Brain Teasers Melbourne

Tricky Tuesday @ The Peacock Inn

**PLEASE NOTE: This will be again more of a community ran event. There is no official host for but two community members - Dan and Trev have volunteered to help facilitate so we can continue Tricky Tuesday in my absence. Extremely grateful to them, please extend your thanks too. Please support each other and make contributions where possible to make everyone feel welcomed and get games tabled!** Welcome to the **Tricky Tuesday** Meet Up! This is a smaller event in most respects - smaller capacity, smaller games - but still the same sized fun! Come join us to learn a new game and meet some new people. * This event was created primarily to play and explore **modern** **trick taking games** and **smaller card games** which can be played on more limited table space. * As this is a smaller event, please note it is a bit more casual. Find the group at the table/s, come over and join - we're a welcoming bunch. * Please **bring some games** to this event if you can and be prepared to teach them if you do. **There are** **no games available at the venue** but I will always bring a few. Please consider others when coming and in the lead up to the event. We want as many people there as possible. If you are unable to attend mark yourself as such as soon as you can so others can be notified and attend. There's an FAQ below but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out. Your tricky friend, Dave **FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS** **What is a trick taking game? Good question you handsome person.** * Generally speaking, a trick taking game is a card game which is played in a series of rounds known as ***tricks***. * Each trick is evaluated to determine a winner or ***taker*** of that trick and then will usually start - or ***lead*** *-* the next trick. * The goal is usually tied to either winning or losing a number of tricks. This may also come in the form of you guessing how many tricks you will win - known as a ***bid***. * Some games may have a suit that always wins - known as a ***trump***. * Most trick taking games are **competitive** needing between 3-5 players, others are **cooperative**, there are also solo and two-player trick taking games as well! * Popular trick taking/trick taking adjacent games you may have heard of: [The Crew](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324856/the-crew-mission-deep-sea), [Skull King](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150145/skull-king), [Cat in the Box](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345972/cat-in-the-box-deluxe-edition), [Scout](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291453/scout), [Fox in the Forest](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221965/the-fox-in-the-forest), the classic games of [Spades](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/592/spades) and [Hearts](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6887/hearts), **What makes a Trick Taking game fun?** * There's so much to trick taking games! They're generally quick to teach, quick to play, have interesting decision spaces, and a wide variety of novelty. Even the classics though can be played thousands of times without getting tiresome. Part of the fun is in the interaction with others, assessing their moves and countering them, and how to win (or lose) at the right times. You have to stay on your toes, adapt frequently, and keep tabs on the other players, what they have played, and what they may play next! **Do I need to know how to play/have played a trick taking game before?** * Not at all, but it is good to understand the basics and general terminology so you can pick things up a bit easier on the night. You can check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O7QyhKmCsk) for a bit of a general breakdown . **Is this event free?** * Yes, but please support the venue by purchasing a drink or two. **I'm on the waitlist can I still come?** * Unfortunately, no. We have limited capacity and must abide by it. **I don't have a game to bring, is that okay?** * Generally it will be okay, but it is encouraged to bring and share a game where you can! You can always bring a standard deck of cards or tarot cards and learn a card game or two as well! **Can I bring a guest?** * Unfortunately, unless they have signed up too it won't be possible. We have a strict limit on guests and the event would fill up too quickly otherwise. **How do I get to the venue?** * The 86 Tram is your best bet and has a stop pretty much right outside of the venue. * There are two train stations (Westgarth and Northcote) which are within walking distance. * Parking is available in the area but can get busy. If you don't mind a little walk there is parking down the adjacent street. **Dave, I worry you will win all the games we play. Such an intelligent and beautiful man, you must be a master of the tricks, is this true?** * Firstly - thank-you for the kind words, but secondly - no. I suck at trick taking games and lose more than I win. Yet, I enjoy them for their variety, high interaction, and quick nature regardless. You will be fine if you don't take things too seriously. It's about fun and meeting people... (but if you do beat me too often I will ban you from the group and venue...).

Wurundjeri Spur Abbotsford Loop (Approx. 14km, 200m elevation - EASY)

Join us this King's Birthday for an inner-city trail walk. Come for a social chat and fitness walk. This will be an easy loop through Fairfield and Abbotsford, but note you will be expected to maintain a moderately fast pace (typical pace for Eastern Hiking and Adventures). We are likely to finish before 1pm but I have allowed extra time as a buffer. **Please read all of the following information before RSVP'ing.** · *Do not FOMO into any of the Eastern Hiking & Adventure events unless you intend to attend, i.e. check the date, the distance and complexity of the walk before joining that walk. Those members who consistently are last minute withdrawals, are no shows or disrespectful to any members or leaders will be asked to remove themselves from that walk and **may be** removed from the group. All the leaders are unpaid volunteers who spend many hours of their own time researching each walk to the best of their abilities at no cost. The organisers attempt to minimise members left on the waitlist (within reason) with priority given to those loyal members who regularly attend walks and provide an enjoyable environment for others.* **Directions**: Enter the Melbourne Polytechnic Student carpark from Yarra Bend Road or park anywhere in a car spot nearby and meet at the carpark entrance. **Fitness Level**: · A good level of fitness is required as you will be expected to walk approximately 5km/hr and we will have a 15min snack rest in the middle. **What to bring:** *2 litres of water - snacks or lunch *appropriate walking shoes - rain/wind/sun protection clothing *SPF50 sunscreen - personal First Aid kit **DISCLAIMER** · Our events may be difficult and/or hazardous. Eastern Hiking & Adventure organisers will not accept liability for any loss, injury or accident. Participants should take care, wear suitable clothing and footwear, maintain their equipment, and act appropriately in their surroundings and follow the directions of the event leader. You are responsible for your own safety. Ambulance cover is strongly recommended and by RSVP’ing to this event you indicate acceptance of these terms. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thoughtstorm® Session Topic: International Day of Play, Yarraville

Would you like to enhance your creativity, confidence and increase your awareness? We’d love you to join us to Thoughtstorm® the topic International Day of Play in the warm, friendly environment of the Yarraville Community Centre. How Thoughtstorm came about Thoughtstorm is a technique developed from a seed of speculation: are there more effective (rational, cooperative, compassionate) ways of thinking? Methods whose long-term consequences will not lead to oblivion. This is the genesis of Thoughtstorm. What is it? For anyone with an interest in leadership, deeper conversations or creative problem solving, something much more than a group discussion occurs. What is experienced in Thoughtstorm is a forgotten sensory ability - mind-linking. An evolution in human thinking and learning. The direction moves from a narrow range of possibility into discovering corecepts, when individual minds merge into a much more powerful collective awareness and experience a deeper, more compassionate comprehension of reality. Corecepts trigger intuitive recognition and agreement by the group, a ‘Why, of course!’ reaction. New insights guaranteed! Because this process taps into abilities already present in the human mind and into aggregates of consciousness straining to express themselves, very little practice is required. Would you like to see and understand things in a way that is new for all of us? Would you like to develop your consciousness and your creative intelligence? Would you like to be inspired to create positive change? Then come and join us to Thoughtstorm together. If it’s your first time to Thoughtstorm, please RSVP early to give plenty of time to arrange a brief prep call on Zoom to go over the Thoughtstorm procedures so we can all get started on time together. **Agenda:** 2pm - Arrive, meet and greet, read over Thoughtstorm instructions 2.15pm - Begin the Thoughtstorm 3.15pm - Finish When you RSVP we will be in touch with the details. We look forward to seeing you there! Thoughtstorm® is a registered trademark of Star's Edge, Inc. All rights reserved.

Databricks User Group Melbourne, June Meetup [Hosted by Vivanti]

Join us for an engaging evening at the next Melbourne Databricks User Group Meetup! We have a great line up of speakers for the night who will be sharing their learnings from implementing Lakebase on Databricks as well as unpacking some of the latest feature announcements on the platform. **Speakers;** * **Shreya Sharma**, Solution Architect at Databricks: *A tour of Databricks' serverless Postgres for operational apps and AI agents and the headline features (branching, autoscaling, scale-to-zero, horizontal reads). Then a rundown of what's shipped in the last few months — Lakehouse Sync (Postgres → Delta CDC), scale-to-zero as the default, customer-managed encryption keys, and OTLP metrics/logs.* Why Attend? The Databricks User Group is your chance to: * **Learn from experts**: Hear about the latest Databricks developments and best practices directly from industry leaders and experienced practitioners. * **Network with peers**: Connect with other data professionals in Melbourne who are passionate about data, AI, and analytics. * **Share knowledge**: Engage in discussions, ask questions, and exchange ideas with other members of the community. Event Details: * **Venue Host**: Vivanti Consulting, Level 20, Tower Five, 727 Collins Street, Docklands, VIC 3008 * **Date:** Thursday 11th June, 2026 * **Timing**: 5:30pm-8pm * **Catering and Drinks provided** RSVP today to secure your spot and feel free to invite colleagues or friends interested in Databricks and data-driven innovation. We look forward to seeing you there!

Brainy mates needed for Trivia at the Gardiner Hotel (6:45 dinner, 7 trivia)

Melbourne Biz Apps User Group | Launch Event

**Join us at the Melbourne Biz Apps User Group: Launch Event!** 🎉 We've been working hard behind the scenes, and the day is finally here. Come celebrate the launch of Melbourne's newest Biz Apps community with us. **🎤 Featured Session: Vendor Onboarding Agent with Copilot Studio** *Presented by Dharanidharan - Microsoft MVP, Engineering Lead* Vendor onboarding is one of those processes that quietly eats hours — manual document checks, back-and-forth approvals, risk assessments done in spreadsheets. There's a better way. Dharanidharan will walk us through how to build an enterprise-grade AI agent that handles vendor onboarding end-to-end, from document upload through to automated risk assessment and manager and compliance approvals. Everything tracked. Everything auditable. **Built using:** * Copilot Studio for conversational onboarding * AI Builder for automated document extraction * Power Automate for risk scoring and approvals * Dataverse and model-driven apps for full auditability This is a reusable pattern for anyone working with document-heavy, compliance-driven processes. Real architecture. Real implementation. **⚡ AI Bytes** Before we dive in, we've got some fun community activities lined up to get you inspired, warmed up, and ready to geek out. Come ready to participate! **🍕 Food, Drinks and Networking** Good food, good drinks, and good people, and we'll have plenty of time on the night to mingle, connect, and meet your fellow Biz Apps practitioners in Melbourne. **This event is for you if you:** * Work in Power Platform, Dynamics 365, or Copilot Studio * Want to see how AI agents are being built in the real world * Are curious about intelligent automation at enterprise scale * Just want to meet other Biz Apps practitioners in Melbourne We can't wait to see you there! 🙌

Explore the '1000 Steps' Walk in the Dandenong's - Nature + Coffee & Connection

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

Tutors connect and create

## Tutor Connect & Create A friendly meetup for tutors to meet each other, share ideas, and try a new activity together. The goal is to build a community of knowledge. ## What it is * A relaxed get-together for tutors of all subjects. * Open to people who enjoy teaching and learning. * A chance to talk, share experiences, and make new friends. ## Good activities * Icebreaker games. * Mini sharing circle: “What do you teach and what do you enjoy?” * Creative activity, like a puzzle challenge, drawing task, or group quiz. * Short discussion about new teaching ideas or tools. * Optional food, tea, or coffee. ## Why tutors would come * They can meet other tutors. * They can learn fresh ideas. * They can try something fun and different. * It feels social, not too serious. ## Sample event description **Tutor Connect & Create** is a casual meetup for tutors who want to connect, share ideas, and explore new activities together. Whether you teach maths, English, music, or anything else, you are welcome. Come along to chat, collaborate, and enjoy a fun activity in a friendly space. ## Better title ideas * Tutor Social Circle * Tutors Unplugged * Teach, Chat, Connect * Tutor Hub Meetup * Learning Together Meetup I can also write this as: * a Facebook event post, * a flyer ad, * or a short invitation message.

June MathsJam

Come talk maths over a drink or two and maybe a meal. If you have any mathsy puzzles, games or toys, bring 'em along. There'll be a puzzle sheet to solve if you wish, but it's not competitive. No maths background necessary, all welcome. Email melbourne@mathsjam.com to join our mailing list for monthly puzzle sheets. The event is very informal so don't worry if you can't arrive exactly at 7:30pm or have forgotten to RSVP (but please do RSVP if you can!).

Bentleigh Social Trivia Night

Trivia night at the Bentleigh social!

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Redundancy: a "mostly harmless" survival manual

🛸🛸 **The Hitchhiker's guide to redundancy: a 'mostly harmless' manual for surviving the professional void** 🛸🛸 What do you do when your career is unexpectedly demolished to make way for a corporate bypass? Too many professionals treat redundancy like the end of the universe, spiralling into the bureaucratic nebula of unemployment without a map. This session chronicles a six-month odyssey through the unknown, transforming a vulnerable period of professional upheaval into a practical, comedic survival guide. **What you’ll hear:** ✨ **How not to panic:** How to steady your ship when the corporate ground disappears beneath you ✨ **What to pack:** Cultivating the core resilience and mindsets needed to navigate sudden career transitions ✨ **Deploying your networking Babel Fish:** Translating your experience into a language the market actually understands ✨ **Navigating the bureaucratic nebula:** Managing the identity shift, the job search logistics, and the administrative void without losing your sanity ✨ **Embarking on your next chapter:** Turning an unexpected full stop into a launching pad for a career that actually fits your trajectory As long as you're packing resilience to brace the knocks (and your sense of humour), you’ll never truly be lost in space. A vulnerable, funny, and no-BS roadmap to surviving the void and finding your way back to solid ground. **👍🏼 The Speaker** ✨ **Alex Clarke** is a Product and UX designer with over 8 years of experience, who after spending years building a successful professional track record, found himself facing the ultimate corporate plot twist: sudden redundancy. Alex’s story is a highly common and relevant reality for many professionals today, as organisations face mounting economic pressures to cut costs and restructure. Alex speaks candidly, sharing raw, hilarious and deeply practical truths about what it takes to pivot after a setback. By turning his own unexpected transition into a survival guide for the current job market, Alex proves that losing a job doesn't mean losing your direction. Alex’s story has a happy ending too- as he’s happily found a new job as an Incubation Designer for Coles. Down, down, prices are down. Please. 🙏 📌 **The details:** * **Date:** 6 pm, 11 June * **Host:** Melbourne Design Thinking Meetup * **Special Guests:** Alex Clarke * **Refreshments included:** Pizza and fizz!

Dinner & Quiz at Lower Plenty Hotel