrs** to complete. The staircase is one way, however there are many places along the track to stop and rest. We will walk slowly, and have a rest at the clearing before heading back down. For anyone who would like to join but is not keen on the stairs, there are walking tracks to explore that run along the creek, from the Ferntree Gully Picnic Ground, with many beautiful spots to sit and relax and enjoy the environment. **Agenda:** I will meet you at **Southern Cross Station at 10.20am** at the Water Tower Clock We will catch the **10.35am Belgrave train** to **Upper Fern Tree Gully** Anyone driving can meet us at the Memorial Mates Statue, at **12pm** We will walk the 1000 Steps, and reach the cafe around 2pm After a coffee or something to eat we can explore the tracks at the foot of the hill, And then catch the **3.30pm** Belgrave train back, reaching Flinders St Station at **4.30pm.** We will keep to the times in the schedule as public transport runs to a reduced timetable on weekends. When you RSVP please click attend on the event page, and I will be in touch about the details, I will also be available in the Event Comments on the day and add any updates there about weather conditions if needed.

Hi Radiant Ladies, Join us for a refreshing Saturday walk at Ruffey Lake Park. 👭 Walk at your own pace 🐕 Dogs welcome ☕ Coffee after 🌦️ We walk every Saturday (unless it’s pouring) New ladies welcome. See you! 



Leanne & Lyn 💕

This is a 2.5-hour outdoor walk/workshop to give you confidence in using your speedlight flash on-camera. I'll teach you the basic principles and some cool flash tricks. There's so much more to flash lighting than ugly pop-up flash... At first glance, flash lighting appears to break some of the rules of exposing a photo. This session explains why flash is different and covers the basic tricks that make flash a fascinating creative tool for a photographer. Topics covered: • TTL metering and flash exposure compensation • camera sync speed • basic principles: use of aperture and shutter speed • blending flash and ambient light sources • using flash with movement • creative flash effects • using speedlight zoom control • bouncing flash off surfaces - indoor and outdoor I will take a couple of minutes to explain each concept and then give you a specific exercise with suggested camera settings so that you can try it for yourself. As with my "available light" ( http://photos.gilliver.net/teaching/workshops/night-portraits ) walk, you'll be pairing up to take photos of each other. This is the first in a series of 3 sessions on lighting with flash. This walk has been designed for photographers who have a speedlight-style flash (eg. Canon 430EX/580EX/600EX, Nikon SB700/800/900/910/5000, Godox TT685/V860/V1 etc) that you "bolt on" to the top of your camera. A number of the set exercises can be done with pop-up flash but some are speedlight-specific. The concepts taught apply to both DSLR and mirrorless camera systems. The main flash features required are the ability to control the flash power level manually and the ability to swivel the flash head in different directions. Tripods, light stands, umbrellas and remote triggering systems are not required on this walk - this session does not discuss off-camera flash. I recommend bringing a general purpose zoom lens for this session. For example, a 24-70mm, 17-55mm, 24-105mm etc. Please ensure that both your camera and flash have freshly charged batteries and your camera has a blank memory card. You won't need a tripod. This session is best suited to photographers who are comfortable with camera concepts such as film speed/ISO, shutter speed, aperture and white balance but have no understanding of their flash beyond knowing how to turn it on/off. As this event is outdoors after dark, please ensure you have warm clothing and if rain is forecast, bring an umbrella (although the session runs mostly undercover if rain is about). If you are interested in this walk but are not able to attend this date, feel free to leave a comment with your preferred time/date. If you are having difficulties making payment via Meetup, you can go direct to Paypal ( https://www.paypal.com.au ) and make payment to "david@gilliver.net". Make sure you include a note indicating which session you're making payment for so that I can set your RSVP correctly. Payment in advance is preferred for my sessions. -- Some feedback from previous sessions... "It was one of the best training educational sessions I have been to for a long time - simply presented, indepth, but well pitched. I had a lot of fun and learnt so much!" - Sean, April 2021 "Thank you so much David. What an eye opener. Taught me so much about flash photography in 2 1/2 hours. Highly recommend the class." - David, March 2018 "This is an amazing course, packed with lots of valuable technical information, David took the time to explain every single concept and demonstrate it with a practical exercise, this is a must do course for whoever wants to start with flash photograph !!! Really worth it." - Oscar, October 2016 "I'm studying a Diploma of Photo Imaging and was struggling to grasp flash. Until yesterday's session. David explained things in a way that made sense. The exercises clearly demonstrated why and how flash works. David made sure I understood each concept before we moved on to the next. He provided notes to reinforce the message after the session and even had spare batteries for power-hungry flash units. I was lucky enough to be the only person in his session last night and was grateful for the one-to-one tuition. Thanks David!" - Emma, January 2016 "This is the best value photography course I've ever done (and I've done plenty online and in real life)! David was incredibly professional and is actually an excellent teacher ... a skill that is hard to come by. He presented each new concept in a structured way before building on what had just been learned. The whole night was full of practical examples in a beautiful location overlooking the city lights. I went back to work the following week full of confidence to take excellent pictures to use on the company website. I cannot recommend David highly enough! Thank you David - I'll be back for another course soon." - Michelle, June 2015

Short North Street Skates return Saturday, April 4 and we’re excited to get back rolling together. These weekly rollouts are a chance to move through the city as a group, build community, and create more visibility for skating and small-wheeled movement in Columbus. Details: Meet: 1160 N High St 9:30 AM meet 10:00 AM rollout All wheels welcome We’ll be skating through the Short North and surrounding areas at a steady, social pace. Routes will use a mix of streets and bike lanes, so comfort navigating the city is helpful, but you don’t need to be an expert. If you’ve been meaning to come out, this is a great place to start. Come solo or bring a friend!

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

Let's stroll the artists' booths and enjoy some of the festival's opening day! The Columbus Art Festival features a wide and vibrant range of visual art from local and national exhibitors, plus, live music, and all kinds of food and refreshments, along the waterfront downtown. (The featured painting is by Columbus Art Festival exhibitor, Joe Engel - joe-engelart.com)

In the year 2044, in the age of AI, a woman named Gabrielle (Seydoux) tries to purify her DNA by purging the inherited memories of her past lives. She (re)lives her life in 1910 Paris and 2014 Los Angeles, and as the procedure goes on, the lines between her worlds become blurred. These three timelines have a lot of connective tissue holding them together; certain symbols and motifs appear repeatedly, not to mention Mackay’s Louis, a figure whom Gabrielle seems drawn to in each lifetime. *The Beast / La Bête* can be streamed for free on Kanopy or the Criterion Channel. It's also available for rent on Amazon Prime, AppleTV and YouTube.

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar