Following our AGM, there will be a film and we will order pizza and get to know our old and new members better.

BYO name tag. There will be a prize for the best name tag. So, get creative.

• Where: Newport Community Hub, 13 Mason Street. Look for the Jawbone Flag. Parking available at the rear off Derwent Street..

• Time: 7pm

• Registration: a free event, but register online so we know how many pizzas to order (will take you to the GiveNow site).

Two officers from the VFA (Victorian Fishing Authority) will be talking about the extensive work they do to protect Victoria's fisheries, Marine Parks and Sanctuaries.

As you are probably aware, the Victorian government has recently cut back funding for the VFA, so it will be interesting to hear the officers talk about the protection of Marine Sanctuaries going into the future. Of course, they will not be able to discuss political issues.

• Where: Beaumaris Senior Citizens Centre behind the Beaumaris library.

• Time: The evening commences at 6.45pm with pizza, drinks and catch-ups. Please bring along a plate if you feel so inclined.
  The VFA officers will begin talking at 7.30pm.

Last year, the Great Victorian Fish Count had well over 600 participants. It is not only Victoria’s largest marine citizen science event – it is the most fun!

NOTES from Kade Mills, VPNA organiser:

You can do as many Fish Count events as you like. In fact, the more the merrier. Some groups turn every dive or snorkel done between the 15 Nov – 14 Dec into a Fish Count dive and we love it.

A NOTE ON SHIRTS – Sadly, no shirts this year — funding didn’t come through. Fingers crossed for next year!

Kade will soon send out a file that has this year’s fish count fish if you want to print your own, and how to record your observations (As soon as we receive more details, we will add them here!). Any questions, feel free to email him at kade@vnpa.org.au

• Where: Anywhere along the Victorian coast.

• Time: Anytime during 15 November until 14 December 2025

Ross is a senior Geologist at the Geological Survey of Victoria, Resources Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. He is a field geologist, specialising in structural geology and structural geophysics. He has experience across geological interpretation of ancient terranes at a range of scales including sedimentology, paleo-geography, stratigraphy, volcanology, and tectonics,  metamorphic and igneous petrology. Ross has extensive experience in geological and tectonic interpretations from a diverse mix of field, laboratory, remote-sensed and geophysical datasets. This includes potential field and seismic reflection data, with specialist experience in the interpretation of large-scale field- or drill-core based observations, mostly within a hard-rock context. Ross is highly familiar with most aspects of the geology of SE Australia, with particular knowledge of the Palaeozoic rocks and their former contexts within Gondwanaland. Ross's career is devoted to improving our understanding of how the Earth works, especially our (poorly-exposed) Australian corner of it. With understanding comes predictive capacity, and then (hopefully) opportunity.
This gives Ross a unique insight to the rocks and the formation of the land in and around Williamstown where he will talk about local features including the lava bubble we will meet at and the nearby lava tubes.

• Where: meet at the the lava bubble, off Battery Rd  (See map above for details)

• Registration: a free event limited to 30 participants — Must register online — link coming soon — (will take you to the GiveNow site)

Cátia will talk about Jawbone within the Great Southern Reef, and we will walk along the beach, as it’ll be low tide, discussing what we find.

BBQ lunch available after the talk.

Cátia is a marine science educator with the Great Southern Reef Foundation and Deakin University, passionate about raising awareness and protecting Australia’s Great Southern Reef. She has a particular love for seaweed and environmental education, bringing ocean literacy into classrooms across all year levels through engaging, curriculum-aligned programs. Through her work, she hopes to inspire the next generation to build a stronger connection with the ocean.

• Where: meet at the entrance to the Arboretum at the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary, look for our flag - Park on Mullins Ct

• Registration: a free event limited to 30 participants — Must register online — link coming soon — (will take you to the GiveNow site)