Internet of Things

**Register now to attend! =>** [https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) **<=** **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * Missed **75%** off [LF / CNCF](https://lf.ksug.ai/)? [Get Notified](https://ksug.ai/?notify&ref=meetup) for next BIG drop! * **20%** off [KubeCon Europe](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) 2026 using code **KSAI20** * Up to **30%** off popular [Books](https://ksug.ai/books/?ref=meet) and [Events](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) We're excited to welcome you to the upcoming **KSUG.AI Australia Meetup** — happening in-person! 🎉 We're actively seeking more awesome AI topic speakers! 👉 [https://speaker.ksug.ai](https://speaker.ksug.ai) Join us for Melbourne’s biggest S1 Newcomer Festival! Whether you are a brand new student, a returning senior, or just looking to meet new friends, this is the event to kick off your semester. **Event Details:** * **Date:** Sunday, March 8, 2026 * **Time:** 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM * **Location:** Drill Hall, Multicultural Hub (26 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000) * **Entry:** **Online Registration Required** (Strictly no walk-ins) **What to Expect:** * **5,000+ Free Gifts:** From student survival kits to brand merchandise, everyone walks away with something. Arrive early for the best selection! * **Mega Lucky Draw:** Electronic draws every 30 minutes featuring prizes like a PS5, Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, Stanley Tumblers, LEGO sets, Wayfarer (Gen 2) and more. * **Interactive Fun:** Booth games and a stamp collection challenge to unlock bonus lucky draw entries and exclusive gifts. * **Study & Career Advice Zone:** Mentors and industry professionals will be available to answer questions about course planning, internships, resume tips, and migration pathways. * **Networking:** Connect with trusted local brands, student organizations, and peers from different universities. **How to Maximize Your Chances:** You can earn multiple lucky draw tickets (up to 10 per person) by checking in with a group, referring friends, sharing on social media, participating in booth activities, or volunteering. **Don't miss out on this full experience!** **[Register here](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) to secure your spot!** See you all there! *(This event is organized by JR Academy with strong support from KSUG.AI Community and various sponsors.)* 👉 Join our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua) and [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D9a9IDiCS7U4cqQ0Sh60cz?mode=gi_t) for latest update! 🔖 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: ☸ 30% OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** Certs - Code: **30K8SUG** ☸ 37% OFF **[KodeKloud](https://ksug.ai/kk/?ref=meet)** Plans - Code: **K8SUGKK** 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬: ✅ Learn 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⚡ ✅ Certify 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 💰 ✅ Grow 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 💪 𝟏𝟖𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ follow **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** 🔥 [linktr.ee/ksug.ai](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) *By registering, you consent to the management of your personal information in accordance with KSUG.AI Meetup's [Privacy Policy](https://k8sug.ai/privacy). Additionally, you agree that our sponsors may contact you.* **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** is an independent community and not affiliated with or endorsed by CNCF. Kubernetes, K8s, Kubestronaut are registered trademarks of The Linux Foundation.

***Vibe out with your tribe, out. (No coding experience required or expected!)*** Join us for **Vibe Code & Chill: October Edition** on Sunday, October 5th, 2025. This isn’t your average meetup: no stuffy panels, no boring lectures. We’re here to vibe, imbibe, and make progress on our *projects-de-jour*: from AI experiments to Web3 hacks, AR side projects, or just messing around with next-gen tools. ***New to the crew?*** Expect a warm welcome and friendly face to greet you before introducing you around and helping you find your people. We keep it friendly, fun, and inclusive and with free snacks and drinks, you’re covered. Bring your laptop and your best coding mojo. **What to expect:** * **Chill coding & collaboration:** Bring your laptop and your current coding project. Find a spot in our comfortable booths or at tables with fellow coders. This is a space for hands-on work, casual discussions on the latest gizmos, and helping each other out. * **Free refreshments:** Stay fueled and hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks and a selection of snacks provided by the club. The pub has a great range of meals and drinks if you're looking for something more. * **Headphone-free zone (official hours):** You can code in your own world at home! We have a no-headphone policy for the first hour of the meetup. * **Flexible timing:** You're welcome to arrive early and get started before the official event kicks off at 2PM. and you're welcome to stay and vibe on as long as you like. No sweat if you can't stay the whole time, just pop in and join the fun for as long as you can! Come ready to laugh, learn, and grow with a community that's excited by design, tech, and innovation. This is your chance to make new friends, share ideas, and be inspired by fellow driven and generous minds.

# 2026 S1 Melbourne Freshers Welcome Event（Mandarin speaking) Overview Melbourne’s biggest S1 Newcomer Festival at City Hall — 5,000+ gifts, nonstop prizes & Consulate support. 🎉 2026 S1 Melbourne Freshmen Welcome Festival This isn’t just a “booth event.” It’s a full experience. 🌟 5,000+ FREE gift packs 🎟 Electronic lucky draw every 30 minutes 🎯 Interactive booth games + stamp collecting challenge 🎓 Study, career & migration Q&A zone 🤝 Meet trusted local brands & student organisations 📸 Social sharing activities to win extra prizes And yes — online registration is required to join the lucky draw. No walk-ins. ## 5\,000\+ Free Gifts 🎁 \| Lucky Draw Every 30 Minutes 🔥 \| Interactive Expo Experience Melbourne’s biggest Chinese student welcome event is back — and it’s bigger than ever. Whether you’re a brand new student ✨, a returning senior 🎓, or simply looking to meet new friends and explore opportunities — this is THE event you cannot miss. **📅 Time: Sunday, 8th Marth 2026 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM** **📍 Location: Drill Hall，Multicultural Hub 📍 26 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000** 💥What Makes This Event Special?  💥👇**SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW** 👇 ### **📍 Event Details** * **Time: Sunday, 8th Marth 2026 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM** **📍 Location: Drill Hall，Multicultural Hub 📍 26 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000** * **🎟 Entry:** **Registration Required** (Strictly no walk-ins. Spots are limited!) ### **📢 Why You Must Attend?** Welcome to the 2026 S1 Freshers' Festival! As Melbourne's largest orientation event, we are bringing you a day filled with gifts, insights, and fun. **This event is your gateway to settling into Melbourne life quickly.** ✅ **Get Answers:** Real solutions to common study and lifestyle questions. ✅ **Make Friends:** Meet students from different universities through games. ✅ **Start Right:** Kick off the semester with fun, not confusion. ✅ **Resource Hub:** Connect with premium local businesses and services in one go. *(P.S. Seniors and alumni are welcome too! It’s not just for newbies!)*  **🎫Ticket Earning Rules:** • Individual check-in: 1 ticket • Group of 3 checking in together: 2 tickets each • Group of 5 checking in together: 3 tickets each • Invite a friend to register and check in: +1 ticket per friend (maximum 10 tickets) • Event volunteers: +2 bonus tickets • Post on Instagram / Xiaohongshu with #澳洲匠人学院: +1 ticket per post (maximum 3) • Take a photo at the event and tag official account: +1 ticket • Livestream or short video sharing event experience: +2 tickets • Take a photo with a student from a different university and post on Xiaohongshu: +1 ticket • Participate in interactive games / booth activities / stamp challenge tasks to earn additional tickets 🎯 Maximum 10 tickets per person. The more tickets you have, the higher your chance of winning. 🎁 Mega Lucky Draw — Every 5 Minutes We’re giving away prizes all day long. Every 30 minutes, multiple winners will be drawn live on stage 🎤 🎉 Prize List (Partial – More Coming Soon) 🎮 PS5 🍟 Philips Air Fryer 💨 Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer 🥤 Stanley Tumbler 🧹 Akitas Vacuum Cleaner 🧺 Steam Iron 🌏 Jacaranda Globe Crystal 🍲 Slow Cooker 💄 Wellcare LED Makeup Box 🖨 HP Printer 📸 Canon Photo Printer ✨ Ulike Air3 Hair Removal Device 🧱 LEGO Sets 💪 Goodlife Gym Bag + Water Bottle (x5) 🔥 Mountain Hotpot “Shishi Ruyi” Plush (x3) 🧧 Panda Delivery $30 Vouchers 🛒 Student Shopping Wagon (x2) 🐻 Graduation Teddy Bears (x5) 🏋️ Goodlife 3-Month Nationwide Gym Membership 🥤 2.28kg Protein Powder (x1) 🎀 LABUBU ⭐ Star Series Blind Box (x3) 📷 Mini Digital Camera 🎁 Panda Delivery Freshmen Gift Pack 🕷 Marvel Spider-Man Icon Lamp 🎁 Bupa Gift Pack ⌨ Vintage Typewriter Toy 🏫 JR Academy Sports Water Bottle … and many more exciting prizes! 🏷 Stamp Collection Challenge — New This Year! Visit participating booths. Complete mini activities. Collect stamps. Unlock bonus lucky draw entries and exclusive small gifts 🎁 This isn’t just about grabbing freebies — it’s about exploring, interacting, and having fun. 🎓 Study & Career Advice Zone Have questions about university life or your future? We’ve invited experienced mentors and industry professionals to help you with: 📚 Course planning 💼 Internship & part-time job advice 📝 Resume & interview tips 🛂 Migration & visa pathways 🏡 Student life survival tips Ask questions freely. This is your space. 🎁 5,000+ Free Gifts — First Come, First Served From student survival kits to brand merchandise, discount vouchers, gym passes, beauty experience cards, food samples, and practical lifestyle gifts — everyone walks away with something. Arrive early for the best selection. ⚠ Important Information • Online registration is mandatory • On-site check-in required to activate lucky draw eligibility • Friends must arrive together to claim group bonus tickets • Lucky draw tickets are electronic — no paper tickets  ### **🎟 How to Maximize Your Lucky Draw Chances** **Step 1: Register Online (Mandatory)** Only registered guests are eligible for the draw. 报名链接：**[\[Melbourne\] 2026 S1 Melbourne Tri-University New Student Festival](https://jiangren.com.au/events/698e91ace0fc334785c20650?source=Angela "https://jiangren.com.au/events/698e91ace0fc334785c20650?source=Angela")** **Step 2: Get Raffle Tickets** * **Standard Check-in:** 1 Ticket. * **Group of 3:** 2 Tickets each. * **Group of 5:** 3 Tickets each. * **Refer a Friend:** +1 Ticket per friend (Max 5). * **Social Media Share:** +2 Tickets (Share on WeChat Moments). * **Instagram/Red (Xiao Hong Shu) Post:** +1 to 3 Tickets (Tag #JR_Academy). * **Volunteers:** +2 Tickets. *Max 10 tickets per person. The more tickets, the higher your winning chance!* **⚠️ Important Notes:** * **Pre-registration is essential.** No ticket, no entry. * You must be present to win lucky draw prizes. * Bring your friends and arrive early to beat the queue! 🌟 **Thank You to the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne for Their Strong Support**🌟 💎 **Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne** 💎 The Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne is an important diplomatic mission of the Chinese government in Australia, representing China within its consular district. It is responsible for consular protection, external communication, and cooperation. ## 「Organizer」JR Academy 🌏 **The No.1 AI Learning Hub for Global Chinese** JR Academy is an AI-focused EdTech company specializing in IT education. We are dedicated to empowering the Chinese community in Australia to achieve breakthroughs in IT-related studies and careers. With **600+ top-tier mentors** and **700+ enterprise partners** across multiple IT domains, we provide hands-on project experience and career coaching. Through our strong social platforms, we have hosted **200+ events**, helping students pursue their IT career dreams. To date, we have supported students in securing **6,000+ offers** from **500+ global tech companies**. Whether in Chinese or English programs, JR Academy is committed to supporting students’ academic and professional growth. 🌟 Special Thanks to Our Supporting Partners 🌟 ## 「Diamond Partners」 ### Block Club Block Club focuses on crypto learning and networking. With active online discussions and regular offline meetups, the community emphasizes high-quality information sharing and insightful discussions. ### Ruiyuan Investment Group Ruiyuan Investment Group provides one-stop services for property sales, leasing, and asset management. During orientation season, we assist students in efficiently matching suitable properties, completing applications, signing leases, and settling in smoothly. We also support owner-occupiers and investors with furniture and appliance setup advice, helping you settle into Melbourne quickly and comfortably. ## 「Gold Partners」 ### ACIC Education & Migration Founded in 1988, ACIC is a globally recognized education consultancy and an official recruitment center for all Australian universities. ACIC has successfully helped over 100,000 students from 40+ countries study in Australia and supported tens of thousands in obtaining work visas and permanent residency. ### HungryPanda HungryPanda specializes in serving the global Chinese community through food delivery, retail, and grocery services — satisfying your Chinese cravings wherever you are. ### Bupa Bupa is a health and care company committed to helping people live longer, healthier, and happier lives. It offers a wide range of services including aged care, dental, optical, health insurance, and community wellbeing initiatives across Australia. ### Compass Education & Migration Founded in 2002, Compass is one of Australia’s largest local education and migration agencies, with 24 years of industry leadership. Services include: * Study abroad consulting * Career planning * Visa applications * Local employment guidance * Skilled migration * Employer-sponsored visas * Family reunion * Distinguished talent migration * Business & investment migration ### Fantuan Delivery Fantuan is a leading global lifestyle service platform connecting users and merchants through technology. From food delivery to grocery services, Fantuan aims to make life easier — “One Fantuan is all you need.” ### Mood Skin Lab A trendy skin management studio located in Melbourne CBD, offering 1:1 customized treatments combining advanced technology and professional injectable solutions. Specializing in acne, dullness, unstable skin conditions, and early aging concerns — creating natural, healthy, and youthful skin. More than a skincare space, it’s a popular urban healing destination. ### 2EZY 2EZY Driving School × Car Detailing Studio * Official bilingual instructors * Patient and supportive coaching * Professional car detailing & coating * Dashcam installation Learn driving and car care in one place! ### ICE U Founded in 2024, ICE U is Melbourne’s first innovative Sichuan sesame sauce BBQ brand. After multiple recipe refinements, it perfectly combines sesame sauce with authentic Sichuan flavors. Fresh skewers daily, with ingredients displayed openly for customers to choose — creating a truly unique Melbourne dining experience. ### Dawei Malatang Dawei Malatang — Australia’s popular Sichuan-style spicy hotpot. Self-select ingredients, convenient and full of flavor! ### Dealmoon ANZ Dealmoon ANZ is the Australia/New Zealand branch of the North American Dealmoon platform, serving the Chinese community with real-time promotions and discounts. Fashion, beauty, electronics, home goods — everything in one place. ### Jobpin AI Jobpin AI is an intelligent career platform leveraging artificial intelligence to revolutionize job searching and career development. Through advanced AI algorithms, it provides: * Personalized job matching * Resume optimization * Cover letter generation * Internal referral support Making job hunting more efficient, precise, and competitive. ### Amo Lumie Amo Lumie creates emotional value through fragrance, connecting people and spaces. The brand name combines the Latin words for “Love” and “Light,” symbolizing each candle as a source of warmth and illumination in daily life. ### Yeeyi Founded in 2006, Yeeyi is one of the most widely visited Chinese platforms in Australia. Providing reliable news and comprehensive lifestyle services across 40+ categories including housing, jobs, second-hand market, cars, pets, and more — serving as a digital community hub for Chinese Australians. 「Community Partners」 ### University of Melbourne Chinese Debating Group (CDG) Founded 29 years ago, CDG began as a small Chinese debating team and has grown into a large comprehensive student organization. Through decades of dedication, it continues to promote Chinese debate culture and intellectual exchange. ### Venture Club Melbourne The official venture capital club at the University of Melbourne. Dedicated to connecting innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment resources across Melbourne and beyond, providing students with early-stage investment knowledge and industry connections. ### Monash Chinese Student Association Officially recognized student association and the only one acknowledged by the Consulate’s Education Office. With five major departments and thousands of members, it supports students throughout their academic journey. ### RMIT Chinese Students & Scholars Association Founded in 1980, RMIT CSSA is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization recognized by the Consulate’s Education Office. It promotes cultural exchange and provides support to Chinese students and scholars in Melbourne. 「Corporate Participation Opportunity」 ## 2026 S1 Melbourne New Student Meet-up 📣 Sponsorship opportunities closing soon! Limited spots remaining! If you are looking to increase brand exposure, please contact: 📧 **business@jiangren.com.au** Or add us via WeChat (QR code below). ## 📍 Event Location **Drill Hall, Multicultural Hub** (Opposite Queen Victoria Market) 26 Therry St, Melbourne VIC 3000

**Social Pickleball - All Levels Welcome!** \*\* [Instagram: @rmit_pickleball](https://www.instagram.com/rmit_pickleball/) [WhatsApp: RMIT Pickleball Club](https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7VE0NcThWWIgLnnJBVQBq)\*\* \*\* Paddles and balls provided! Beginner friendly - simply show up and we’ll teach you the basics \*\* Grab a paddle, play pickleball, and meet new people! \*\* Who is it for?\*\* * Members of public and RMIT students * Complete beginners * Intermediate players * Advanced players (up to DUPR 4.5 expected) **✅ How to join?** 1. **Become a club member** [at the RMIT Store](https://store.rmit.edu.au/pages/club/pickleball) (one-off payment) 2. **RSVP** on Meetup to join the session 3. When marked as **“Going”**, pay for the session: **\- Payment link** is in the **comment section below** (posted 1-3 days before) \- Use your RMIT Store account with a club membership \(from step 1\) 4. Can’t attend? Update your RSVP to “Not Going” **⏳ Priority on waitlist** 1. Clear Meetup profile with name and photo 2. RMIT students 3. Regular attendees \*\* On the day\*\* * New players, please **introduce yourself to the host** * New players wanting a **rules intro**, please arrive on-time and ask a host * Have your **emailed ticket receipt ready** \- it will be checked on the day \*\* Cancellations and Refunds\*\* * No refunds for change of mind, non-attendance, or no-shows * Refunds only if the event is cancelled (weather or court availability) * Credit for a later session may be offered by agreement in case of event cancellation * Pay only when we share the payment link in Meetup - using old links is at your own risk Whether you are new to pickleball or a regular player, this is a great way to get some games in and connect with the community. Come solo or bring a friend - everyone is welcome! \*\* Spots are limited, so RSVP early! \*\*

❤ **!!MAC LIBRARY MEETUP 8 MARCH 2026 !!** ❤ EARLY BIRD RSVP TICKETS until 1 MARCH or FIRST 30 tickets- $15 Tickets thereafter - $18 This is our TYPICAL library event if you have not yet experienced one with us before ^_^v \>\>\>\>Strictly no drop ins will be allowed<<<< \>\>\>\>Tickets sell quickly\! Please do not wait to RSVP<<<< Connect with us on Discord for quick responses as there can be a multi day lag via Meetup messages: JOIN MAC DISCORD: [https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F](https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F) ❤**ANIME:** TBA ❤**DATE:** 8 MARCH 2026, SUNDAY ❤**TIME:** Meet at 3:00PM for 3:30PM START ❤**START PLACE:** THEATER ROOM (AKA PERFORMANCE SPACE) Docklands Library Main Building Top floor (Library at The Dock) **THE PLAN:** Arrivals take place from 3:00pm for a 3:30pm start!! We encourage you to mingle before our announcements> ice breakers and games > watch party > raffles > close. We will then head to Melb Central for dinner and some quick games afterwards. We encourage our members to support anime artists and producers by purchasing their movies or any full series should they wish to watch the endings. **Some insight for newer members:** It's a natural process to feel a little anxious attending a large event you have never experienced before. During sign ins our hosting team will naturally be busy however our meet & greet volunteers will do their best to say 'Hello' to everyone and perhaps connect you to others. If for some reason this does not happen (because it's really busy), don't fret! Our ice breaker games are designed to help everyone bond over a shared experience. You should expect adults having fun and letting lose whilst being challenged to push some comfort zones which we invite you to do as well! The games are suppose to be silly to help people come out of comfort zones and get to know someone new. We will then take a break to watch anime and we really do encourage you to stay for games after dinner which is when our team gets a breather and a good chance to get to know our newer members better in a quieter setting! We have witnessed many wonderful long term friendships formed at MAC amongst our members - We do hope you join us! **THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS** A big thank you to everyone who RSVPs - This money helps with the club's upkeep and hiring of the venue! We are completely NOT-FOR-PROFIT and we sincerely appreciate your contributions!! Raffle tickets will be available on the day to further support our MAC community!! ❤\*\*::MELBOURNE ANIME COMMUNITY ONLINE::\*\*❤ You can also join our online MAC Discord Server via the following link to discuss this event and have any of your questions answered. JOIN MAC DISCORD: [https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F](https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F) *Please follow the prompts and provide your FIRST NAME in our #introduce-yourself channel. Providing your real first name helps you build happy healthy long term friendships especially when meeting in person. If you are not able to provide this please kindly provide reasons to @superbec who can help assist.* **IMPORTANT TO KNOW** ❤Everyone is welcomed to MAC events. We ask that all attendees be polite, respectful, and kind to one another. We pride on genuine SAFE SPACE for any one and every one. Our community does not tolerate bad behavior and we are committed to stamping out bullying! If you see bad behavior disguised as "jokes" please call it out or contact the community leaders so we can address this and keep the community a safe space. For more information please see our POLICY on our Discord. JOIN MAC DISCORD: [https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F](https://discord.gg/C3Ug63F) ❤By RSVPing to our events, you automatically agree to our policy and your pictures taken at our events for promotional purposes. If this does not suit you, please let us know during sign in. ❤Our events have a strict 'Respectful Attendance' policy. This means our community will not tolerate drop ins or creation of concurrent events with MAC members during a live MAC event. This is in line with our creating-community values. ❤MAC is committed to being an inclusive space. Where a carer is required, a carer must attend and have a purchased ticket. This is to ensure that all individual needs of a participant can be met during an event. None of the organisers of the event are trained to provide special assistance. ❤\*Release and Indemnity. Please read carefully. This section contains a surrender of certain legal rights. Upon RSVPing to all MAC events, you hereby acknowledge and assume all of the risks in participating in the event and agree to release, waive indemnity, and not to sue Melbourne Anime Community along with any applicable organisers, hosts, and related personnel/venue spaces, and volunteers. This is respect to any and all claims, liabilities, suits or expenses including attorney's fees and costs for any injury, damage, death, lost, stolen, or disposed property or any loss connected to participation of the activity that you may have suffered. Help us improve our community by providing negative or positive feedback!

**\*\*\*This is a pre-booking event. Please visit [artmasterclass.com.au](https://www.artmasterclass.com.au/) choose your lamp, use the MEETAMC10 coupon code, and make a reservation.\*\*\*** Join us for a hands-on workshop where families can learn the art of creating beautiful Turkish lamps together. This unique and engaging class will guide parents and kids through crafting intricate and colorful lamps. No prior experience is required, as our expert instructors will provide step-by-step instructions on design, assembly, and decorating techniques. This workshop is perfect for families and friends to bond, unleash their creativity, and take home a stunning handmade craft that can brighten any room. Come discover Turkish lamp-making's magic with your little ones in a fun and supportive environment. In this 2.5-hour workshop, you'll lose track of time and end up with a beautiful lamp to take home!

Hi guys, Bit of a last minute thing but if any of you would like to come along to the Mommba Parade, feel free to come along and join Christian Gatherings. The Moomba Parade is one of the highlights of the Moomba Festival. It features a massive array of floats, dance troupes, community performance groups. The Parade starts at the Shrine of Remembrance, runs along Birdwood Avenue and finishes at Linlithgow Avenue. We’ll meet at the Australian in front of the Australian Hellenic Memorial at 10:10am (Look for a very tall man in with a dark blue hat and head down to get our positions to watch the parade at around 10:30am. We’ll watch the parade (about 1 hour) before heading down to the Southgate food court for a casual lunch at around midday. As it the custom with Christian Gatherings, at the lunch, we will have a short conversation with a Christian theme. Given that this is Labour day (celebration of the 38-hour work week), I thought we would have a conversation about work and rest. So the topic is: “What do you feel about work and rest? What do you feel is the role of work in our lives and the role of rest in our lives?” What to bring: · hat/sunscreen (weather prediction is warm, shade is limited whilst watching the parade) · snacks/drink/water etc. for yourselves whilst watching the parade · money etc. to buy your lunch (optional) at Southgate food court

After some great discussions using these cards, we just had to continue! "It isn't easy to get into a good conversation. Many of our best ones seem to have happened by chance. Far from it - we believe a great conversation always starts with someone asking a great question.” The School of Life's "Philosophical Questions For Curious Minds" cards contain questions designed to get a group of people into entertaining and meaningful conversations. This is a casual, social and fun event where we share our thoughts and experiences with a group. **Topics covered**: * Is there a God * What is the meaning of life? * What is real? * What is a society? Questions vary depending on the day and the table, based on the cards chosen by the audience. Please arrive hungry and thirsty so we can maintain a good relationship with the venue and continue hosting our events. \*\*\* Meaningful Discussions events take place in 11 countries and this will be our 151st event in Melbourne! :) Please be try to arrive on time if you can. This event will allow a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion. So if you're looking for open-minded, friendly and intelligent people, you've come to the right place!

The theme for this week is “*The Courage to Say Hello*.” This week, we’ll have **fun** trying out **simple ways** to **start conversations**, break the ice, and take small social risks that can lead to **real connection**. Through **activities and conversation** prompts, you’ll get to meet others, **share stories**, and see how a tiny moment of **courage** can open the door to something **meaningful**. There’s **no right or wrong** \- just a **relaxed space** to **chat, laugh,** and **connect**. Bring a **pen** and your **journal**, and get ready to meet new people and maybe make a friend or two. We’d love to have you there! Meeting point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/U3oaqAs5gAoz5EKV6)

Our favourite day of the year is almost here - and in honour of a day that's all about celebrating women's achievements, we're bringing you our biggest event yet. A mixture of social and inspiring, this is an event in three parts that combines all our favourite parts of Girls Who Boss. **Here's the agenda:** 2pm - Arrival 2.30pm - Fireside chat with three women who inspire 3.15pm - Activities, including the trivia and board games you've loved this year 4pm - General mingling, friend-making and networking *About the fun, social side* As with all our events, our focus is still on allowing new friendships to develop, and we'll be running some of our signature activities to help you meet new people. We're bringing along board games, icebreakers, trivia and more to help you move around the room with confidence and make new friends. *About the fireside chat* Our fireside chat is themed "Women Who Inspire", and you'll hear from the following women. **Kathy - Thankly** Kathy is the Re-Founder and Creative Director of Thankly, a Melbourne-based online card and gifting business making gratitude simple, personal, and part of everyday life through handwritten-style cards and thoughtful curated gifts. After 13 years in management consulting and advisory across Deloitte, Accenture, and Microsoft, Kathy stepped away from large-scale transformation and change to question what success, impact, and connection really mean. In 2023, she took a career break to reimagine what truly matters and re-launched Thankly as a part-time, purpose-led venture alongside a co-partner, focused on making “thank you” feel human and easy again. Shaped by personal loss and loneliness, Kathy lost both parents by the age of 21 – experiences that deeply inform her mission. In a country where 1 in 3 Australians report feeling lonely, she believes gratitude can be a powerful bridge back to belonging. At the start of 2025, Kathy became the sole owner of Thankly and stepped into founder life full-time, committing fully to re-imaginig a scalable and sustainable, purpose-led brand founded on gratitude and real human connection in the modern world. **Zoe - Owner and Organiser of Girls Who Boss** Zoe's career has spanned more than a decade of charity work (alongside international diplomats and on her own projects), study in five countries, advocacy for safer cities for women, an ongoing career as a lawyer and community building through Girls Who Boss. You'll likely have met her at one of our events - read more about what this event means to her [here](https://open.substack.com/pub/girlswhoboss/p/why-international-womens-day-2026?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4apm4h). **Julianne Valles - Identity and Decision Authority Coach** Having rebuilt her identity and life from scratch multiple times - across different countries, career pivots, and seasons - Julianne understands the grit required to choose yourself when there are no guaranteed outcomes. She helps women break free from the "work-hard" trap and stop waiting for the "perfect moment" to act by tapping into **unapologetic self-trust.** By anchoring into their own authority, her clients move from paralyzing overthinking into a life defined by purpose and freedom of mind. Julianne works with women who are ready to stop seeking permission and start owning their power, creating a reality that is as bold as their ambitions - no matter their circumstances. Through a facilitated discussion, we'll learn about twists and turns in each panellists journey and take inspiration from how they went about building lives they love. *Come solo, or bring a friend* Guests are welcome at this event - but as with all of our events, friend-making remains central and you are more than encouraged to come alone and meet some new incredible people. *Who is this event for?* In short, this event is for anyone looking for inspiration and to grow in themselves - whether that's in business, career or just life generally. There is no "one size fits all" description of our members and we look forward to the diversity in the room at this event.

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.

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Connected Westerville Night of Networking flips the script on networking, with surprises and connections that'll make you say, "Who knew networking could be this much fun?!"

**Google Analytics Alternatives** Is it finally time to make the switch away from Google Analytics? Two-and-a-half years ago Jason Packer asked this question at Columbus Web Analytics Wednesday. Since then: Google’s Universal Analytics has been sunset, we’ve changed our name to Columbus Data & Analytics Wednesday, and Jason has released two editions of his book “Google Analytics Alternatives”. Fresh off the release of the 2nd edition of his book, we thought it was time to re-open this conversation. While people love to complain about it, GA’s market share has remained relatively constant (at least in the United States). Why is that? You won’t find any complaints about GA4 in this talk, but rather an overview of what’s currently available in the market and how to frame your decision-making process. We’ll also be giving out some free copies of Jason’s book! So even if you’ve got a “GA4Lyfe” tattoo (no judgement), there’s free books to go with the free pizza and beer. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Porter’s Coffee House. Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!

Drake Lundstrom is presenting: Code Anywhere by Talking to your Phone Abstract: Have you heard the trend of people deploying code anywhere from checkout lines to doctors' offices? In this talk, you will learn how to talk to your phone and have an app on Azure to show your friend 5 minutes later. The basic DevOps tools you already know, plus a little bit of AI magic, are all you need! If you want to follow along, the demo will be in Azure with GitHub Actions and GitHub Copilot, and you can have it set up on your phone by the end of the session. Just come in with an Azure account and a GitHub repo. Join us for pizza, drinks, and networking @ Improving's office. Doors open at 5:45.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.