Backcountry

Our Contradition Band will be featured at the next Family Bush/Contra Dance organized by VFMC (the Victorian Folk Music Club). No partner needed and all dances called. Entry $15, but kids are free. Info Bill 0417-300682. Website www.vfmc.org.au

The hilarious Birdman Rally is a long-held Moomba tradition that sees competitors hurtle themselves off a platform over the Yarra River to see who can fly the furthest before splashing down. The rally runs from 11 am to 12 pm on Sunday, 8th March, and the platform is usually on the North side/City side of the Yarra, so it's best photographed from the south side. Our meeting point will be behind the Alexandra Gardens Skate Park on Boathouse Drive at 10:30 am. [Moomba Event Map](https://moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au/map/) **Event Schedule:** 10.30 am -10:50 am - Australian Skateboarding League – Semi Finals & Finals. This is right next to our meeting point and runs all day. 11:00 am -12:00 pm- Birdman Rally 12:00 pm - 1:06 pm - Men's Trick Preliminary 1:06 pm - 2:26 pm - Pro Men Wakeboard 2:41 pm - 3:35 pm - Women's Slalom 3:35 pm – 4:11 pm – Men's Slalom 4:15 pm event ends [Full Moomba event schedule](https://moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au/schedule/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23549729973&gbraid=0AAAAAC11gOuLT6tgB8NqEPEFU-CXmW7mm&gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhjGrFMf7FrlDS4m9wVCPEBvzpcwlOgbsgHXuhyeVwjZGxJNNciOTGxoCW8QQAvD_BwE) Disclaimer & Waiver of Liability By attending this photography meetup, you acknowledge and agree to the following: • Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. • The organisers, hosts, and affiliated parties are not liable for any personal injury, property damage, loss, or theft that may occur during or as a result of this event. • You agree to hold harmless the organisers from any claims, liabilities, or expenses arising from your participation. • Attendees are responsible for their own equipment, belongings, and conduct throughout the event. • Photography activities may involve public spaces, varied terrain, or interaction with others; you are responsible for exercising caution and respecting local laws, regulations, and private property. • Any advice, demonstrations, or recommendations provided during the meetup are for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional instruction. • By joining, you consent to being in a public setting where photos or recordings may occur, and you release organisers from any claims related to such media use.

TO MAINTAIN A GENDER BALANCE ALL MALES MUST ATTEND WITH A FEMALE FRIEND, NO EXCEPTIONS. All females are welcome to attend alone but encouraged to attend with a female friend too for free drinks and food! MUST TAP “ATTEND” and include all guests. UNLIKE other meetups which are overwhelmingly male dominant, we provide ONLY gender balanced events where females also have a chance to meet other females, not only men. 8PM EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY (LAST ENTRY STRICTLY 8.30PM) AT 215 QUEEN’S Come make new friends from Asia and other countries! This event takes place in a DEDICATED AREA of the venue.

**Please note the change of location from Fed Square to The Atrium.** **Ride**: A social pace ride from town taking in parts of Darebin Trail, Anniversary Trail, Gardiners Ck Trail and Main Yarra Trail with a coffee / brunch in Hartwell at a popular local cafe (Fordham's Milk Bar). Note: Fordham's does table service however you can order take-away from a limited menu. (Toasties) **Route**: [https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46951501](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46951501) \* \* Actual route may vary on the day. Includes a short but easy section on gravel (Ferndale Path) **Forecast**: Melbourne area - 26°C, Partly cloudy. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h. https://reg.bom.gov.au/places/vic/camberwell/forecast/detailed/#d2026-03-08 **Bike**: Any mechanically sound bicycle. Do check your bike and pump your tyres to firm, please. **Speed**: Social pace (about 20-22 km/h max and slower where required) **Distance**: 36 km return or get the train back halfway if you wish. Hartwell station is 100 metres from Fordham's. **Bring**: \- Water\, sunscreen\, warm clothing\, MYKI\, tube\, tools\, pump \- Your phone with my number\. \- Please carry details of your emergency contacts \(just in case\)\. **Contact**: Neil Griffiths - 0419 560 409 **Photo**: Anniversary Trail (Jun '23) - by Ant "All riders are riding at their own risk and Melbourne Cycling does not take any responsibility for any injuries or accidents you may have on any of our rides"

Your off to the Grand Prix this year. This huge event is big, loud and free. What do you mean free? I'd discover a spectacle just next to the event , it was impressive and free. So join me, you don't need to be a car fan . We will meet at Caulfield Railway Station outside Platform 1. Lunch at the latest and greatest toasties in the world Toasted. Then off to Albert Park and the Grand Prix , if the weather is above 29 degrees we can then go to a local beach for a bit of a dip. Then on return to the City via Port Melbourne. Any type of bicycle will do as it is on roads and cycle paths. Bring water . Your bike needs to be in good order. Bring togs & towel if the day is hot. Ride route [Grand Prix](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53764229) RIDE REGISTRATION FORM The form should be available within a day or two of the ride announcement. The link to the form will be seen in the event messages when you RSVP. Please complete it when available. ESSENTIAL ITEMS Functioning headlight & tail light Spare tube and a puncture kit MYKI card, ATM card/cash, basic tools, rain gear, food/snacks, etc WATER It's your responsibility to check the temperature and distance for the day and carry an appropriate amount of water. When riding outside suburbia remember that carrying too much water is better than not enough as the distances between water availability may vary greatly from the planned route due to road closures or other unforeseen circumstances. Check Meetup for any changes the day before the ride, as the ride may be cancelled in the event of extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances. If you cannot make it to the ride please change your RSVP to 'NO' at least one day before the ride day. This ride is for MBTC club members, or those who have not yet done 3 days riding with us. To join our club check out [https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership](https://www.mbtc.org.au/membership) When I RSVP for this event/activity I acknowledge that the activity of bicycle riding can be dangerous and that I may suffer loss or injury or death and I agree that in consideration of my participation in any event conducted by the MBTC that I will absolve from liability the MBTC, its officers, and any event organiser from all claims, demands, or suits whether for personal injury or property loss suffered whether by negligence or breach of contract or otherwise, save for any right I may have pursuant to the Australian Consumer law. I acknowledge that photos may be taken of me during MBTC rides and social events, and that it is club practice that these photos will be published on Meetup, Facebook, and the club website. I will notify the ride leader and other riders if I wish to not be photographed. MBTC cannot guarantee that my photo will not be published and will promptly honour requests to be removed from MBTC controlled sites.

We are heading to one of the "Pick Your Own" Sunflowers farms near Ballarat. The tickets are limited. Please note that this trip also involves a shared taxi/uber. The payment shared taxi/uber can be made on the day of the event. Please follow these three steps to confirm your spot: Step 1: Please RSVP to this event on meetup. Step 2: Please pay the organizer fee ($20 - Early Bird, $25 - Regular) - [https://www.trybooking.com/DKAME](https://www.trybooking.com/DKAME) Step 3: Please buy the farm entry ticket ($10) via Trybooking for 8th March: [https://www.trybooking.com/events/1540269/sessions](https://www.trybooking.com/events/1540269/sessions) Organizer fee tickets are non-refundable. There is no option to transfer the ticket to a new date. Organizer fee tickets will be only refunded if the event is cancelled or moved. Organizer fee payments are managed through Trybooking and not Meetup. You will see an "Unpaid" status on your RSVP. The only thing you need is the Trybooking ticket which you will receive by email. **Meeting Point**: Let's meet in the Corner of Spencer Street and Bourke Street (Station Side - Near the steps) at 10:10 AM and take Vline train. We should be back in the city around 5 pm. Please note that meeting at the destination is not an option for this event. Please plan to show up at the meeting point as uber/taxi groups will be formed at the meeting point. **Meeting Point Photo**: [[https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2](https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2)](https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2) \*\* Please make sure you bring your Myki. Please ensure that it has atleast $8. Please ensure that your myki money is added before coming to the meeting point. \*\* Cost: Organizer Fee: $20 - Early Bird, $25 Myki Cost: $8 Sunflower Farm: Tickets $10 Sunflowers: $4 per stem – available for purchase as you leave Shared Taxi/Uber (Total): $20-$30 (To be paid via PayID or cash on the day of the event) **Pick Your Own Sunflowers** \- Every year since its beginnings\, Sunflower field in Dunnstown has grown into one of Regional Victoria's most popular rural experience\, with visitors flocking from all over Victoria and interstate\. Please carry snacks and water. There are no food options at the farm. Please follow us on Social Media for photos, videos & updates: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@explore-melbourne) \| [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/exploremelb) \| [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/xpmelb/) \| [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@exploremelbourne) \| [ExploreMelbourne.AU](https://exploremelbourne.au/) Loyalty Card Stamps for this event: If you are not using a discount code: 1 If you are using a discount code: 0 Explore Melbourne is the largest meetup group in Australia. We have eight simple rules in place to protect our community and for everyone to have a positive experience. ❌ Not a dating group! – We’re here to make friends, not find soulmates. No flirty business, please! No phone numbers, please! – Feel free to swap social media if both parties are cool with it, but let’s keep our digits private. Please don’t add people to WhatsApp or other groups. Our events are only open to people aged 18 and older. Please do not advertise other events or groups. Don’t be a social octopus! – Give people space to chat with others. Please don't be clingy. We don't allow carpooling due to safety incidents/our public liability insurance not covering motor related accidents. No sales pitches! – No selling, no MLMs, no pyramid schemes, no “life-changing mentorship” offers—let’s keep things scam-free. Cameras welcome, but… – please refrain from taking photos of our members for privacy reasons. By joining this event, you’re giving us a virtual pinky promise that you’ll follow the rules. Break them, and—poof!—you’re out for good. No second chances, no do-overs. Let’s keep it fun, friendly, and drama-free! **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. By joining this event, you agree to the liability waiver mentioned here: [[https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/](https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/)](https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/)

Melbourne Flames Dragon Boat Club is your gateway to the exhilarating sport of dragon boating. As one of Australia’s fastest growing water sports, dragon boating is truly unique as men and women of all ages can train and compete together in one crew. We welcome new members regardless of gender or fitness level (minimum age is 12 years). Come along and try dragon boating with one of Australia's top teams for FREE! Simply sign up for a Dragon Pass (1 month free trial) via the link below and follow the instructions sent to your email. You will need to download TeamApp and RSVP there to confirm your spot. [Registration - Melbourne Flames](https://members.melbourneflames.com.au/registration/) We recommend you attend a welcome Sunday session for your first training. After you've learnt the ropes, you can join any of our Tuesday and Thursday on-water sessions. **What to bring to a training session** * Water bottle * Weather appropriate clothes that you don't mind getting wet i.e. hat and thongs in summer, thermals and shoes in winter * Towel and a change of dry clothes * Any friends you think would be interested, get them to register for DragonPass and TeamApp as well! * A sense of adventure and a positive attitude! All equipment, including a lifejacket and paddle, are provided. If you have any questions, please message the page!

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

Free at Bexley Library Adventures in Ecological Horticulture with Rebecca McMackin Wednesday, March 18 1:00pm - 2:30pm Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us, and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically. Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the rare public garden. She is currently Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, an Associate with the Harvard Divinity School’s Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, and Consulting Arboretum Curator for Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Rebecca spent a decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically. Their research into cultivating urban biodiversity and ethical management strategies has influenced thousands of people and entire urban parks systems to adopt similar approaches. She has been published by and featured in the New York Times, Gardens Illustrated, on NPR and PBS. Her garden for the Brooklyn Museum recently won the PPA’s Award of Excellence and her TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. She holds M.Sc. from Columbia University and University of Victoria in landscape design and biology and recently completed the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This program is presented in partnership with Rooted in Bexley and generously funded by the Bexley Community Foundation and Bexley Community Author Series Fund.

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.