Conservation Groups Sydney

SSP FRIDAY - SUB BASE PLATYPUS & JACARANDAS IN BLOOM

Today we go to Sub Base Platypus then to see the jacarandas in bloom at Milson Park and McDougall Street in Kirribilli. We leave Chambers at 1030 to get the ferry across to Sub Base Platypus at Kirribilli. Lunch will be upstairs at the Kirribilli Hotel, booked for 1pm. 35-37 Broughton Street, opposite Milsons Point train station.

Australian Issues: Lauran Townsend and Vinay Kolhatkar

Dear members, We have had to switch dates for the meetup. And now we have an additional speaker, Councilor Lauren Townsend! Councillor Townsend was elected to Waverley Council in 2024. She entered politics after almost a decade of pro bono criminal defence work. Councillor Townsend has been a member of the Liberal Party for most of her life until recently. Like many, she realised that the Liberal Party has lost its identity and lost its way and has now joined One Nation. She will talk about why she switched political parties. Vinay Kolhatkar will be giving a short presentation on what it means to have Mono-, Uni-, or Multiculturalism, so we can all make up our own minds as to what’s best for us individually, and for Australia as a whole. There will be plenty of time for attendees to ask questions, make comments and interact. And please purchase a meal and/or drinks. After all this venue has been provided free by Shakespeare’s so that is the least we can do. Vinay is the author of the politically incorrect novels, *A Sharia London* and *The Frankenstein Candidate.* He is also a coauthor of Media Wars: The Battle to Shape Our Minds, and of *Modernizing Aristotle’s Ethics*, which was published by an academic press and sold to university libraries worldwide as a text for philosophy and psychology. His latest novel is Dreams of Orphans, which was released on 30th September. Until August 2026, he was the federal secretary and director of policy for the Libertarian Party and ran in two federal elections as their candidate. He is also an occasional columnist for *Spectator Australia*, where he likes to warn the western world of the incoming threat of neo-Marxism and their alliance with terrorist ideologies. See you then, Craig White

🚗 WEEKEND GETAWAY - VALLEY OF THE DINOSAURS & LITHGOW ⛰️🦕🦖🏕️🏨 🧗‍♂️🎃👻

📍 LOCATION: 🏕 Lake Wallace Camping Area 🏕️ Barton Ave, Wallerawang NSW 2845 🚗 Wallerawang village centre is less than five minutes drive to/from the campground for shops, cafes, pubs, petrol station etc. https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/lake-wallace 🚻 FACILITIES: ⛺️ Camp beside your vehicle, picnic area, tap water, toilet block with flushing toilets and hot showers within walking distance to/from the campsite, garbage bins, BYO water sports and fishing equipments, walking and bike trails. ❎ NO open fires are permitted at Lake Wallace. Refer photo no. 3 and the website. 🛜 Phone reception generally okay but can be a bit patchy at few areas at the campground area. 🚙 The campground is accessible by regular 2WD and campervan. ******************************************** 🎒WHAT TO BRING 🎒 ⛺️ Campers - tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad/air mattress, food, snacks, drinking and washing water, portable stove, butane gas, utensils, plates, mugs, pots and pans, fold-up table, chairs, gazebo or a tarp for shelter/cooking station, washing liquid, wash basin, towel, personal shower items, basic First Aid kit, torch or headlight (preferred), tent light, camp light, charger/power bank, jacket and warm clothes, beanie, thermals, blanket etc (cooler temperature at night), all creature comfort that can fit in your car and kitchen sink! 🚙 🚗 🛒 💵 GRATUITY/CONTRIBUTION: $10 per person PRE-PAID (organiser fee only for campers/non campers) for research and preparation for this exciting event. Non refundable if you cancel or No Show. 📲 Pre-paid to my PayID: 0405038557 by cob Friday, 23rd October. Ref: (your Meetup name) & Lake Wallace camping. 💬 Once payment received, I’ll add you to group WhatsApp for further details - exact campsite location, optional day walks, Halloween night etc. ❗️NOTE - day trip on Saturday to Valley of The Dinosaurs is not included (to be paid separately PRE-PAID) if you like to come along. ******************************************** 🏕️ This camping event is suitable for newbies or beginners and walkers alike at any level with no experience required. ✅ If you have not been camping before, this is a good place to try it out with flushing toilets and hot shower within walking distance from the camping area. 🏨 Non campers may also join us for this event. You need to check online for accommodation at nearby towns of Wallerawang, Lisdale, Rydal or Katoomba, Blackheath, or Lithgow etc. ℹ️ Accommodation near Lake Wallace: 🏨 Black Gold Country Cabins. Main Street, Wallerawang. Contact Rob Cluff – PH: 02 6355 7305, Mobile: 015 237 803 Self contained rooms, 12 double bunks, 2 single beds. Gas Heating. BYO food, linen or sleeping bags. 🏨 Commercial Hotel. Main St., Wallerawang. PH: 02 6355 1089 🏨 Royal Hotel. Main St., Wallerawang. PH: 02 6355 7023 📝 NOTE - you may come and leave at anytime. You may also do as much or as little by relaxing on the lake if you wish. ⛺️ FYI - I’m planning to arrive at the campground on Friday afternoon, 30th October to get the campsite for the group. 📸 Things to do in Wallerawang & Lithgow: https://lithgow-tourism.com/wang.htm https://southerncrossmotelgroup.com.au/news/lithgow/ ⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ⚠️ 📝 TERMS & DISCLAIMER: ℹ️ Attending this event is voluntarily at your own risk. Organiser/s accepts no liability of any kind including injuries, accidents, misadventure etc during and after this event. ℹ️ For full disclosure on Public Waiver, please refer to Meetup Terms and Conditions and the front page of this group on ‘About Us’. ✅ You are responsible for looking after your own health, safety and belongings. ✅ You must take personal accountability for your own choices, actions and/or misadventure. ✅ You must also take care not to put other people at risk. ✅ If you do not wish to be photographed (randomly or group photos), please DO NOT join this event! ✅ Please be mindful and respectful to members & guest/s from diverse background. This is not a dating event. ******************************************** 💬 I will setup WhatsApp group chat for this event for further information on Saturday afternoon, 24th October - exact campsite location (unnumbered on first come first served), optional day walks, sunset walk, Halloween night in Lithgow etc. ℹ️ OPTIONAL: 🎃 The Iconic Lithgow Halloween Celebration Returns In 2026. https://www.lithgowhalloween.com/ 📲 In the meantime, if you have any questions, please send me a TEXT message instead to avoid any confusion. 🌿 Let’s explore and enjoy the great outdoors! 🎃 Norra 😎 📱0405038557 (TEXT & PayID only)

Come watch the US mid-term elections live at Cheers Bar!

Join us for a few hours of political drama, surprises and excitement as we watch the results unfold live! 📅 **Wednesday, 4 November** 🕚 **11 am – 5 pm (come and go as you please)** 📍 **Cheers Bar, Basement Level** 561 George Street, Sydney Whether you’re Democrat, Republican, independent or simply curious, everyone is welcome! Come along, enjoy the atmosphere, share a few laughs and experience the fun and excitement of American politics — **whatever your political views!** 🍻 Great company, lively discussion and plenty of election-night drama (in the middle of the day!). **Hope to see you there!** Cheers! 🍻 Craig White (Organiser)

⛰️ Valley of The Dinosaurs - Genowlan Summit, The Grotto & Slot Canyon 🦕🦖 🧗🏻

⚠️ FOR YOUR SAFETY & ENJOYMENT, PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION BELOW FULLY BEFORE YOU CLICK ‘Attend’! ******************************************** 🗓 DATE: Saturday, 31 October 2026. ⏰ MEETING TIME: 9.50am. 🕰️ DEPARTURE TIME: 10am sharp! 🅿️ MEETING POINT: (start & finish) - exact meeting point and GPS co-ordinates📍will be texted to you upon confirmation. Please read further…! ******************************************** 🥾 DISTANCE: 13km return loop. 🥾 GRADE: mostly Moderate/HARD on a steady pace, not snail pace! 💪🏽 Reasonable fitness recommended due to uneven rocky surfaces, steep ups and downs hills, stair climbs, creek crossings, rocks scrambling, climbing over fallen trees, indistinct paths and bush bashing at few overgrown sections. 💪🏽 Tracks expected to be wet, muddy and slippery in parts. ‼️ NOTE: this hike is quite challenging - NOT for beginners, whingers, faint hearted with intense fear of heights or those without proper hiking gears❗️ ******************************************** 📸 WHAT TO EXPECT: ℹ️ Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area, dominated by the two pagoda-encrusted mesas of Mount Airly and Genowlan Mountain, is the epitome of Nature's grand design. It contains intricate rock formations, stupendous views, mind-bending intimate spaces, soaring cliffs, rare or endangered plants and animals, and historic Wiradjuri and European archaeological sites. ℹ️ Please READ these articles for further information: 📝 https://share.google/NaDZ1J2P9yHnLaix3 📝 https://lifeonebigadventure.com/2024/08/14/heading-up-up-up-into-the-great-unknown-a-hidden-walk-in-the-mugii-murum-ban-state-conservation-area-central-west-nsw/ ⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ⚠️ 📝 TERMS & DISCLAIMER: ℹ️ Attending this event is voluntarily at your own risk. Organiser/s accepts no liability of any kind including injuries, accidents, misadventure etc during and after this event. ℹ️ For full disclosure on Public Waiver, please refer to Meetup Terms and Conditions and the front page of this group on ‘About Us’. ✅ Your hosts/organisers are NOT a professional walkers/hikers, trained medical professionals or bush guides. ✅ You must assess your own fitness and ability before participating in this event. ✅ You are responsible for looking after your own health, safety and belongings. ✅ You must adhere and follow the instructions from your hosts/organisers at all times during this event. ✅ You must take personal accountability for your own choices, actions and/or misadventure. ✅ If you’re not keeping up with the group or getting lost during the hike, you’re responsible for finding your own way out. The group DO NOT wait for you! ✅ You must also take care not to put other people at risk. ✅ Keep well back from cliff edges at all times, especially when taking photos. ❎ NO facilities or cafes on the trails, so please come well prepared. ❎ NO smoking of any kind on the walk including during photo stops and lunch break. ✅ Please be mindful and respectful to members and guest/s from diverse backgrounds. This is not a dating event. ******************************************** 🎒WHAT TO BRING: 👕 Comfortable outfit for the weather - hiking gear preferably quick dry/moisture wicking long pants and long shirt due to bush bashing at few overgrown sections. 🚫 NO jeans or cotton t-shirt! 🥾 Waterproof hiking boots or sturdy good grip walking shoes/trail runners highly recommended. 💦 At least 1.8L of WATER (no refills), Hydralyte or sports energy drinks. 🥪 Snacks and packed LUNCH. 🧢 Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent ie: Bushman or Aerogard, Off etc. ⛑ Basic First Aid Kit - BandAids, bandages, antibacterial wipes and pain reliever. 🧥Light raincoat or a poncho just in case of wet weather. 🤩 Great sense of fun and adventure! ℹ️ This is a great article for tips on preparation for Day Walk Skill & Gear. Bushwalk Skills 101: https://www.bushwalk.com/article/8398 💵 GRATUITY/CONTRIBUTION: 💰$10 PRE-PAID per person for this event by cob 29 October. 📲 Please TEXT on 0405038557 before making a payment! ✅ Once payment made, I will TEXT you with other information - exact meeting point etc. ********************************************** 🚗 Drivers and passengers - please offer and organise a carpool with share petrol. NO public transport to/from meeting point. ✍️ Please update on comments section for carpool only. ⛺️ FYI - few of us are camping at Lake Wallace Camping & Recreation Area over the weekend. 🏨 You may stay up in the Blue Mountains for the weekend at Katoomba, Leura, Medlow Bath, Mt Victoria, Wentworth Falls, Blackheath etc. 🏨 Or in Lithgow or Lake Wallace (Wallerawang) for Lithgow Halloween Festival that night, Saturday 31 October. 🎃 https://share.google/eb8EWJwgoNxnRLREZ 🚙 The trailhead is about 1.5 hours drive from Katoomba, Leura and Blackheath, 45 minutes from Lithgow and 35 minutes from Lake Wallace (Wallerawang). ℹ️ Accommodation near Lake Wallace (Wallerawang): 🏨 Black Gold Country Cabins. Main Street, Wallerawang. Contact Rob Cluff – PH: 02 6355 7305, Mobile: 015 237 803 Self contained rooms, 12 double bunks, 2 single beds. Gas Heating. BYO food, linen or sleeping bags. 🏨 Commercial Hotel. Main St., Wallerawang. PH: 02 6355 1089 🏨 Royal Hotel. Main St., Wallerawang. PH: 02 6355 7023 📲 Any questions, please send me a TEXT message before 29 October to avoid any confusion with unnecessary updates on comments section. 🛜 I will have limited phone reception once I arrive at Lake Wallace Campground on Friday, 30 October. 🌲 Let’s explore and enjoy the great outdoors! 🌿 Norra 😎 📱0405038557 (TEXT & PayID only)

Sydney OpenSearch User Group Meetup #2

We're back for Meetup #2! Thanks to everyone who came along to our first Sydney OpenSearch User Group meetup in July. This time we've got talks from OpenChoreo, Atlassian and AWS, plus networking, pizza, and another tech quiz with swag to give away. Whether you're running OpenSearch in production or just curious, come along and meet the community. Agenda and talk summaries below. **Agenda** Wednesday\, 28 October 2026 \| 5:00 PM \- 7:00 PM 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Arrivals, Networking, Pizza & Drinks 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Talk 1 - Binura Gunasekara, OpenChoreo 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Talk 2 - Daniel Ting, Atlassian 6:30 PM - 6:50 PM: Talk 3 - Maryam Tavakoli, AWS 6:50 PM - 7:00 PM: Tech Quiz - put your brain to the test to win swag **Talk 1:** Building Observability into the Golden Path with OpenChoreo and OpenSearch **Speaker:** Binura Gunasekara, OpenChoreo Join one of OpenChoreo's core maintainers for a practical look at how OpenSearch can be deeply integrated into the developer and agent experiences of an Internal Developer Platform (IDP), using OpenChoreo (a CNCF Sandbox project) as a working example. This session will explore how observability data in OpenSearch can be mapped to the application model developers already work with, giving both developers and AI agents application-aware access to runtime telemetry without exposing them directly to complex infrastructure. Through a working demo, we'll see how OpenChoreo uses OpenSearch for logging and OpenTelemetry-based tracing, and how coding agents (like Claude/Codex) and a built-in platform SRE agent use this application-aware telemetry to investigate and troubleshoot workloads on Kubernetes. **Talk 2:** Zero Downtime Migrations **Speaker:** Daniel Ting, Senior Software Engineer, Atlassian **Talk 3:** From Keyword to AI-Powered Search **Speaker:** Maryam Tavakoli, AWS Search has moved well beyond keyword matching. This session walks through how search in OpenSearch has evolved, from keyword (BM25) to semantic search with sparse and dense vectors, to hybrid and AI-powered search, and gives practical guidance on which approach fits which use case.

Heritage Braai at Manly dam - Saturday 7 November

Community of Practice 🗣️ - Human Hearted Sydney 🌻

Join our monthly Community of Practice (COP) where we discuss the ideas of Human Heartedness: a secular approach to life that promotes empathy and social connection based on cultivating our human social potential. Each meeting we discuss these concepts and how they can help us in practical ways to live better, happier, and more fulfilling lives. The meeting is followed by an optional lunch together nearby. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and find your local community! ⏰ **When:** Sunday November 8th at 11:00am 📍 **Where:** Darling Square Library, Level 1 - Ideas Space 2 (see directions) 🎟️ **Cost:** Free 🧑‍🦱 **Who should come:** anyone looking to meet new people and build connections with like-minded Sydneysiders. We’re queer-friendly and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds :) **About Human Heartedness:** The modern world’s focus on competition and materialism makes it easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. The collapse of traditional sources of meaning like religion and local community intensify this so that we’re often left with a lack of meaning and purpose. We can try to fill the void with money and success—or to numb it with drugs and technology— but nothing seems to work. Human heartedness reminds us that the path to living well doesn’t come from money and power, but from building on the best in our own human hearts. Our human social potential. It points to a better way: to build in-person communities that build on our innate social potential and inherent value as humans. By building good relationships and social connections, we can live a more fruitful and fulfilling life (and help others to do the same). We can move from struggling alone to flourishing together. Following the human hearted way offers a secular, inclusive, forward looking solution to the meaning crisis of our times. [Learn more about Human Heartedness and our other events here!](https://linktr.ee/humanheartedsydney) **About the Community of Practice (COP):** Our human hearted community of practice (COP) offers a friendly welcoming environment in which we support and encourage each other to live more human hearted lives. Our goal is to build a community that supports us all to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. We welcome you to join us in exploring together how to live better lives. *Human Hearted Sydney is sponsored by Humanists Australia which kindly funds our activities and keeps events like this free. Consider donating to Humanists Australia to show your support for community-building in Sydney and beyond. All our events are governed by [Humanist Australia's Code of Conduct](https://bit.ly/ha-conduct-pdf).*

🎨 She Sees Art — 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

🎨 **Shake things up and you'll see new colours.** **Please note: She Sees Art is a women-only group and event. Women of all backgrounds are welcome.** Why not mix up your weekend routine by joining like-minded women to explore art, discover new perspectives and enjoy a coffee and good company along the way? We'll start with coffee and a relaxed chat before heading to the **Australian Museum** to explore the **2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year**. The exhibition celebrates the natural world around us, showcasing spectacular flora, fauna and landscapes from Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. 🎉 **THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL!** Thank you to everyone who has RSVP'd! We've reached our group limit for this visit to the Australian Museum, so RSVPs are now closed. If you'd like to attend, you're welcome to join the waitlist on Meetup. If a place becomes available, someone on the waitlist will have the opportunity to join us. Thanks for your understanding. **ART FOCUS** Nature photography · Wildlife · Landscapes · The natural world **WHERE WE'RE GOING** ☕ **Meeting point: Hydeaway Cafe, Hyde Park** 120 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000 We'll meet here at **10:00am** for coffee and a relaxed chat and will leave for the museum from this point at 10.30am. The walk to the museum is \~8 minutes. 🎨 **Art destination: Australian Museum** 1 William Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 We'll meet outside the museum at **10:40am** before heading in to explore the exhibition together. **Can't make the coffee? No problem!** You're very welcome to meet us outside the Australian Museum at 10:40am. * Women of all ages welcome * No art knowledge required, just curiosity! * Free to attend — exhibition entry is free; everyone pays for their own coffee and food **Coming on your own?** That's completely fine! She Sees Art is about enjoying art and culture together and getting to know other women in a relaxed, welcoming setting. I'll share any final updates, including what I'm wearing so you'll know who to look for, in the Meetup group chat. **Questions?** First time joining us, or have a question about the event? Feel free to email me at sheseesartsydney@gmail.com. I'm happy to help! I can't wait to see you all! 📷🌿 *Cover image: Fairyfloss by Lewis Burnett, Australian Museum*

Capertee Campground/ Navigation with maps / Car Camp Wknd

Why Aren't We Working Less? The Four-Day Work Week Debate

Why do we still work so much? In 1930, celebrated economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that rising productivity would reduce the working week to just fifteen hours by now, leaving society with a novel challenge: what to do with all that free time! He was remarkably close on the productivity prediction—yet the standard working week has barely changed. So where did the promised leisure go? Did consumerism convince us to trade leisure for luxury brands and better gadgets? Did work itself become too central to who we are — our identity, our worth, our status in the world — to simply give some of it up? Or did most of the gains from productivity growth flow upward, leaving the rest of us running just to stand still? We'll explore the history of the five-day week, the evidence coming from today's four-day week trials, and whether working less could create a happier, healthier society—or simply new problems. Join us as we unpack this fascinating debate about the future of work. **Primary Reading:** ***[Why Do We Still Work So Much? The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Week](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCMLOhSERNXQrLX7RbhwoOjASCYnbF-FMR0fSJ4mRubaFA?e=s1NMGH)*** (a document prepared for this meetup) **Report: *[Four-Day Work Week (2026)](https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Issues_and_Insights/2026/FourDayWorkWeek)***[ ](https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Issues_and_Insights/2026/FourDayWorkWeek) by Parliamentary Library of Australia **(Optional) Book: *The Case for a Four-Day Week* (2021) by Anna Coote, Aidan Harper and Alfie Stirling** There wasn't one ideal book (affordable and easily available in paperback) for this month's topic, so the primary reading is a document prepared specially for this meetup, It traces the history of the working week from its origins through to today's four-day trials and policy proposals, weighing the strongest arguments on both sides. It's designed to give everyone a shared, evidence-based foundation for the discussion. However, if you are fine with reading eBooks or can find it with your library, the main book I would suggest is *The Case for a Four Day Week* by Anna Coote, Aidan Harper and Alfie Stirling, which is a widely cited book-length treatment of the topic and is readily available as an eBook, though you will probably need to order it in if you'd prefer a paperback. And if you have no luck with that book, there are also two other similar books mentioned below which you may also want to try (O'Connor and Lindzon, 2026; Schor, 2025) We also recommend you look at a short, up-to-date report from the Parliamentary Library of Australia, which offers a concise local policy snapshot to complement the broader discussion in the main reading. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before attending. This will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also included links below to further resources on the topic. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 2 November, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surrey Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just optional links to consider. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * Two short explainer videos about why we still work so much: [The five-day workweek was made up. What if we changed it?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn5-FIkFq0I) [Why do we still need to work?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KXZP-Deel4) * Two videos on the four-day work week: [TED The Case for a 4-Day Work Week by Juliet Schor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVfUaXyyqo) [ABC Could a 4-day working week be coming to Australia?](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-29/could-a-4-day-working-week-be-coming-to-australia/105588208) * SBS Insight - Rat Race - Episode 11 2026. As post-COVID attitudes towards work-life balance continue to change, some of us are questioning our role in the rat race and opting out. For others, the choice is hampered by housing and cost-of-living pressures. This Insight explores how Australians are balancing a desire to clock-off - and doing something like a 4-day week - with their need to pay the bills. **Written** * Primary Reading: ***[Why Do We Still Work So Much? The Pros and Cons of a Four-Day Week](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCMLOhSERNXQrLX7RbhwoOjASCYnbF-FMR0fSJ4mRubaFA?e=s1NMGH)*** (a document prepared for this meetup) * An Easter egg for those who have read this far: [The Case for a Four Day Week](http://reparti.free.fr/coote2021.pdf) * A Britannica overview of issues relating to a four-day work week: [The Four-Day Work Week](https://www.britannica.com/procon/four-day-workweek-debate) * Studies and trends in Australia's experience with four day work week; [Emerging Four Day Work Week Trends in Australia](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372461877_Emerging_Four_Day_Work_Week_Trends_in_Australia) [The four-day workweek in Australia: insights from early adopters](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-07536-x) * An annotated reading of John Maynard Keynes' 1930 lecture about what 2030 might look like: [Keynes (1930) Economic possibilities for our grandchildren ](https://www.elysian.press/p/economic-possibilities-for-our-grandchildren) * Other books which members may want to look at: *\- Do More in Four: Why It's Time for a Shorter Workweek* (2026) by Joe O'Connor and Jared Lindzon — written by the pioneer behind Ireland's national four-day week pilot, this is one of the most current, practically-minded account of how organisations are actually redesigning work around a shorter week, including in the age of AI. *\- Four Days a Week: The Life\-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress\, Improving Well\-Being\, and Working Smarter* (2025) by Juliet Schor — drawing on the largest study yet conducted on reduced-hours trials (245 organisations, 8,700 workers), this is Schor's own full account of the evidence behind the case for a four-day week. *\- Bullshit Jobs: A Theory* (2018) by David Graeber — a provocative anthropological argument that a significant share of modern work is pointless by the admission of the people doing it, offering a very different angle on why we still work so much.

🌲⛰️ Popes Glen, Govetts Leap & newly reopened Pulpit Rock Lookout 🌲⛰️

⚠️ FOR YOUR SAFETY & ENJOYMENT, PLEASE READ DESCRIPTION BELOW FULLY BEFORE YOU CLICK ‘Attend’! ******************************************** 🗓 DATE: Saturday, 7 November 2026. ⏰ MEETING TIME: 10.40am. 🚊 MEETING POINT: Blackheath station (start & finish), Great Western Hwy entry/exit. 🌍 Please use Google maps for exact location, not Meetup maps! ******************************************** 🥾 DISTANCE: 16km return. 🥾 GRADE: Mostly Moderate/slightly HARD on a steady pace, not snail pace! 💪🏽 Reasonable fitness recommended due to uneven rocky surfaces, ups and downs hills, lots and lots of steep stairs, creek crossings, rock scramblings and a bit of bush bashing at few overgrown sections. 💪🏽 Tracks expected to be wet, muddy and slippery in parts. 📸 WHAT TO EXPECT: 🚶‍♂️Upon arrival at Blackheath station, we will proceed immediately on a local roads via Popes Glen and Govetts Leap with amazing views of the waterfalls and Grose Valley in Blue Mountains NP. ℹ️ Pulpit Rock Reserve in Blackheath has now reopened following major restoration works, including improved access, picnic facilities, accessible amenities and upgraded walking tracks. https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/pulpit-rock-reopens-after-major-upgrade 🚶‍♀️From the platforms that remain, the view is the one that made Pulpit Rock a favourite. It is an almost 360-degree sweep across the Grose Valley to Govetts Leap and the Blue Gum Forest, with cliff lines stretching out to Mt Banks. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/pulpit-rock-lookout 🥪 We’ll have a lunch break at the revamped picnic area soaking up the magnificent views with lots of photos and selfies. 🚶Depending on the day, we may visit a “secret cave” on our way back to Blackheath station. Shhhh! 🤫 ⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ⚠️ 📝 TERMS & DISCLAIMER: ℹ️ Attending this event is voluntarily at your own risk. Organiser/s accepts no liability of any kind including injuries, accidents, misadventure etc during and after this event. ℹ️ For full disclosure on Public Waiver, please refer to Meetup Terms and Conditions and the front page of this group on ‘About Us’. ✅ Your hosts/organisers are not a professional walkers or guides. ✅ You must assess your own fitness and ability before participating in this event. ✅ You are responsible for looking after your own health, safety and belongings. ✅ You must adhere and follow the instructions from your organiser/s at all times during this event. ✅ You must take personal accountability for your own choices, actions and/or misadventure. ❎ If you’re not sticking with the group or getting lost during the walk, you’re responsible for finding your own way out. The group DO NOT wait for you! ✅ You must also take care not to put other people at risk. ✅ Keep well back from cliff edges at all times, especially when taking photos. ❎ NO facilities or cafes on the trails, so please come well prepared. ❎ NO smoking of any kind on the walk including during photo stops and lunch break. ❎ If you do not wish to be photographed (randomly or group photos), please DO NOT join this event! ✅ Please be mindful and respectful to members and guest/s from diverse backgrounds. This is not a dating event. ✅ If something’s come up, please Edit your RSVP to ‘Not Going’ asap at least by 7pm the day before. It’s only take a second!
❎ Late cancellation or No Show would not be tolerated. You will forfeit the opportunity to join my future events! ******************************************** 🎒WHAT TO BRING 🎒 👕 Comfortable outfit for the weather preferably hiking gear. Jeans or cotton t-shirt is not suitable for this walk. 🥾 Waterproof hiking boots or good grip walking shoes/trail runners highly recommended. 💦 At least 1.8L of WATER, Hydralyte or sports energy drinks. 🥪 Snacks and packed LUNCH. 🧢 Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent ie: Bushman or Aerogard and hand sanitiser. ⛑ Basic First Aid Kit ie. BandAids, bandages, antibacterial wipes etc. 🧥 Light raincoat or a poncho just in case of wet weather. 🤩 Great sense of fun and adventure. ℹ️ This is a great article tips on preparation for Day Walk Skills & Gear. Bushwalk Skills 101: https://www.bushwalk.com/article/8398 💵 GRATUITY/CONTRIBUTION: 💰$10 CASH per person for this event to be collected at the start of the walk. Please come see me upon arrival. ✅ Please bring correct change on the day to speed up the meet and greet. 📲 Or PayID to my mobile: 0405038557. Ref: (your Meetup name) & Pulpit Rock. ✅ Please get it done asap upon arrival and TEXT me receipt of payment. Thanks! ******************************************** 🚊 Check Opal Trip Planner for public transport services, weekend trackwork etc. https://transportnsw.info/ 🚗 Carpark on Station Street near the entry/exit or side streets. 🏃‍♂️ Please leave home with plenty of travel time and arrive promptly. If you’re running late, we don’t wait! ******************************************** ✍️ I will update further information during mid week on weather forecast, train schedule from Central etc. Check latest update on comments section before heading out. 📲 Any questions, please send me a TEXT message instead to avoid any confusion with unnecessary updates on comments section. 🌿 Let’s explore and enjoy the great outdoors! 🌿 Norra 😎 📱0405038557 (TEXT & PayID only)