Wednesday 11 February: Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker

Guest speaker: Rita Arrigo is a globally recognised AI expert and futurist, passionate about how technology intersects with creativity and real-world impact. With senior roles across government and the private sector, she’ll share insights on how AI is reshaping industry and society.

Time and Schedule: Please arrive 9:45am for 10am start. 10–10:30am meeting. 10:30–10:45am activity bookings and morning tea. 10:45–11:45am guest speaker. 12pm meeting close.

Where: St Kilda Sports Club, 66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Cost: Free for members. $5 entry to guest speaker event for non-members.

Membership: We’ll have membership forms available before the meeting and at the morning tea break for anyone who wants to join. And if you’ve already joined, check to see whether your membership card and name badge are available for collection.

After: Join us for an optional coffee/lunch at Cafe Banff across the street.

Hosted by: Carmel

 

Wednesday 18 February: Lunch @ Lady of St Kilda

Join us for home-made Mediterranean food (including super-delicious pita bread), plus one of the longest happy hours in St Kilda! There’s 20% off mains and pasta on Wednesdays for members (and it’s free to join), plus happy hour prices on drinks apply from 8am until 7pm. If the food doesn’t make you happy, the discounts surely will. 

Time: 12pm for a 12:30 start

Where: 204 Barkly St, St Kilda

Cost: Mains start at $25 (before 20% discount). Check out the lunch menu.

Bookings: Essential. Sign up at the club meeting on 11 February or register interest via email before 16 February so we can confirm numbers with the restaurant.

Hosted by: John

 

Thursday 19 February: Walk and Coffee

Join us for an 8km foreshore trail walk from Brighton to St Kilda. We’ll break for coffee halfway at North Point café. Estimated walking time 2 hours, coffee pitstop extra.

Time: 10:25am

Where: Meet at Bus Stop 132 in Fitzroy St (in front of the St Kilda Sports Club) at 10:25am, and we’ll catch the next 600 bus to Brighton Beach station to begin our walk.

Cost: Free

Bookings: Please send an email to let us know you’re coming a couple of days beforehand, so we can propose a shorter alternative if the weather looks unsuitable or cancel if a scorcher is forecast. If the 603 or 923 bus routes to Brighton Beach, or the Sandringham train, are more convenient for you, we can arrange to meet at Brighton Beach.

Hosted by: Carmel

 

Tuesday 24 February: Book Club

The next get-together of the St Kilda Probus Book group will discuss crime books—fact or fiction. True crime, vintage crime, outback noir, financial crime, whatever takes your fancy and want to talk about with others. All are welcome.

Time: 2-4pm

Where: Whiskey Bar at Fifth Province, 60 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Cost: Free, with snacks and drinks available at bar prices

Bookings: Not required

Hosted by: Diane

 

Thursday 26 February: Drinks @ Ellora Bar

This month’s happy hour comes with sweeping views of the city, beach and bay. Throw in some delicious tapas and great company, and it’s the perfect afternoon!

Time: Starting at 4pm but feel free to drop in later

Where: 1 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Cost: Happy hour prices include $10 pints of Ellora Draft, $8 house wines and $15 for selected cocktails, plus bar snacks starting at $11. Check out the menu.

Bookings: Essential. Sign up at the club meeting on 11 February or register interest via email before 24 February so we can confirm numbers with the venue.

Hosted by: John

 

Friday 27 February: St Kilda Blues Festival  

For those who haven’t attended this festival before, now is the perfect chance! It runs from Friday afternoon until Sunday night and everything is free. There are 40+ bands and artists and 70+ gigs across the weekend, so there’s lots to enjoy. We’ll kick off our festival at the Bowlo to see Ezra Lee, and can then wander around St Kilda to see what else sparks our interest. Check out the full program.  

Time: 6:30pm

Where: St Kilda Sports Club, 66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda

Cost: Free. Drinks and snacks at bar prices

Bookings: Not required. Send us an email to let us know you’re coming so we can look out for you.

Hosted by: Gail

 

Monday 2 March: Walk and Coffee

We’ll cross the great divide (St Kilda Rd) and explore shady, charming streets such as Charnwood Grove and Crimea Street, stroll around Alma Park, and break for coffee halfway at the Phoenician. An easy walk, around 5kms.

Time: 10:30am

Where: Meet in the car park adjacent to the St Kilda Sports Club, 66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda.

Cost: Free

Bookings: Not required

Bad weather alert: If the weather is looking questionable, check our Facebook page to see whether the walk is going ahead.

Hosted by: Carmel

 

Wednesday 4 March: Australian Tapestry Workshop

Join us for this one-hour tour of the Australian Tapestry Workshop. We’ll see the weavers in action, learn about yarn dyeing, and see some spectacular examples of the skill and creativity that underpins this studio’s reputation as an international leader in contemporary tapestry.

Time: 2pm ATW Tour

Where: 262 Park St, South Melbourne
Cost: $15
Wheelchair access: No

Bookings: Essential. Please send us an email to let us know you’re coming. Then pay for your ticket at the venue on the day of the tour.

Coffee: Feel free to come along for a coffee beforehand, at 1:15pm, Lerice, 147 Cecil St, South Melbourne (a short stroll from Park St).

Hosted by: Carmel

 

Thursday 5 March: Albert Park F1 Community Day

Today is free at the Albert Park circuit if your postcode is 3182, 3004, 3205 and 3206. All you need for your free ticket is photo ID that includes your address (like a license). There are no F1 cars on the track today, but you can wander around and soak up the vibe, plus access pretty much the entire circuit (including all grandstands). It’s a fun day out, especially if the weather is good.

Time: 9:30am OR 12:30pm

Where: Meet in the car park adjacent to St Kilda Sports Club, 66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda at 9:30am and we’ll walk to Gate 10 (the circuit opens at 10am). Or if you’d prefer, meet us at Melbourne Walk in the centre of the circuit at 12:30pm for lunch. (There will be multiple maps around the circuit showing you how to get there.)

Cost: Free

Bookings: Not required. If you’re meeting us at 12:30, send us an email so we can look out for you.

Hosted by: Gail

 

Thursday 12 March: March Drinks and Oysters @ Bang Bang

Calling all oyster lovers: Let's enjoy ‘Bang Bang Hour’ at 5pm for $2 oysters, $2 eggplant skewers, $10 Bang Bang wines and $15 selected cocktails. Even if oysters aren’t your thing, come along for happy hour and a drink with your fellow Probus members.

Time: 5pm

Where: 2/157 Fitzroy St

Cost: $2 upwards depending on your oyster capacity plus happy hour drink prices on selected wines. Check out the menu.

Bookings: Essential. Sign up at the club meeting on 11 February or register interest via email before 5 March so we can confirm numbers with the venue.

Hosted by: Sharon

Movie club

A lot of people listed movies as a hobby on their membership forms. We’ve tried a few different options for going to the movies together, but it can be a bit difficult planning things far enough in advance that they make it into the newsletter. So, we’re going to try something new.

 

We’re going to start a WhatsApp group for anyone who is interested in getting together to see movies. That way, people can tell us what movies they want to see, and if there’s enough interest, we can arrange a date and time and cinema that works for everyone.

 

If you’d like to be part of this group, you can sign up at the meeting on 11 February, or else send us an email asking to be added to the group.