Cartoonists

## **Fortnightly Monday Community Nights** **Facilitated by Sasa Lestrange** 🕕 Starts 6PM \| 🎟️ $5 Entry \| 🔒 15 Spaces Only ### **The Quick Details** Come as you are, bring what you love. Whether you’re sketching, crafting, chatting, or diving into a YouTube watch party over the projector, this is your space to relax and connect. Bring your own arts and crafts, share your favourite tunes, or just hang out with good people. Got a TTRPG group? You’re welcome to play here. Looking for one? Use our Discord to find fellow adventurers and storytellers. This is a chill, welcoming evening for creatives, gamers, and anyone who wants to spend time in good company. No pressure, no prep — just good vibes and shared space. ## **Why Join** * Make new friends or bring your own crew * Get out of the house and into the community * Perfect for newcomers to Melbourne or anyone wanting to build good habits * Enjoy a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere ## **Facilitator** Your host, **Sasa of EGAD**, will welcome you, introduce you to the space, and help get the group started — often with a game or by interest. ## **Food & Drink** Snacks and drinks are available on the ground floor. You can also BYO, or join the **6:30 PM Schnitz order** for dinner. ## **Accessibility** The event space is up one flight of stairs, and bathrooms are not wheelchair‑friendly. Lighting is bright white overhead unless the group opts to dim for projector use. ## **Timing** You don’t need to be on time — just note that if you’re joining for games, you might wait for a table to free up. ## **Suggestions** Got an idea for an activity or theme? Absolutely share it! The group votes on what to do each night. Let’s kick off the week with fun, creativity, and connection.

**Skeptics Cafe.** Vic Skeptics Pub Night - Third Monday of every month. Skeptics Café will be held in the Function Room at [The Stolberg Hotel](https://stolberg.com.au/), 197 Plenty Road, Preston. Each month, Victorian Skeptics hosts a social night in the pub. We get together for dinner, drinks and good conversation with like-minded individuals. We have a different speaker each month. Speaker and topic to be announced. **Start Time:** 6:00pm for dinner and a chat. 7:30pm for beginning of the talk. **[Vic Skeptics](https://vicskeptics.wordpress.com/events/)** \- \- **[Australian Skeptics](https://www.skeptics.com.au/)**

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.

We meet at the Essendon Bowls club, 50 Raleigh St, Essendon VIC 3040. Toastmasters is an opportunity to refine the various aspects of public speaking and a very encouraging environment to experience growth.

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

We’re back in 2026! Come play games with us! This venue is definitely biased towards "euro" style games but any and all games are welcome. Members will bring games that they like. Anything that is fun to play and share is welcome! Don't have a game, don't worry. We've got a decent selection, but you're always welcome to bring a game if you would like. Never played a board game before or it's been 20 years? No problem, we'd be happy to show you how to play. We love beginners, because we were all beginners at one point. Life is full of stress, let Monday nights be a fun night. Some of the games our regulars own: Settlers of Catan Power Grid Dead of Winter Terraforming Mars Stone Age Elder Sign Resistance/Avalon One Night Werewolf Hanabi Race for the Galaxy King of Tokyo Puerto Rico Ticket to Ride Europe 7 Wonders Love Letter Red Planet Century Spice Road Dune and Dark Moon Also, come to a couple of Meetups and Grab your very own discount card for Mindgames in the CBD. For 10% off and other exclusive discounts.

# **Hck4G Meetup #0x15** ## **"Stop Spying On Me!" – Disrupting Adversarial DNS Queries** Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/hck4g-meetup-0x15-stop-spying-on-me-disrupting-adversarial-dns-queries ### **Event Overview** Hck4G returns with Meetup #0x15, continuing our mission to build practical, community-driven cybersecurity capability that provide legitimate pathway into cybersecurity for young people. This session explores the hidden risks behind everyday internet usage; specifically, how online advertising and tracking ecosystems have evolved into security and privacy threats, and what defenders can do about it. ### **Talk Overview** Online advertising is no longer just an annoyance — it has become a significant attack surface for both individuals and organisations. Ads and trackers consume large amounts of data, profile users, and are increasingly leveraged for malware delivery and cybercrime activity. This session follows the journey of building a whole-of-home advert and threat blocking system using a DNS blackhole, highlighting both the effectiveness of DNS filtering and the ongoing challenges defenders face. What starts as a simple setup quickly becomes an arms race, as modern devices and operating systems bypass traditional controls using: * **Hard-coded DNS resolvers** * **DNS over TLS (DoT)** * **DNS over HTTPS (DoH)** Attendees will gain practical insight into how DNS filtering works, why it remains relevant, and how encryption is reshaping both privacy and network security. ### **Speaker** **Dr Joel Panther** Joel is a cybersecurity researcher, offensive security specialist, and educator with over 15 years of experience across system administration, penetration testing, and security consulting. In his consulting work, Joel specialises in offensive security practices, including vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and security training. His approach bridges technical execution and strategic insight, combining hands-on exploitation techniques with a broader understanding of organisational risk. Joel is an active contributor to the cybersecurity community as a speaker, mentor, and educator. He regularly presents on topics spanning security, privacy, and ethics. His work often explores the intersection of cybersecurity and societal impact, with a particular focus on emerging threats in areas such as artificial intelligence and cybercrime. His PhD produced a framework for designing dynamically generated penetration testing laboratories, and his current research focuses on offensive security skills development. Joel is deeply committed to education and workforce development, supporting initiatives that strengthen pathways into the cybersecurity profession. He has led the design and delivery of CyberCX’s security testing training program, which provides early-career professionals with a structured blend of formal training and practical, real-world experience. When he’s not in the basement hacking, he can be found at cybersecurity community events across Australia. Known as one of the top offensive security education voices in Australia. *** ### **Who Should Attend** * Cybersecurity practitioners (offensive and defensive) * Network and system administrators * Privacy-conscious technologists * Students and early-career professionals * Anyone interested in practical, real-world cyber defence *** ### **Event Details** * Date: 20th April 2026 * Time: 5:30pm - 8pm * Venue: RMIT University – Building 80, Melbourne * Online: Livestream available * Cost: Free (registration required) *** ### **Event Schedule** * 5:30 – 5:40 PM: Welcome, Intro & Networking * 5:40 – 6:00 PM: Networking & Cyber pizzas 🍕 * 6:00 – 6:45 PM: Presentation * 6:45 – 8:00 PM: Discussions and Q&A ### **Thanks to Our Sponsors** RMIT University – World-class certificates, degrees, Masters and Postgraduate programs BridgeLynk.io – Attack-informed cybersecurity services for NFP, SMB and Enterprise CyLynk.com – Job-ready cybersecurity training led by expert coaches *** ### **What to Expect** * Practical, real-world cybersecurity insights * Community-driven learning and discussion * Networking with peers across experience levels * Food and refreshments (in-person attendees) *** ### **About Hck4G** Hck4G is a not-for-profit organisation focused on disrupting the human impact of cybercrime through awareness, education, and community capability building. Diversion - Victim Support - Community Education.

Hi everyone, and welcome to our very first event! Since I’ve traveled to 50 countries before settling here in Melbourne, the idea of combining travel, daily living, and creating art is a massive passion of mine. To kick off our community of "dreamers and doers," we are hosting a relaxed weekend coffee meetup to connect, share, and get inspired. Whether you are a full-time professional artist or an entrepreneur exploring painting like I am, this is a casual space to meet face-to-face and build our local network over a great cup of Melbourne coffee. **Here is what we’ll be doing:** * 🎨 **Show & Tell:** Bring a sketchbook, your iPad, or just pull up some photos of your work on your phone. Let's celebrate what everyone is currently creating or exploring! * 🤝 **Network & Connect:** Swap Instagram handles, share industry contacts, and find your new creative accountability buddies. * 🌍 **Main Topic - Art Residencies & Coliving:** Have you ever done an art residency? Are you dreaming of joining a creative coliving space overseas or right here in Australia? Let's share resources, research, and dreams about blending travel with our artistic practices. **What to bring:** * A piece of your art (physical or digital) or a work-in-progress to share. * Your business cards, portfolio links, or social handles. * Any info, questions, or experiences you have regarding art residencies! I can't wait to meet you all and hear about your creative journeys. RSVP so I can make sure we grab a big enough table!

Hello everyone ✨ For 2026 my regular Saturday location will be Balam Balam Place in Brunswick 🏡 Bring any art supplies you like and a picnic blanket or chair. We will just be sat on the grass outside the building sketching together. If you aren’t sure what to draw the club has a weekly drawing theme, just ask me what the prompt is 😊 There is also a small cafe inside the building for those who want a drink while they draw ☕️ ✏️ We welcome all artists of any skill level or medium, Whether you’re a beginner or pro, traditional or digital, absolutely anyone can join. ⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️ Please do not attend if you are sick. I have multiple chronic illnesses so my immune system is extremely weak. keep everyone safe by staying home if you are unwell ☔️ If the weather changes there is a small cafe inside we can move into —————————————————— Check out our instagram @shypeoplesdrawingclub to see more about our awesome group. We also have a Discord group for online events if you would like to join and chat with more artists. ✨

This week we will be going to a temporary location while I wait for a response from the Library about booking a room for our future events Meet me at Jewell Station for some sketching 👩‍🎨 Bring any art supplies you like, the weather is predicted to be sunny so we will be sitting in the area outside the station. There’s a bunch of steps, walls or a patch of grass that we can sit on. If you aren’t sure what to draw our club has a weekly drawing theme, just ask me what the theme is 😊

Join us for 30 minutes Spanish conversation then 30 minutes in English Conversaremos 30 minutos en español y luego 30 minutos en inglés. Stay on afterwards for more conversation if you wish. Quédate después para conversar más si lo deseas. We'd love to catch up with you and hear your news in Spanish and English. Looking forward to meeting you there. Nos encantaría pasar el tiempo y escuchar tus historias en español e inglés. Esperamos verte allí. NB: This event includes free salsa and bachata lessons for those interested! 💃🏼🕺💃🏼🕺 ***Please note:*** *For attendance outdoors see disclaimer below:* *By participation in this Spanish English Intercambio Meetup today I agree to do so at my own risk. I know that my attendance and this agreement operates to exclude any liability in negligence for harm that I may suffer. I have been warned that this recreational activity may cause physical harm to me or to someone under my control or accompanying me, and I confirm that I do not have a condition, medical or physical, that could prevent me from, or be aggravated by, participating in this activity. Examples of the risks I have been warned about include: tripping; Tripping, slipping and falling • Collision with someone or something • Something giving way unexpectedly • Back injury, strains • Spillage and burns • Trip hazardBites and stings • Sun • Injury from falling branches*

We are moving to a new platform and will be only running the new platform in 2025. please signup here: [https://www.downtomeet.com/Melbourne-Writers](https://www.downtomeet.com/Melbourne-Writers) The Wharf Hotel by the river. Southern Cross Station is closest. Ask at the bar to find us. Or call us 0403193785. Tonight's Social Evening Schedule: (Ideas welcome) 6pm to 6.45pm: Socializing​​ 6.45pm to 6.55pm: Introduction and overview of the evening by Jim including go-around introduction​​ 6.55pm to 7pm: A word from Mat our founder​​ 7pm to 7.10pm A paired connection question to get people talking with one another​​ 7.10pm to 7.30pm: Guest Topic: Heath Ryan, a Canadian-Australian is an ultra-endurance cyclist and father who rode 4000k from the UK to Kyiv in Ukraine in 2024 raising funds for a Ukrainian children's charity 'Voices of Children'. He has written and published a number of books focusing on human achievement and social justice. He will talk about his journey. 10 mins talk. 10 mins Q&A. 7.30pm to 8.15pm: Readings section open to all to read out something from their work up to 4 minutes. Feedback optional.​​ 8.15pm to 9.30pm: Socializing. Optional. Many of us love this as a chance to connect personally in a screen-addicted culture. • Come out and meet some like-minded folks who enjoy writing and other entertainment and creative outlets. We'll hang around until at least 8.30pm, but often later. All age ranges, all writing types (and entertainment types), all the way from never writing and up to published authors. • This night is about you. So chat to people, read out your work, give feed back, get to know everyone... Or, feel free to sit back and chill. It's your night, enjoy it how you see fit. **Please only RSVP if you can make it.** **We're booking the area, so we will need you to turn up if you say you are coming.** **We have added an attendee limit, so please update your RSVP if you can not make it.** Thank you, Melbourne Writers. The Wharf Hotel food menu: https://www.wharfhotel.com.au/eat-and-drink Great Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelbWriters Website: www.worldwriterscollective.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelbCityWriters Blog: http://melbournewriters.wordpress.com **Help us by getting in contact so you can add to these social pages and site - matclarke.author@gmail.com**

Hi Guys, With Anzac Day on April 25, lets watch the Anzac Day march/parade and then later have lunch at the food court at South Gate afterword. For those who have not been, the ANZAC Day march is a really special event. For those who wish to watch the march/parade, we will meet at 10am at the Floral Clock (see map pin and image below). Look for the really tall guy – that’s me. (I'll most likely be wearing a blue Australia hat). At around 10:15, we will find a spot to watch the parade for about an hour/hour and a half. We won't be too far from the Floral Clock. At around 12pm or so (maybe 12:30pm), we will head over to the South Gate food court. For anyone who just wants to come to the lunch after, we will arrive at the South Gate Food Court at around 11:45am or 12pm. Should be all finished by around 1:45pm. Notes: **(1) Please Bring Suitable clothes** depending on the weather forecast (coat/umbrella/hat etc.) **(2) Allow extra time for arriving there**. Parking can be difficult. Public transport can be easiest option but remember there are no trams running down St Kilda Road because of the parade. Also, if you are on the opposite side of St Kilda Road to the meeting point, it may take time to cross because of the parade (usually, they don't allow you to cross the road while the parade is on, but sometimes they do). **(3) Call or text me** on 0437 595 848 if you are having trouble finding us. (4) During our lunch, we will have a short discussion with the topic 'What does ANZAC Day mean to you? What do you think of sacrifice and service?'

Join us for a discussion of two provocative and polarizing films by Harmony Korine: Gummo and Spring Breakers. Rather than watching the films together, this meetup is dedicated entirely to conversation—an open space to unpack Korine’s unique cinematic language, his fractured portrayal of American youth, and the uneasy line between beauty and decay that runs through his work. We’ll explore Gummo as a collage of post-tornado suburbia, where narrative dissolves into atmosphere and the grotesque becomes strangely intimate. Then we’ll turn to Spring Breakers, a hypnotic, neon-soaked fever dream that both seduces and critiques the mythology of pleasure, excess, and escape. Topics may include: • Non-linear storytelling and anti-narrative structure • The aesthetics of trash, surrealism, and documentary realism • Youth culture, alienation, and moral ambiguity • Repetition, sound, and image as emotional rhythm • Korine’s relationship to American myth-making Whether you admire, resist, or feel conflicted about these films, this is a space for thoughtful and critical dialogue. No prior expertise required—just bring your impressions, questions, and curiosity.

Shut Up & Write! meets at Cascades Library Room D We hope to see you there! Shut Up & Write is not affiliated with the Loudoun County Public Libraries.

Please arrive early (no later than 7:30) to stretch out and warm up. Wear a black jersey and bring a pair of shin guards.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Doom and Dinosaurs,”** a look at how mass extinctions shaped the dinosaurs and what research on these events tells us about Earth life’s long-term prospects, with Ian Wilenzik, paleontologist and visiting assistant professor of biology at George Washington University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-dino-doom](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-dino-doom) .] Pity the poor dinosaurs. They lacked both scientific research to help deal with potential environmental catastrophes and places where they could have a beer and discuss it. You, on the other hand, have the opportunity to come to Profs and Pints to hear a fascinating talk on the impact of mass extinctions on dinosaur evolution and what research on dinosaurs tells us about biodiversity and Earth’s current biodiversity crisis. Dr. Ian Wilenzik, who has studied and taught courses on dinosaur evolution, population spread, and extinction, will leave you with a greater appreciation of the resilience of life on earth and how we’re both the product and source of biologically catastrophic events. Many of us are familiar with how a big meteor impact about 66 million years ago wiped out the Earth’s dinosaur population, leaving us only with their feathered descendants, birds. Less well known is how the Earth actually has undergone five periods of mass extinction that wiped out nearly all life, and how dinosaurs arose from one and endured another—both caused by volcanic activity—before meeting their match in the third. To ground his discussion, Dr. Wilenzik will talk about how we study mass extinctions by looking for geologic evidence of volcanic activity, meteoric blasts, and other catastrophic activity and of gaps in the fossil record after them. He’ll also discuss what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, describing their distinct anatomical features. He’ll talk about how they and other forms of life evolved over long periods of time and were affected by extinction events. We’ll look at how the meteor-caused mass extinction that wiped out dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous paved the way for the rise of mammals and the emergence of primates, and, eventually, us. Looking ahead to future mass extinctions and what might survive them, we’ll talk about how that plant you forget to water might have the last laugh, as well as why crocodiles might be around a while. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A *Triceratops* mounted skeleton at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History (Photo by Allie Caulfield / Wikimedia Commons).

Join us for a calm and cozy afternoon of creating together at Oakton Library. This is a relaxed social art meetup, not a class. No instruction, no pressure. Just time to focus, draw, paint, and connect. We’re keeping this one intentionally small: **Maximum 10 seats** for a more intimate creative space. 🗓 First Saturday of every month 🕐 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 📍 Oakton Library *** ✨ **What to Expect** This is quiet, focused art time with light conversation. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced artist, you’re welcome. You’re free to come late or leave early. *** 🖌 **What to Bring** Bring any materials you enjoy working with. Keep setups clean and easy for a shared public space. Suggested items: * Sketchbook or loose paper * Pencils, pens, markers, crayons * Small watercolor or gouache setup * iPad or tablet * Crochet, journaling, calligraphy — any quiet creative work is welcome Please avoid messy materials or anything with strong odors. *** 📌 **Important** Seats are limited to 10. Please RSVP to reserve your spot. If you RSVP and can’t make it, let us know so someone else can join.

This **no gi class** focuses on **advanced [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) concepts**, including takedowns, positional drilling, submissions, transitions, situational sparring, strategy development, and live training. While the class is scheduled for **90 minutes**, it may run longer depending on content and participation. This class includes both instruction as well as [rolling](https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/7/29/how-rolling-works-in-bjj) (sparring). The **drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20**, payable on-site. **Note:** We are located in **Suite #130**.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Twister Talk,”** on tornadoes and advances in our understanding of them, with Jeffrey Halverson, professor of geography and environmental systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and author of *An Introduction to Severe Storms and Hazardous Weather.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-twister-talk](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-twister-talk) .] Springtime brings tornado outbreaks and devastation across the United States. The good news for those of us who anxiously eye the skies: Tornado science is rapidly evolving and improving, as are the means by which we detect funnel clouds and warn of their approach. Get up to speed with what’s known about tornadoes with the help of Dr. Jeffery Halverson, a severe storm expert with the *Washington Post* Capital Weather Gang who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on hurricanes and snowstorms. He’ll describe how, with the help of research conducted by tornado hunters, meteorologists are using ever more sophisticated computer simulations and datasets to try to “crack the code” when it comes to how and where tornadoes form. We’ll look at how science teams wielding Portable Doppler Radars on small trucks are learning that tornado wind speeds are much stronger than once presumed. We’ll consider how decades of data are changing how we think about “Tornado Alley,” and we’ll review what’s known about the relationship between tornadoes and climate change. Professor Halverson will conclude by discussing the technological strides being made in terms of tornado warning and detection, and how tornado scientists are teaming up with social scientists to gain a better understanding of what leaves us vulnerable to natural hazards. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: An F5 tornado over Elie, Manitoba in June 2007 (Photo by Justin Hobson / Wikimedia Commons).