Our enthusiastic and hard-working Yearly Meeting Organising Committee (YMOC) is beavering away, behind the scenes, with preparations for Australia Yearly Meeting 2025. Adelaide provided us with a wonderful place to gather, Friendship, Worship and spiritual growth in community. Victoria is really looking forward to hosting another hybrid meeting, welcoming Friends in person, or on-line, this coming year. Last year’s July Yearly Meeting made us realise that we gain a lot in our relationships and spiritual lives when we meet together as a community, a sense that we had really missed out on over the Covid disruptions. We rediscovered the love and generosity of feeling of our Quaker foundations, engendered by gathering in person.

The next Victoria Regional Meeting will be 1st December at which we hope to appoint a 3-member team to be the Victorian organising committee and the lynchpin between YMOC and members of VRM seeking to help with organisational aspects, which are their interest or forte. At the same time, we hope to finalise a theme for the next yearly meeting, Once chosen this will help formulate the direction of Friendly school and perhaps some Share and Tell offerings. From this point, names will be sought for a person to give a State of the Society Address and another to do a Summary of Epistles.

A location has been chosen by the Clerking Team in Victoria and will be University College Parkville, part of the University of Melbourne. Centrally located, this campus is within easy reach from the tram, with links to train stations, and the airport. By then it is thought the new underground city train loop will be operational with a link at Parkville.

All our needs will be managed from within the one centre, with sleeping quarters, lecture rooms and catering provided. See more detail at the website unicol.unimelb.edu.au

We have hired the Leggatt Room as the conference Centre, a large space which can be modified into smaller meeting areas. There’s a dedicated children’s space and child-carers will be on hand to organise activities. There is a basketball court and external activity area/lounge area for JIFs or YFs. All areas in the building have Wi-Fi internet access.

 Rooms will be offered per night as full board, or bed and breakfast. There are older style Heritage rooms (shared bathrooms) or newer mini ensuite rooms (shower and toilet), these two being the majority. There are some larger full ensuite rooms. All rooms have a double bed and desk. The cost per night is commensurate with amenities.

Meals are served in a lovely bright dining area with lunches likely to be offered around $21:50 and dinners $22:50. Tea and coffee will be available all day.

It should be another fabulous occasion for Friends to come together. It will be snug and warm in the building but if you’re looking to go further afield, pull out your coats and winter woollies (it is July!)  There is a large park just across the road (Royal Park) for those who love to exercise. Melbourne zoo is a 20 minute walk away. The city a 10-minute tram ride. We can’t wait to welcome Friends to our next gathering and hope many of you will join us at University College, July 2025.

In loving Friendship,

Aileen Britton, Clerk, VRM.