Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Collection presents Bayi Gardiya - Singing Desert by Dr Christian Thompson AO

In this 360-degree video experience, Christian Thompson invites audiences to walk through the landscape of his childhood. Here they will witness a simple yet profound aesthetic gesture of the artist singing in his traditional Bidjara language, a recognised lost language. 

“If I sing even one word of our language, which is considered an extinct or lost language, then it can’t be described as such, because it is being presented as a living language within the art context” - Christian Thompson

See the full program at Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Collection. 

For further information contact Manningham Art Gallery, gallery@manningham.vic.gov.au or call 9840 9367. 

Photo caption: Bayi Gardiya (Singing Desert), 2019 (video still). Photo credit: Christian Thompson 

An ACMI touring exhibition
The works in this exhibition are commissioned by ACMI, Artbank, Bundanon Trust, Carriageworks, City of Melbourne, Melbourne Art Foundation, Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, John Allsopp (Web Directions) and assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

It takes a village to raise a child, and the role of a grandparent is more important than ever.

Join our free seminar on grandparenting with special guest speaker, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg at the Manningham Function Centre on Wednesday 14 May 2025.

This seminar will provide practical advice and tips about grandparenting and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end. This event is suitable grandparents, parents and carers.

Free, but registrations essential.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Dr Carr-Gregg is a distinguished Australian psychologist, author, and broadcaster, renowned for his expertise in adolescent and family psychology. He has authored 18 books on topics including parenting, mental health, and adolescent wellbeing, including Grandparents and the Grandparenting Code. His 19th book is currently in progress. 

In 1985, Dr Carr-Gregg co-founded CanTeen, the world's first national support group for teenage cancer patients, alongside a group of young cancer patients. He has held significant roles in academia and research, including serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. In 2018, he led the enquiry for the NSW Government that led to the nationwide ban on mobile phones in state and territory schools.

By going all-electric, you can create a safer home and brighter Manningham.

That’s why Manningham Council has partnered with Solar Savers, a local government initiative that helps you electrify your home with quality appliances.  

If you have questions about solar, batteries or efficient electric appliances, drop in to learn more.

You can also find out about available discounts and discover how Solar Savers can help.

Join us at your local library for a session between August and October 2025.

Registration is not required. 

Power up a cleaner future

This event is part of our Electrify Your Life program, which supports residents to go all-electric at home, creating a brighter Manningham. Learn how to make the switch at Electrify Your Life.

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That's a wrap! Thank you to everyone to joined us for Manningham’s most anticipated event of the year!

On Friday 8 September our community came together with Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante to be a part of this glamorous night. 

Partnering with MannaCare, the Mayoral Charity Gala has raised awareness and funds for initiatives to support those in our community touched by dementia.

We're still taking donations!

Our partner MannaCare are still taking direct donations.

All proceeds will go to creating a dementia-focused initiative in Manningham.

 Thank you to our wonderful partner and sponsors! 

• MannaCare - Gala partner
• Noel Jones Doncaster - Gold sponsor
• Rose Phoenix Health - Bronze sponsor   

Need help?

If you have any questions about donating directly, please contact our events team on 9840 9333 or at events@manningham.vic.gov.au

Are you a not-for-profit group or organisation doing great work for older people in our community?

You could be eligible for our Healthy Ageing Grant which will provide between $3,001 and $20,000 in funding. Applications open on Monday 3 June and close Friday 5 July 2024. 

We encourage community organisation representatives to attend this information session which will cover: 

• grant overview

• eligibility

• key dates

• how to apply

• required information

• assessment criteria

This event is suitable for community health services, leisure providers, learning organisations and neighbourhood houses. 

Bookings are essential and limited to two people per organisation.

Need assistance? 

If you have questions or want to know more about our grants program, contact our Grants team on 9840 9333 or email grants@manningham.vic.gov.au.  

Summer Celebration is coming to Templestowe Village every Saturday in February.

Bring your friends, family and party vibes.

We are showcasing our incredible local Manningham artists with our local businesses throughout Summer.

Talented local artists Jazz Notes will be outside Carlucci's creating soulful summer memories. Playing a mix of gentle and upbeat jazz with classical, pop and Latin twists, the Duo combines the delicate sounds of Ann Craig (flute) and Kevin Blazé (guitar) to suit wide-ranging tastes.

Ann and Kevin are both classically trained but, after independently undertaking short courses with Australian jazz legend, Bob Sedergreen, both found the liberation offered by jazz. Then, a chance meeting led to the collaboration that is now Jazz Notes.

Local artists. Local businesses. Live performances. All summer long across Manningham. 

Summer Celebration is coming to D'Oro restaurant at Templestowe Village throughout February.

Bring your friends, family and party vibes.

We are showcasing our incredible local Manningham artists with our local businesses throughout Summer.

Talented local artists Jazz Notes will be creating soulful summer memories. Playing a mix of gentle and upbeat jazz with classical, pop and Latin twists, the Duo combines the delicate sounds of Ann Craig (flute) and Kevin Blazé (guitar) to suit wide-ranging tastes.

Ann and Kevin are both classically trained but, after independently undertaking short courses with Australian jazz legend, Bob Sedergreen, both found the liberation offered by jazz. Then, a chance meeting led to the collaboration that is now Jazz Notes.

Local artists. Local businesses. Live performances. All summer long across Manningham. 

Join a free tour to explore the Bio Gro organics facility.

Discover where Manningham’s food and garden waste is transformed into compost as part of our Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service.

You can see first-hand how your food and garden waste is processed with the chance to ask questions along the way.

Important information:

• Closed-toe shoes must worn on the day.
• Participants must be 18 years or older.
• Please note that there are stairs leading to the decontamination line, which may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility.

Where to meet:

The tour includes bus transport to and from the Bio Gro organics facility in Dandenong South.

The tour will depart and return to the Manningham Civic Centre at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108.

Registration is essential as spots are limited. 

Join in the 5th anniversary gala event dedicated to promoting Cantonese culture, arts, and community spirit. 

This promises to be a memorable occasion filled with joy, reflection, and artistic expression.

Light refreshments served.

Registration is required.

Manningham Uniting Church and partners present Building Bridges Through Story - Muslim Women.

This event will feature stories from Muslim Women and the issues they face today. There will be opportunity to share hospitality and faith understandings through discussion and the sharing of food.

Free afternoon tea will be provided.

Join us as we hear from Services Australia's Aged Care Specialist, who will cover various topics, such as:

• My Aged Care
• carer payments and allowances
• Disability Support Pension

There will be time for questions and answers following the session.

This is a free information session, but places are limited.

Progeny is a collection of dynamic works, spanning video, sculpture, painting, and digital media by Edwina Green. The works collectively highlight Green’s creative practice and research interests across recent years (2019-2023).

Progeny in its direct meaning is to be ‘the descendants of a person, animal or plant; offspring’ and pulls from the artists continued connectivity between ancestral lines, intergenerational discourse, and concurrence of being both ancestor and descendant.

Informed by her identity as a Trawlwoolway First Nations woman, motifs of weaving, hand harvested and sewn bags, kelp, spoken word, organic movements on canvas, images of home, and oysters communicate a delicate ancestral tribute, and the current dance in which Green is choreographing with her multidisciplinary, experimental practice.

Progeny interrogates introspection, historical association, vulnerability, and an ability to invest in the artist's practice with a sense of intentional curiosity and closeness. 

Edwina Green, Oyster. Image by Jordan Halsall.

A terrible water shortage has crippled the Gotham-like town that serves as the setting for Urinetown.

In a mad attempt to regulate water consumption, the government has outlawed the use of private toilets. The citizenry must use public, pay-for-use amenities owned and operated by the corrupt and iron-fisted Caldwell B. Cladwell. The privilege to pee is expensive, draining and dangerous. Anyone who refuses to pay to pee is immediately and without question hauled off to Urinetown.

What is Urinetown? Nobody knows, for those who are sent there are never heard from again. But it's really a love story and there's a revolution all before the end of Act I. Will the revolution succeed? Can true love be found in Urinetown? All these questions and more are answered in Urinetown.

Auslan interpreted performance: Friday 8 September, 8.00pm to 10.00pm.

Presented by Phoenix Theatre Company.

Supported by Manningham's Community Grant Program.

Help shape community services in the mental health space and get paid for your time!

Access Health invites young people in Manningham to co-design an approach to increase mental health service access for multicultural groups.

Who can participate

We are looking for people who:

• are aged 18 to 25 years old
• live, work or study in Manningham, and
• have families that speak a language other than English at home.

All participants will be paid $80 for attending. 

How to register

Register online to express your interest to participate.

We will contact you once your application has been received and confirm your place in the session. 

We look forward to talking with you about how we can improve access to mental health services for young people whose families speak a language other than English at home.

Summer Celebration is coming to Warrandyte Bridge throughout February at SaHa Beans and Beats.

Bring your friends, family and party vibes.

We are showcasing our incredible local Manningham artists with our local businesses throughout Summer.

Talented local artists Jazz Notes will be outside Carlucci's creating soulful summer memories. Playing a mix of gentle and upbeat jazz with classical, pop and Latin twists, the Duo combines the delicate sounds of Ann Craig (flute) and Kevin Blazé (guitar) to suit wide-ranging tastes.

Ann and Kevin are both classically trained however after independently undertaking short courses with Australian jazz legend, Bob Sedergreen, both found the liberation offered by jazz. Then, a chance meeting led to the collaboration that is now Jazz Notes.

Local artists. Local businesses. Live performances. All summer long across Manningham. 

Pages of Me is a new multimedia project by Beci Orpin, exploring the journey of finding happiness through individuality and embracing one's unique self.

Drawing from her textile-focused background, Orpin delves into mascot culture, crafting a larger-than-life mascot set within a large textile structure. The textiles will feature oversized pages from her sketchbook, blending bold patterns, random imagery, and messages of realistic optimism. 

In addition to celebrating positive individualism, the work touches on themes of future nostalgia, luck (both good and bad), and femininity. Together, these elements create a visual representation of Orpin's metaphysical self—both weird and wonderful.

The exhibition will also invite viewers to get involved, encouraging them to create their own mascots based on the qualities they appreciate about themselves, fostering pride in their identity.

Image courtesy of the artist.

Playhouse Pantomimes are pulling some strings for their original musical
adaptation of the classic tale of ‘Pinocchio these school holidays.

Originally created by Carlo Collodi in 1883, their version tells the story of a puppet boy in
Italy with songs, audience participation and laughs for the whole family.

Presented by Playhouse Pantomimes.

Are you intrigued by electric vehicles (EVs) but not yet clear about whether owning one will be a practical choice, of benefit to your household and help you to take action against climate change?

This information session will cover all aspects of EV ownership and help you understand:

• how an EV compares to a petrol-based car, in terms of price, running costs, travel range and longevity
• how and where to charge an EV - and how much electricity it will take
• the emissions and resource-use of EVs, compared to other modes of transport
• how you might future-proof your home for an EV, by installing or increasing rooftop solar
• what changes we might anticipate in the EV market over the coming years
• your eligibility for rebates

All Manningham residents who attend on the night will go into the draw to win a Virtual Home Energy Assessment worth $225!

This phone assessment will be tailored to your household, helping you to plan for a cost-effective and comfortable transition away from gas. We may contact the winner to check on progress in both reducing bills and making the home more energy efficient.

To attend this event, you must have an internet enabled PC or device and be able to download Zoom. Don’t have Zoom? Download it for free. You’ll be provided with the Zoom meeting link when you book.

This free information session is brought to you by Manningham and the Australian Energy Foundation. If you're unable to make the session, you can still learn more about how to keep your home cool while saving energy on the Australian Energy Foundation website.