If you don’t know who you are and you don’t know where you’re headed, you might find yourself spiraling in ever-tightening circles until you come to rest in a nondescript part of town in a crummy two-star hotel, where the service is churlish, the lift doesn’t work, the toast is burnt and the pot plants set off your allergies.

But keep your expectations low, really low, and, who knows? – you might be pleasantly surprised by how everything works out. 

Life without Me, by the much-awarded playwright, Daniel Keene, is a funny, honest and heart-warming story that invites us to question life, or at least our own. A mix of drifters, set in a hotel lobby, capturing the emotional truth of the almost absurd characters in search of the concept of happiness.

Presented by PEP Productions.

Join award winning visual artist Bridget Hillebrand and Sonja Ross from BirdLife Melbourne as they share their knowledge and passion for the ecology of the Birraung (Yarra River).

Bridget will reveal insights into the creation of her immersive, site specific installation ‘River’. Sonja will discuss some of the ways we can best support the habitat and needs of Australia’s native birds.

Spaces are limited, please register via Eventbrite.

Kickstart the holiday fun!

Join the Football Star Academy for some action-packed fun and games on the field. No previous football (soccer) experience required.

Program information

• suitable for all genders
• this activity is for kids aged five to 12 years.

Terms and conditions

• Participants must be Manningham residents to qualify for the subsidised rate of $10. All other participants will be charged $50.
• Eligible families can apply for multiple children. Only one session application at the discounted rate can be submitted per child per program.

How to apply

To secure one of the low-cost places, register your interest now via phone 0424 253 549 or email vic23.football@sportstaracademy.com.

Spaces are limited, so get in quick to avoid disappointment.

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. 

Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or background, should feel safe, accepted and included.

Join us in recognising International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). 

IDAHOBIT raises awareness of the violence and discrimination still faced by LGBTQIA+ people across the globe. This year’s IDAHOBIT theme is The Power of Communities.

After raising the rainbow flag outside the Manningham Civic Centre, we’ll head inside to the Manningham Function Centre to enjoy morning tea  and hear from guest speaker Charlie, from LGBTQIA+ youth charity Minus18. Charlie will share some of the barriers and challenges that LGBTQIA+ young people experience, along with practical tips for supporting your LGBTQIA+ friends and family. 

This is a free event, however registrations are essential.  We look forward to seeing you there.

We all love food. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50 per cent of it in the trash? 

This documentary film looks at our systemic obsession with expiry dates, perfect produce and portion sizes, and reveals the core of this seemingly insignificant issue that is having devastating consequences around the globe. 

Just Eat It brings farmers, retailers, inspiring organisations, and consumers to the table in a cinematic story that is equal parts education and delicious entertainment. With its mix of humour and eye-opening moments, it encourages viewers of all ages to rethink their food habits and make more sustainable choices.

Bring your own drink and receive a free bag of popcorn! 

Registration is required. 

Do you like your jazz cool or do you like it hot? We’ve got all of that for you and everything in between.

Come along and support a community concert band whose purpose is to provide a wide variety of enjoyable music for everyone throughout the year.

Having celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2024, we are now commencing the next exciting 50 years doing what we love most.

To add to the enjoyment, there will the always enjoyable multi-media presentation in conjunction with the music, which our regular Gala audience always loves.

Please, spread the word, encourage family and friends to come and enjoy a great evening.

Follow us:
- Instagram: @manninghamband
- Facebook: @manninghamband
- YouTube: @manninghamconcertband

How can people find out more about the event?
https://www.trybooking.com/DBWWQ

 

Looking for a friendly way to connect with your community? 

Our Talking Cafes are weekly drop-in sessions held at local cafes, designed for you to socialise, learn what's happening in your community, and make new friends!

A welcoming Talking Café host will greet you each week and introduce any special guest speakers. Meet new people, share stories, and find out about local events and initiatives. 

No need to book. Just drop in when it suits you. 

Newcomers are always welcome. Each session runs for just one hour. Feel free to purchase a coffee or tea if you'd like.

Feeling a bit unsure about coming alone? No problem at all. Give our team a call on 0457 646 384 and we'll be happy to help.

Join local ecologist John Harris as he takes you on a journey through Warrandyte State Park’s Fourth Hill. John will undertake a bird survey and help you identify birds in the Warrandyte area. 

Key details

• 3km moderate walk, includes steep and narrow sections, creek crossing, slippery sections and tripping hazards.
• Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a water bottle and binoculars. A light breakfast will be served after the walk.
• Download the Aussie Bird Count app on Android and Apple before the walk.
• Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. 
• Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the start time.

The meeting place will be at Gold Memorial Drive Picnic Ground, Warrandyte. 

Please note: the nature walk will be cancelled in the event of extreme weather.

Subscribe to our monthly Environment e-Newsletter

Hear from expert Rodney Van Der Ree on local projects that are helping address the impacts of road and traffic on biodiversity, including fauna bridges, monitoring cameras and virtual fencing.

Manningham Council is actively working to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions through installing canopy bridges and virtual fences. These measures aim to protect local wildlife by deterring them from crossing roads and providing safer pathways for movement.

You can also attend the Manningham Environment Seminar Series - Endangered Species of Manningham on Wednesday 24 September.

Join us for an engaging seminar where we'll delve into the fascinating world of fungi with expert Dr. Alison Pouliot. 

The earth’s rapidly changing climate and environmental issues have come into sharp focus through the demise of charismatic megafauna and the ‘biodiversity crisis’. But what about stinkhorns and slime moulds? How do fungi and their kin get our attention when they are not only overshadowed by more ‘popular’ organisms, but are rarely included in our ideas about ‘nature’ or ‘biodiversity’?

The good news is it seems we’re in something of a ‘fungal awakening’ and mushrooms are finally having their moment. Over the last 25 years Alison has divided her time between hemispheres, working both with fungi and their followers. She has been actively involved in fungal conservation and land restoration programs.

In this talk Alison will explore how fungi are perceived across hemispheres in conservation contexts and which fungal flagships best capture the public imagination. She will also share some stories from the writing of her recent book, Underground Lovers – Encounters with Fungi in which she interacted with fungi and their followers across a dozen countries.

There will be an opportunity at the end for participants to show their specimens or purchase books.

Booking essential: Limited to 50 people.

About the Presenter

Alison Pouliot, BA (Philosophy), BSc Hons (Zoology), PhD (Ecology/Mycology).

Alison is an ecologist, environmental photographer and author and has presented over 800 environmental seminars, forays and workshops in Australia and internationally.

Seminar field trip

Attending this event will enable you to attend the Seminar field trip: Meeting with mushrooms.

• Date: Thursday 30 May 2024
• Time: 9.00am to 11.30am

This exciting field trip introduces participants to the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the Kingdom Fungi, specific to fungi found in the region and its various habitat types.

Participants will learn some of the basic skills used to identify fungi in the field using multiple senses. The relationships between fungi and various plant species and different habitat types will be discussed. Every fungus has intriguing natural and cultural histories and stories, and these will be shared along the way.

Interested participants will be sent a registration link.

If you’re an artist living or working in Manningham, join us for an online meet and greet to build creative connections in your backyard.

Facilitated by Debby Maziarz, this inaugural community of practice event will look at what dramatic adaptation can mean for your arts practice, with particular regard for opportunities and challenges presented by online tools and modes of working. 

You'll hear from local creatives Adrian Rice, Cath Rutten and Lindy Yeates about their experiences, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as have the chance to share ideas and discuss your current practice.

Free event.
Limited numbers, registration essential.

Image: Lindy Yeates, installation shot from the Sanctuary Project, 2020-21.

More Information

Manningham Art Gallery

Located at the entrance to MC Square, Manningham Art Gallery presents a diverse range of contemporary art exhibitions and related public programs throughout the year. See all upcoming exhibitions.

Do you share a home with your adult children? Whether your kids have moved back into your home, or you are sharing a space, this presentation will provide tips to maintain harmony in your household and control of your lifestyle.  Followed by a morning tea and service provider stalls. 

Bookings are essential for this free event. 

Register online or call the Manningham Healthy Ageing Team on 9840 9230 to book your spot. 

Transport and parking

If you require assistance with transport, please contact Eastern Volunteers (EV) directly for transport bookings on 9870 7822. 

Parking is available in the Civic Centre car park. 

Join Elana from Cloth Nappy Workshops Melbourne to discover the world of modern cloth nappies.

During this online workshop, Elana will take you through everything you need to know to get started with cloth nappies. Learn how to wash them, where to buy them and what to look for.

She will cover washing tips, dispel myths, show the different styles of modern cloth and most importantly an opportunity to ask questions to get you confident with cloth.

To sign up for a workshop, use the registration button below for your preferred date.

Online workshop - Monday 27 March

Register now

Online workshop - Monday 15 May

Register now

Online workshop - Monday 5 June

Register now

Online workshop - Wednesday 26 July

Register now

Come and see this photo exhibition and learn about how Warrandyte Stone has been used in the town's walls, memorials, houses, and buildings.

Don't miss the accompanying Foundation Stone Talk by the master stonemason, James Charlwood.

Foundation Stone Talk with James Charlwood

The talk will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, 15 May in the Federation Room at the Grand Hotel Warrandyte.
If you would like to attend, please contact the Warrandyte Historical Society to reserve your place.

The Warrandyte Historical Society are running this event.