French Impressionism

NGV, in partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, is showing an exhibition of French Impressionism that "charts the trajectory of the late-nineteenth century artistic movement, highlighting the key figures at the centre of this period of radical experimentation ......" (NGV media release).  Artists include Claude Monet, Pierre August Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt and Bethe Morisot. 

Place: National Gallery Victoria (NGV St Kilda Rd.)

Meet: 10.30am  meet Art Gallery Cafe (Ground floor NGV) for cofee

Time: 11am (purchase ticket for 11 am entry)

Cost: $43.00

If you have any queries please contact Coral-lee Keep

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

It’s school holidays and most cinemas are showing children’s movies. Anything decent is on at unsuitable times!

Solution for July – we will watch the movie at home (rent or streaming platform subscription) and then meet for dinner and movie discussion on Wednesday 16th.

The film - Penguin Lessons - whihc is streaming on Apple TV or Paramount Plus

OR available to rent for $6.99 from Prime Video - no subscription required, URL is https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0MN2Y0YJXEBA077QHA2N13G9DM/ref=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_1?sr=1-1&pageTypeIdSource=ASIN&pageTypeId=B0F8VH6S17&qid=1752115986815

Film synopsis - THE PENGUIN LESSONS follows a disillusioned Englishman (Steve Coogan) who accepts a job at a prestigious Argentine boarding school in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, he discovers a divided nation and a class of unruly students. But when he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, an unexpected bond forms, one that will transform his life in ways he never imagined.

Venue for dinner on Wednesday 16^th July - The Emerald Hotel: 415 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne 3205

Action for you Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept the invitation for the dinner time discussion at The Emerald Hotel Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

Remember that coming to dinner involves making a commitment to watching the film before Wednesday evening.

RSVP timeline - Registrations for dinner close at noon on Monday 14^th July.

Port Melbourne to St Kilda Beach Walk

This month’s walk will be along the foreshore from Port Melbourne to St Kilda, finishing at an Ackland St coffee shop. Meet at 9:00. Enter Southern Cross Station from Collins St opposite the D14 tram stop. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL. We will catch the Route 109 tram to the Port Melbourne terminus and then follow the foreshore to Ackland Street St Kilda for coffee. An easy flat walk of 5.5 km. To return to the city, catch the Route 96 tram to Southern Cross or the Route 16 tram in Carslisle St to Flinders St Station. Should the weather not be kind to us, I have a backup plan of a more sheltered walk along the Yarra River. Friends Welcome. Richard Bonnett 0417 191 516

We have a booking for 30 Bearbrass members at 12:30pm.

Transport- It is easiest to get to the Wharf Hotel from the city centre by tram – routes #35, 70 and 75 have a stop within a few minutes’ walk of the venue.

RSVP timeline - Registrations close at noon on Thursday 17^th July OR when 30 members have registered.

Note - Members who just walk up on the day without having registered - be aware that it will not be possible to seat you as part of the Bearbrass booking.

Call to action

Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

Bearbrass Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month in the meeting room at Concavo-Convesso Apartments, Docklands 3008.  Members usually have a morning coffee at Saluministi Cafe, ground floor Concavo-Convesso Apartments, before officially beginning the meeting at 11:30am.  There is always the option to stay on for lunch following the meeting.  Each month, the discussion is led by a club member, with books and leaders planned ahead for the year.  New members are warmly welcomed! 

The book under discussion on July 21 is "The Convent" by Maureen McCarthy and the discussion leader is Colleen. 

Come along and join other embroiderers, knitters, jewellers, and artists with pieces you are working on or anything you would like to share or learn.

NOTE – tasting fee for July is $20 per head

The wines for our tasting this month are all from the Yarra Valley - easily accessible within an hour’s drive or from good old Dan Murphy. It's a cooler region so we'll have some lighter reds and one white for variety but also a Shiraz for you big red lovers. I look forward to seeing you there and learning something of our local wine makers.

Action for you Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you accept the invitation, and note in the comments box if you are interested in having dinner afterwards AND PROMPTLY transfer $20 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “July wine”

RSVP timeline Taster’s $20 pp payment is required by Thursday 17^th July

Wait list management The group is strictly limited to 12 people. 13th and subsequent tasters who register will be wait listed. Those waitlisted will be contacted should one of the first 12 registrants either fail to pay for their seat by 17^th July OR pull out for any reason.

Logistics on the night Please

• plan to arrive at Clarendon Towers a little before 5:00pm
• wait in the foyer until you are invited into the tasting room as a group.
• bring a pen or pencil
• if you intend to stay on for dinner have some cash with you in case we can’t split the bill.

Join us for a guided tour of the Old Treasury Building, widely regarded as one of the finest 19th century buildings in Melbourne. The Old Treasury Building hosts the original vaults where bullion was stored during the gold rush era, as well as rare and historic documents from Public Record Office Victoria highlighting key moments from Victoria’s history.

Our 75 minute General Tour will showcase the exhibitions, including the beautiful building. See areas of the building inaccessible to the general public, including the Executive Council Chamber. This historic room is where the Governor of Victoria has met for over 160 years to sign legislation into law. Find out more about Melbourne’s fascinating gold rush past!

Meeting point - Meet at the main entrance at 20 Spring Street before 11am. When everyone has arrived, we will proceed to the group entrance at the middle door at the rear of the building.

Guided tour – runs from 11:00am – 12:15am

Accessibility there are no steps at the group entrance, just a gentle ramp. There is a lift within the building to travel between floors.

Toilets – limited, so go before you arrive!

Transport options

• No onsite parking available. Metered parking available in Macarthur Street or St Andrews Place. Secure parking is available in Flinders Lane or the Park Hyatt
• Collins Street trams 11, 12, 35, 48, 109 (stop 8 or 10)
• Bourke Street trams 86, 96 (stop 9)

Cost – a group discount price of $12 per person applies if we have a group of 10.

Guests - If fewer than 10 members are interested, it will become possible to invite guests.

Group size – the cap on the group size is 15.

Optional lunch – some may be interested in having lunch at one of the many cafes at the top of Little Collins Street.

ACTION FOR YOU - 4 points

1. Click on the link below to register – remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered.
2. Immediately after that, transfer $12 to the club’s bank account. Annotate your transfer with both your name and “Treasury”

3. If you would like to bring a guest write a note in the comments field. If fewer than 10 members register (and pay), some guests can be included.

4. If you are interested in lunch after the tour, write a note in the comments field to let me know.

RSVP timeline - Money is required by TUESDAY 1^ST JULY 

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

The aim of this interest group is to have lots of fun with friends and then to enjoy some fellowship with others at a neaby cafe at the conclusion of the event.  The event will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month, from February to November inclusive, except for the months of  April and July in 2025 due to clashing with Victorian school holidays.  

No experience is necessary, and it is not a competition, so come along and enjoy some fun with other like minded people.

State Library Victoria (Keith Murdoch Gallery)

328 Swanston Street 

Melbourne

EXHIBITION 

William Strutt (1825-1915)

Heroes and villians

Join us to explore the often forgotten area of the State Library Victoria- "Art Exhibitions" . We will be looking at work by the academically trained William Strutt.  The exhibition consists of oil paintings, water colours, portraits, prints, preparatory sketches and large scale history paintings. His works show draughtmanship and insightful understanding of landscape and the human figure.

Meet at: 10.30am in the State Library foyer (Swanston Street entrance)

               Coffee in the cafe then the exhibition. We may have time to explore other areas of this beautiful State Library

Catch any tram up Swanston Street to the Library.

If you have any queries please contact me on 0487 408 302.

Warm regards

Coral-lee

The venue for the monthly general meeting is the Community Hub at the Dock which  is  located next to the Library at The Dock and Buluk Park, on the extension of Collins Street in Docklands (in the direction of North Wharf Road towards the Bolte Bridge).

We will be meeting in the large multipurpose room on the first floor.  Go up the stairs or via the lift and walk down the hall towards the back of the building.

                                                                                            Guests are welcome !

This month’s walk will be along the Yarra River from Southern Cross Station to Como Park, finishing at the “kateen” cafe. Meet at 9:00. Enter Southern Cross Station from Collins St opposite the D14 tram stop. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL. We will follow the south side of the river all the way to Herring Island and Como Park. An easy flat walk of 6 km. To return to the city, we will walk nearly 1km down Williams St to catch a Route 58 tram in Toorak Rd to Flinders St, returning to the CBD across Queens Bridge. (This tram continues along William St to the Vic Market.) Please bring a jacket, but should the weather not be kind to us, the walk can easily be shortened. Friends Welcome. Richard Bonnett 0417 191 516

Details - We have a booking for 20 people at 12:30pm on Sunday 17^th August.

Note - anyone who fails to register and just walks up on the day - be aware that

·      you will not be covered by the City of Melbourne meals subsidy

·      it probably will not be possible to seat you as part of the Bearbrass booking

Transport- It is easiest to get to The Bridge Hotel by tram – routes #48 and #75 have a stop across the road within from the venue – alight at Stop 22.

RSVP timeline - Registrations close at noon on Wednesday 14^th August OR when 20 members have registered.

Action for you - Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember also to click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

The booking is strictly limited to 20 people. If you are interested, register promptly!

Bearbrass Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month in the meeting room at Concavo-Convesso Apartments, Docklands 3008.  Members usually have a morning coffee at Saluministi Cafe, ground floor Concavo-Convesso Apartments, before officially beginning the meeting at 11:30am.  There is always the option to stay on for lunch following the meeting.  Each month, the discussion is led by a club member, with books and leaders planned ahead for the year.  New members are warmly welcomed! 

The book under discussion in August is "The Painter's Daughters" by Emily Howes and the discussion leader is Pam. 

Join the graduating students from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA)—Australia’s brightest emerging stars—as they celebrate the beloved music of The Golden Age of Musical Theatre.

Cost For groups of 10 or more, tickets are discounted to $26 per head.

Action for you Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you have registered to attend, IMMEDIATELY, and certainly by Thursday 7 August, transfer $26 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “Aug MM".

Ticket collection on the day of the concert Meet me outside the St Kilda Road doorway to the Hamer Hall box office. I will be on the footpath between 1:10 and 1:15pm.

Anyone arriving after 1:15pm – I will leave your labelled ticket at the box office for you to collect there.

Come along and join other embroiderers, knitters, jewellers, and artists with pieces you are working on or anything you would like to share or learn.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

This month's movie is The Friend, starring Naomi Watts ( Australian Actress) and Bill Murray. Written and Directed by Scott Mc Gehee and David Siegal.

Based on a successful novel by Sigrid Nunz, a New York writer (Watts) finds her solitary and comfortable life thrown into disarray when her best friend and mentor (Murray) commits suicide and bequeaths her a Great Dane, Apollo. The grief and anger she feels changes with the help of “one good dog.”

Movie goers buy their own tickets for the 3:20pm screening and meet at the Kino cinema foyer.

Those interested in going on for dinner nearby are asked to advise that in the notes field when accepting the event invitation.

You are invited to Annie, the musical , at the Princess theatre. Based on the 1924 comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, the musical stars the incredible Anthony Warlow as "Daddy" Warbucks. Following the matinee performance, we will adjourn to a nearby venue for a drink/and or meal. 

NOTE – tasting fee for August is $20 per head

This month we will taste a white and some reds - a selection of the lovely wineries we visited on our Rutherglen wine trip earlier in the year.

Action for you  

1. Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

2. If you accept the invitation, please note in the comments box if you are interested in having dinner afterwards AND PROMPTLY transfer $20 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “August wine”

RSVP timeline The $20 pp payment is required by Thursday 21^st August.

Wait list management The group is strictly limited to 12 people. 13th and subsequent tasters who register will be wait listed. Those waitlisted will be contacted should one of the first 12 registrants either fail to pay for their seat by 21^st August OR pull out for any reason.

Logistics on the night Please

• plan to arrive at Clarendon Towers a little before 5:00pm
• wait in the foyer until you are invited into the tasting room as a group.
• bring a pen or pencil
• if you intend to stay on for dinner have some cash with you in case we can’t split the bill.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

 A spring time get away to Warrnambool is just the ticket for us all to look forward to as we step into the winter months.

Coral Lee and Sue have been busy coming up with a list of activities and accomodation for this trip and we hope you will join us.

Warrnambool is 3.5 hours by train from Melbourne at an approximate cost of $8. Some members might  prefer to drive and the drive takes about the same amount of time. Those of us with cars will be able to help with meeting members at the station to assist with getting to accomodation or car pooling for the activities which involve travel.

As well as as evening meals together, we have some terrific ideas for daytime activities.

These include:

Fletcher Jones garden, Warrnambool Art Gallery, Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Botanical Gardens, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, Port Fairy, beach walks with possible whale sightings, hot springs bathing and coffee dates.

We have two accomodation options below but these are in no way prescriptive, just suggestions:

Surfside Holiday Park

https://www.surfsidepark.com.au/

This park is also along the foreshore.A range of cabins are available here, including a 3 bedroom house. The park has an excellent enclosed camp kitchen and recreation room which will be ideal for activities, meals and socialising

Cabin rates are from $155 per night with pensioner discount available.

For those who fancy a little more upmarket accomodation, Deep Blue might be the answer for you.

https://thedeepblue.com.au/

The Deep Blue Hotel is located on Warrnambool’s spectacular foreshore and offers exceptional accommodation, award-winning Hot Springs Sanctuary, Day Spa and Hospitality.

A range of rooms are available during our dates. Price range upwards from $390 for two nights.

ARCHIBALD PRIZE 2025 Portraits

Geelong Art Gallery 

Date: Monday 8th September 2025

Price Entry to gallery: Adult $24.00

                                       Concession $20.00   (Tickets can be purchased online or at gallery)

9.06am train from Southern Cross to Geelong -trip takes approximately 1 hour and five minutes plus a ten minute walk to the gallery.

Cost of train ticket between $7-10 and can be purchased with Myki card.

MEET under clock tower at Southern Cross Station (corner Spencer and Collins St) at 8.45am.

Coffee and lunch available at Cafe next to the Art gallery. 

Join your fellow art lovers to view this exhibition as it always encourages discussion and controversy about the judges' selection of winners 

For further information please contact me via email or phone (0487408 302)

Warm regards 

Coral-lee

Our member Terry has become the marketing 'face' of the LiveUp organisation. With LiveUp's John Bradshaw, he'll tell us what this is all about

The venue for the monthly general meeting is the Community Hub at the Dock which  is  located next to the Library at The Dock and Buluk Park, on the extension of Collins Street in Docklands (in the direction of North Wharf Road towards the Bolte Bridge).

We will be meeting in the large multipurpose room on the first floor.  Go up the stairs or in the lift and walk down the hall towards the back of the building.

PLEASE NOTE: The Minutes from the August meeting and the Agenda for the September meeting are attached.

The aim of this interest group is to have lots of fun with friends and then to enjoy some fellowship with others at a neaby cafe at the conclusion of the event.  The event will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month, from February to November inclusive, except for the months of  April and July in 2025 due to clashing with Victorian school holidays.  

No experience is necessary, and it is not a competition, so come along and enjoy some fun with other like minded people.

Come along and join other embroiderers, knitters, jewellers, and artists with pieces you are working on or anything you would like to share or learn.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

A remake of War of the Roses with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas from 1989, the Roses is on at the Kino Cinema in Collins St starting at 3:45. Dinner to follow at a venue to be determined, probably a nearby pub. Please arrive early for a coffee and buy your own ticket.

From the marketing:

From acclaimed director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Bombshell) and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Tony McNamara (The Favourite), THE ROSES is a biting satirical black comedy that reimagines Warren Adler’s 1981 novel ‘The War of the Roses’. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, the film delves into the unravelling of a seemingly perfect marriage. Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.

The walk this month will be from Southern Cross Station to The Como Centre in South Yarra. Meet at 9:00 at Southern Cross Station. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL. We will follow the Yarra to Hamer Hall, then walk along St Kilda Rd and Birdwood Ave, passing the floral clock and several memorials. Then we skirt the Botanic Gardens and end-up in Toorak Road to walk to the Como Centre for coffee. Options for returning to the city: tram routes 8, 78, & 79, or a train from South Yarra Station. An easy flat walk of 6 km (according to Google Maps), generally flat except for a gentle rise as we approach the Shrine. Guests welcome. Hope to have your company. Richard Bonnett 0417 19 15 16

We have a booking for 20 people at 12:30pm on Sunday 21^st September.

Note - anyone who fails to register and just walks up on the day - please be aware that

• you will not be covered by the City of Melbourne meals subsidy
• it probably will not be possible to seat you as part of the Bearbrass booking.

Transport- It is easiest to get to The Yorkshire Stingo Hotel by public transport.

• Tram routes #12 and #109 have a stop about a block away.
• Bus route #246 runs along Punt Road/Hoddle Street

RSVP timeline - Registrations close at noon on Thursday 18^th September OR when 20 members have registered.

Action for you - Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember also to click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

The booking is strictly limited to 20 people. If you are interested, register promptly!

This month we will taste a collection of whites and reds from South Australia.

Action for you

Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you accept the invitation, please note in the comments box if you are interested in having dinner afterwards AND PROMPTLY transfer $25 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “September wine”

RSVP timeline payment is required by Thursday 18th September.

Wait list management The group is strictly limited to 12 people. 13th and subsequent tasters who register will be wait listed. Those waitlisted will be contacted should one of the first 12 registrants either fail to pay for their seat by 18th September OR pull out for any reason.

Logistics on the night  Please plan to arrive at Clarendon Towers a little before 5:00pm and

• wait in the foyer until you are invited into the tasting room as a group.
• bring a pen or pencil
• if you intend to stay on for dinner have some cash with you in case we can’t split the bill.

Travel back in time to early medieval Scotland and discover the unique and mysterious treasure trove of Viking-age treasures, from jewellery, personal heirlooms and one-of-a-kind objects from as far away as Central Asia. The Galloway Hoard is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the century.

No guided tours are available, but why not do self-guided visit to the Galloway Hoard exhibition with friends from Bearbrass?

If you are interested, please register in the usual way, by clicking on the link below and then saving.

Buy your own ticket online – go to https://tickets.museumsvictoria.com.au/mov/b2c-mm/ticketSale/tickets?category=B2CMM&selected=MMGH  Remember to purchase a ticket which is valid on Friday 3rd October! Seniors price is $24.

We will meet at the museum entry at 10:00am.

As it is public venue and a self-guided tour, there is no cap on numbers and guests are most welcome.

Those who are interested in staying on for lunch nearby in Carlton can do so.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

The recently updated Potter Museum of Art- THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE is now show casing, over three levels, 

"65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art Celebrates the brilliance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art while confronting the dark heart of Australia's colonial history and proclaims the importance of Indigenous knowledge and agency. The exhibition features more than 400 works, including rarely-seen artworks and cultural objects from the University of Melbourne's collections, 194 important loans from 78 private and public lenders and six new commissions". Potter Museum of Art

At one  PM a  guided tour of the gallery will be given to the Bearbrass Probus Group. We will meet at the entrance to the gallery at 12.30pm, near the cafe for coffee. 

For more details please contact me. Coral-lee

The aim of this interest group is to have lots of fun with friends and then to enjoy some fellowship with others at a neaby cafe at the conclusion of the event.  The event will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month, from February to November inclusive, except for the months of  April and July in 2025 due to clashing with Victorian school holidays.  

No experience is necessary, and it is not a competition, so come along and enjoy some fun with other like minded people.

The venue for the monthly general meeting is the Community Hub at the Dock which  is  located next to the Library at The Dock and Buluk Park, on the extension of Collins Street in Docklands (in the direction of North Wharf Road towards the Bolte Bridge).

We will be meeting in the large multipurpose room on the first floor.  Go up the stairs or in the lift and walk down the hall towards the back of the building..

Please note: There are 2 attachments to this invitation

Our October 14 speaker – Susan Bower.

After a career in nursing, our member Susan Bower became a Medical and General Researcher for TV series and films. She moved up to Script and Creative Producer on TV series,  working on  A Country Practice,  McLeod’s Daughters, Sea Patrol, Little Oberon, Neighbours and A Place to Call Home. She also worked on children’s series, cartoons, video games and several series that never saw the light of day. “It's tough and it’s fun”, she says. 

These days she continues to create and pitch TV Drama series ideas. “I teach aspiring writers to develop their own ideas into series, and that job pays for my holidays,” she says.  Will she tell all? “Some stories I can tell, others I don’t dare,” she says.

Don’t miss this talk, it’s a sizzler!

The walk this month will be along the Inner Circle Rail Trail. Meet at 9:00 at Southern Cross Station. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL. We will catch the Route 11 tram to Newry St, then follow the Inner Circle Rail Trail to Princes Park. We will leave the rail trail to head to the University of Melbourne for coffee near Swanston St. (Note: Elizabeth St trams are currently diverting via William St due to track replacement). An easy flat walk of nearly 6 km (according to Google Maps). Guests welcome. Hope to have your company. Richard Bonnett 0417 19 15 16

We have a booking for 20 people at 12:30pm on Sunday 19^th October.

Arrangements on the day  While we can pay separately, The  Courthouse requires us to submit only one food order from the group.

Meals Once everyone has settled in and decided what they would like to order,

1. write your name and selected meal on the ‘Group Order’ list, which will be at the table.
2. The Convenor will submit the group order.
3. Individually, each diner will need to pay for their meal at the bar.
4. Once all meal payments have been made, our group order will be delivered to the kitchen.
5. All our meals will come out from the kitchen at about the same time.

Drinks to be purchased individually at the bar, as usual.

Sunday surcharge The Courthouse exacts a 10% surcharge on Sundays.

Transport - It is easiest to get to The Courthouse by public transport.

Tram routes #57 goes up Elizabeth Stret before heading to North Melbourne. Alight at Stop 12 North Melbourne Town Hall.  The Courthouse is a few steps away.

Action for you - Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember also to click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully. The booking is strictly limited to 20 people. If you are interested, register promptly! 

RSVP timeline - Registrations close at noon on Thursday 16^th October OR when 20 members have registered.

Final note It won’t be possible to accommodate as part of the Bearbrass booking anyone who elects not to register but just walks up on the day.

Bearbrass Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month in the meeting room at Concavo-Convesso Apartments, Docklands 3008.  Members usually have a morning coffee at Saluministi Cafe, ground floor Concavo-Convesso Apartments, before officially beginning the meeting at 11:30am.  There is always the option to stay on for lunch following the meeting.  Each month, the discussion is led by a club member, with books and leaders planned ahead for the year.  New members are warmly welcomed! 

The book under discussion in October is "Victoria" by Julia Baird and the discussion leader is Sue. 

Please Note: I have attached the link to an Instagram post that I really appreciated and thought you might too!  You will need to copy and paste the link into your browser.

Experience the electrifying sounds of the Air Force Big Band, the Royal Australian Air Force’s premier 17-piece Swing and Jazz ensemble. Dedicated to celebrating and promoting the Air Force and its core values, the band delivers unforgettable performances at major community festivals, public events, schools and formal Defence Force functions. Rooted in the rich military heritage of the 1940s Big Band Swing era, this dynamic ensemble echoes the golden age of jazz that once lifted the spirits of WWII troops. Their diverse repertoire features classic swing, innovative concert jazz and original compositions crafted by the band members themselves.

Join us for a captivating musical journey that honours tradition while showcasing contemporary talent.

Cost For groups of 10 or more, tickets are discounted to $26 per head.

Action for you 

Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you have registered to attend, IMMEDIATELY, and certainly by Friday 10^th October transfer $26 to the club’s bank account.

Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “Oct MM"

Ticket collection on the day of the concert

Meet me outside the St Kilda Road doorway to the Hamer Hall box office to collect your ticket. I will be on the far side of the footpath outside the main doors between 1:10 and 1:15pm. Anyone arriving after 1:15pm – I will leave your labelled ticket at the box office for you to collect there.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

Hi There Movie Lovers.

The film on Wednesday October 22 is After The Hunt at Kino Cinema Collins St.

Staring Julia Roberts ( a suggested 2026 Oscar nominee), Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield and more. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Written by Nora Garret.

Alma (Roberts), a college professor, is caught in between a sexual abuse accusation involving one of her students and a college professor. It looks intense. I was looking for a Mary Poppins like film to take me away from world madness but this looks like it would do the same job in a different way.

3.20pm session at Kino.  Buy your own tickets and meet in the foyer. See you there!

Please let me know if you'd like to meet for dinner and a post movie debrief by writing in the text box when you register.

Susan

The venue is Clarendon Towers, 45 Haig Street Southbank, from 6 p.m. on Friday 24^th October.

You will be enjoying a fully catered dinner party where your dinner companions will be drawn randomly from a hat. We’ll start off in the meeting room at Clarendon Towers for a mingle and hor d'oeuvres plus a glass of bubbly, then the random draw will occur and we’ll head off to one of the apartments in the building for the remainder of the evening.

 The menu (provided by Black Truffle Catering) will be:

• Hor d'oeuvres served with a glass of bubbly
• A choice of Beef Bourguignon or Mushroom Ragu
• Cheesecake desert
• Tea/coffee and cheese.

The cost per head will be $66 (or $56 should you select the vegetarian main course), payable via bank transfer to the club’s events account BSB 633 000 account 1747 71725. Non-members (refer below) will be $11 more than members. In the remarks/description field for the transfer please put your surname and the code “GWCD”, for example “GrayGWCD”. In that way we know who the money has come from and for what event.

A few other points:

• Registration for the event will be done via the link below on a "first come first served" basis but not completed until the fee is paid via bank transfer into the club’s events account
• The event will be limited to a maximum of 22 including the 3 hosts
• Because of the limitation on numbers, the event is for members and their "significant others" only. If you are bringing a “significant other” please advise their name in the comments section when registering
• If you wish to choose the vegetarian option (or have other dietary needs) please advise via the comments section when registering
• Couples will be allocated to the same host (as long as they don't request otherwise!)
• Bring whatever you wish to drink with dinner.

Any questions please give me a call on 0407 787 117.

Mel Gray

I have realised that this month’s meeting is at the start of what is a very long weekend for many in Melbourne, so tasters may well be planning to be out of town. In consequence, this invitation is going out earlier than usual so I can get a fix on the number of participants and hence the pool of funds available to spend. I have a couple of ideas but need to know the actual budget.

Action for you

Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered (or delined!) successfully.

If you accept the invitation, please note in the comments box if you are interested in having dinner afterwards AND PROMPTLY transfer $25 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “October wine”

RSVP timeline payment is required by Monday 20th October.

Wait list management  The group is strictly limited to 12 people. 13th and subsequent tasters who register will be wait listed. Those waitlisted will be contacted should any of the first 12 registrants either fail to pay for their seat by 20^th October OR pull out for any reason.

Logistics on the night  Please plan to arrive at Clarendon Towers a little before 5:00pm and wait in the foyer until you are invited into the tasting room as a group.

Bing a pen or pencil and if you intend to stay on for dinner have some cash with you in case we can’t split the bill.

WANTED

Witnesses for the draw of the club's Melbourne Cup Sweep at The Yorkshire Stingo on Sunday 2nd Nov at 3pm.

Come by for a few drinks, good chats, whatever the kitchen is serving up and help us make sure the draw is totally unbiased and 'above board'. Why not wear a hat to fit in with the Cup theme?

The Yorkshire Stingo is at 48 Hoddle St, Abbotsford. Closest tram stop is number 18 on Route 12.

If the day is warm, we will be in the beer garden. If it's cool, we will be inside.

Hope to see you there.

Cheers

Sue and Julie

Join other Melbourne Bearbrass Probus members for a guided tour of the gardens and Rippon Lea Mansion in Elsternwick – a beautiful part of Melbourne’s history! The logistical details are as follows:

Transport options

• #67 (to Carnegie) tram – alight at stop 4 OR
• Sandringham line train – alight at Rippon Lea station – then a short walk OR
• #216 or #219 Bus departs the southeast corner of Queen and Collins Streets. Depending on traffic the journey takes 30 – 45 minutes. There is a stop directly outside Rippon Lea Estate. Ask the driver to set you down at the first stop after Glen Eira Road.  OR
• Car - Note thate there is NO parking is available onsite - use the local streets.

Cost – a group discount price of $25 per person applies if we have a group of 10 minimum.

Group size – maximum group size is 15

Guests - If fewer than 15 members register, it will become possible to include some guests.

ACTION FOR YOU Click on the link below to register – remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered. Immediately after registering successfully, transfer $25 to the club’s bank account.

Annotate your transfer with both your name and “RIPPONLEA”

If you would like to bring a guest write a note in the comments field.  In the event fewer than 10 members register AND PAY, some guests can be included.

RSVP timeline Registrations are only completed once payment has been received. Deadline for receipt of funds is Friday 17^th October

Enjoy the bushland ambience of the picturesque Emu Plains Reserve for the next meeting of The Balnarring Picnic Race Club. Enjoy all the fun of a very informal race meeting – whether that is following the horses’ form or just watching people and having a pleasant social day!

First race at around 1:00pm & last race at approx. 4:30pm.

Catering - BYO lunch and drinks.

Cost - $20 pp (entry fee)

Guests – your significant other would be welcome as your guest if they are not a member of Bearbrass.

Optional extension – you could find accommodation for the night and make a weekend of it!

This is not a formal Bearbass event insofar as organisation. If you are interested in going, please accept the invitation. You will be put in touch with any others who have expressed interest and you can make arrangements about sharing transport and /or meeting up if you wish.

Bill started as a cadet photographer with The Age in 1969 and for the next 40 years had a colourful and multi-award winning career with his camera on many newspapers, from crime, sport, country life, politics, and arts to pictures celebrating the human moods and conditions. The National Gallery features nine of his portraits. His recent exhibition, “Last Night on Victoria Dock 1999” chronicles our Dockland’s final port era. This intro hardly touches the sides of his coming, fascinating talk to our club.

The venue for the monthly general meeting is the Community Hub at the Dock which  is  located next to the Library at The Dock and Buluk Park, on the extension of Collins Street in Docklands (in the direction of North Wharf Road towards the Bolte Bridge).

We will be meeting in the large multipurpose room on the first floor.  Go up the stairs or in the lift and walk down the hall towards the back of the building.

PLEASE NOTE: There are 2 files attached to this invitation

Here You Come Again is a rollicking, joyous new musical comedy packed with all of Dolly Parton’s biggest hits - Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, I Will Always Love You, Here You Come Again and many more - in a toe-tapping tale about a devoted fan whose fantasy version of Dolly helps him face life’s toughest challenges.

This musical is at the Comedy Theatre, 240 Londsdale St Melb. The cost is $91. Payment will need to be made to Bearbrass Bank account no later than 12 September. Please accept or decline this invitation and then make payment with your surname and Dolly Parton musical , in the details. 

The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is exhibiting the joyous and colourful  work by the American contemporary artist,Tschablala Self. As well as large scale paintings in which a combination of fabrics, collage and painting are used there are immersive spaces in the gallery that are filled with striking 2D and 3D works.

Self was born in 1990 in Harlem, New York and now works out of a studio in Hudson Valley, New York.

The aim of this interest group is to have lots of fun with friends and then to enjoy some fellowship with others at a neaby cafe at the conclusion of the event.  The event will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month, from February to November inclusive, except for the months of  April and July in 2025 due to clashing with Victorian school holidays.  

No experience is necessary, and it is not a competition, so come along and enjoy some fun with other like minded people.

We have a booking for 20 people at 12:30pm on Sunday 16^th November.

Meals to be ordered and paid for individually at the time you order.

Drinks to be purchased individually at the bar, as usual.

Transport- It is easiest to get to The Bridge by public transport.

Tram routes #48 and #75 have a stop directly across the road from the venue – alight at Stop 22.

RSVP timeline - Registrations close at noon on Thursday 13^th November OR when 20 members have registered.

Action for you - Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember also to click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

The booking is strictly limited to 20 people. If you are interested, register promptly!

Final note - It won’t be possible to accommodate as part of the Bearbrass booking anyone who elects not to register but just walks up on the day.

Bearbrass Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month in the meeting room at Concavo-Convesso Apartments, Docklands 3008.   There is always the option to stay on for lunch following the meeting.  Each month, the discussion is led by a club member, with books and leaders planned ahead for the year.  New members are warmly welcomed! 

The book under discussion in November is "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley and the discussion this time is a group effort! 

Please Note:

• We are meeting at Little Bean in Collins Street, both for coffee before the meeting and for the meeting itself.
• Please give some thought to your preferences for titles, choosing the list, anything you would like to see in place
• I have attached:

1. your feedback about processes for 2026 
2. some ideas for developing our reading list ​

Come along and join other embroiderers, knitters, jewellers, and artists with pieces you are working on or anything you would like to share or learn.

Come along to the Wharf Hotel on the first and third Tuesday of each month for a friendly board game or Mahjong.

No prior experience needed. Mahjong coaches will happily introduce new players to this fascinating game. 

Otherwise, join in on Scrabble or bring along your favourite game.

Drinks and food available.

Dear Movie Lovers,

Something a little different this month.

The Godfather, Part 1 is often referred to as "The greatest movie of all time".

Is it?

I ask you to watch the Godfather Part 1, to be seen on Netflix ( be careful The Godfather Part 2 comes up first), or on Google or You-Tube between now and November 19. WIth out mentioning the cast, writer or director share your thoughts. Does it live up to the hype? I ask you to also pay particular attention to Michael Corleone's journey - when did he decide to join his father's mob and why? Also the costumes. What did the characters' costumes tell us about them? 

The discussion will take place on November 19 at the Platform 28 pub in Docklands at 6.30pm.

Don't forget to press "save" when you register. Registering for this event means you are joining me for the dinner and discussion. There is no cinema attendence included.

See you there!

Susan

The walk this month will be from Newport Station to Williamstown Station, mostly along the foreshore. Meet at 9:00 at Southern Cross Station. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL. We will catch the train to Newport, walk to the mouth of the Yarra River, then follow the foreshore to Commonwealth Reserve. We will stop for coffee in Nelson Place. Suitably refreshed, a short 600 metre walk to Williamstown Station for the train home. Total distance (according to Google maps) of 4.7 km, all easy flat walking. 

Anybody wanting to find out about the history of Williamstown can join a free guided one hour walk leaving from the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre only 50 metres from our coffee shop.

www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/visit/Whats-On/Step-Back-in-Time-Williamstown-Walking-Spring-2025

Booking recommended, but it may be possible to get in on the day. Guests welcome. Hope to have your company. Richard Bonnett 0417 19 15 16

This month's wine tasting is essential to your christmas preparations. It will feature wines suitable for a christmas lunch, including a sparkling shiraz, some dry whites, medium and full bodied reds and desert wine!

Hi all, it's the end of the year and we are finishing up our mahjong sessions until we resume at the end of January.

This last session is on THURSDAY Dec 4th.

I hope you can make it, even if only to join us for a quick drink.

We will be in our usual area in The Wharf Hotel and look forward to seeing you there.

Melbourne in particular and Victoria more broadly have a well-deserved reputation as the Cultural Centre of Australia. On the 2^nd Monday of each month Bearbrass members with an interest in the visual arts explore 3 major forms: Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, at venues in Melbourne’s CBD suburbs as well as in regional Victoria.

The format each month is as follows:

Details of venue, transport and timing for that month will be published in the event invitation.

This event is a walk in preparation for the March SurfCoast multi-day walk

Our annual celebration of Christmas will take the form of lunch at the charming Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne.

A 3 course meal will cost you just $40 (thanks to a Christmas Cheer subsidy from the Club) with guest tickets (your significant other if that person is not a member) costing $60. Drinks at bar prices.

Doors will open at 12:30pm for drinks and some shared platters for starters while we stand and socialise. We will move to our seats by 1:15pm so the rest of our lunch – main and dessert - can be served.

Please note the date – WEDNESDAY 10^th December. 

It has not been possible to find a venue with appropriate seating arrangements that offered a menu in our price range and a cash bar that also could accommodate us on Tuesday 9^th which is when we normally would have been meeting. Please make a note of the different date.

Call to action

Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you accepted, then IMMEDIATELY, and certainly by Thursday 20^th November transfer $40 to the club’s bank account. Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “Xmas”.

Please advise any dietary requirements in the comments box when you register.

Looking forward to seeing you as we celebrate the Christmas Season!

Bearbrass Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month in the meeting room at Concavo-Convesso Apartments, Docklands 3008.  Members usually have a morning coffee at Saluministi Cafe, ground floor Concavo-Convesso Apartments, before officially beginning the meeting at 11:30am.  There is always the option to stay on for lunch following the meeting.  Each month, the discussion is led by a club member, with books and leaders planned ahead for the year.  New members are warmly welcomed! 

The book under discussion in December is "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and the discussion leader is Terry, who is warmly wlecomed as she joins us again. 

Please Note: I have made a booking at Mister Collins, Collins Square T12, 747 Collins St, for a celebratory lunch followng our last meeting for the year.  We will all be seated at one table and I have been assured that we can split the bill if we wish.  Check out the lunch here: https://www.mrcollins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MIS2022-Mr-Collins_Lunch-Menu_A4-4pp_WEB.pdf

PLEASE CONFIRM IN YOUR REPLY TO THIS INVITATION, YOUR INTENTION TO JOIN US FOR LUNCH OR OTHERWISE.

Kerry

Ballet’s most iconic story, The Nutcracker arrives at the Princess Theatre this Christmas!

Journey to the Land of Sweets this festive season and indulge in the spirit of Christmas tradition.

Witness BIG Live’s world-class dancers from around the globe perform ballet’s greatest Christmas show. Be mesmerised by the breathtaking snowflakes and the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy as they perform with dazzling costumes and exquisite sets. Fill your hearts with the Christmas spirit this December with BIG Live’s iconic production of The Nutcracker!

Presented by BIG Live in association with United Airlines.

Tickets are $80 pp and very limited in number, so if you want to attend, act now!

Action for you

1.    Please respond to this email by clicking on the link below and then either decline or accept. Remember to also click save. If you don’t receive an acknowledgement email almost immediately, you haven’t registered successfully.

If you have registered to attend,

2. transfer $80 to the club’s bank account by Friday 8th August

Remember to annotate your transfer with both your name and “Nutcracker”.

The walk this month will be a sneak peek of lesser known museums and galleries in the CBD. Please note we will only be making a brief visit to each location. There will not be time for a thorough look around – just a taster for those you might like to revisit at a later date. Meet at 9:00 at Southern Cross Station. See the attached photo showing the meeting point on the UPPER LEVEL (Enter the station from Spencer St and go up two escalators or enter directly from Collins St opposite tram stop D14.) Total distance of about 4.5 km with generally easy gradients before finding a coffee shop. Guests welcome. Hope to have your company. Richard Bonnett 0417 19 15 16

Let’s see out the old year together with a good catch up and some tasty, shared bites at a casual get together! BYO everything.

This event is dependent on good weather and we may have to alter arrangements if the weather is inclement.

Bring a hat and a chair (if you can), along with your own beverages and a plate of food to share. Depending on the weather, sunscreen and a jacket might also be needed 😂😭

Anastasia the Broadway musical is inspired by the beloved film, and is set in the aftermath of the Russian revolution. It follows the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romonov, who was rumoured to have escaped and survived the execution of the Russian Imperial family. This production transports you from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria of 1920s Paris. The tickets are $71. Guests are welcome. Please make payment to the Bearbrass Probus bank account and note your name and Anastasia in the reference. 

BSB 633 000 

Account 174771725