
Brian Chapman & Fiends, Three Russian Piano Trios: Concert Review | Bronislaw Sozanski
New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks
The Reading Room (2pm in the Library for a start @ 2.30pm – 4pm)
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JANUARY SESSION
The Dictionary of Lost Words | Pip Williams
In 1901, the word bondmaid was discovered missing from the Oxford English Dictionary. This is the story of the girl who stole it.
Motherless and irrepressibly curious, Esme spends her childhood in the Scriptorium, a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of lexicographers are gathering words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary.
Esme’s place is beneath the sorting table, unseen and unheard. One day, she sees a slip containing the word bondmaid flutter to the floor unclaimed. Esme seizes the word and hides it in an old wooden trunk that belongs to her friend, Lizzie, a young servant in the big house. Esme begins to collect other words from the Scriptorium that are misplaced, discarded or have been neglected by the dictionary men. They help her make sense of the world.
Over time, Esme realises that some words are considered more important than others, and that words and meanings relating to women’s experiences often go unrecorded. She begins to collect words for another dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words.
Set when the women’s suffrage movement was at its height and the Great War loomed, The Dictionary of Lost Words reveals a lost narrative, hidden between the lines of a history written by men. It’s a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape our experience of the world…
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This event is a BMI Community Art Project – Ballarat’s Oldest Cultural Institution
New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks
Winds of Change J Mary Masters Don’t miss Judith at the BMI on Tuesday 21 October at 6pm Book 5 in the Belleville Family Series As a shocking betrayal unravels, a child’s future hangs in the balance. Cracks appear within the Belleville family. Against this background, a new house will rise from the ashes but
Marion Blythman Marion has been working on the BMI Heritage Collection for about 18 years! Â She loves working with her current volunteer team, Dani Stonehouse, Mary Walker and Judy Peters, and is very keen to promote and publicize the wonderful treasure filled collection much more widely. Marion is also looking to include new volunteers
A Message from the Chair… | Rosemary’s New Releases and Recommendations | Twilight Talks – Author Talks – Live Comedy – Night Tours – Live Theatre – Seniors Festival
Fashion Fundraiser September saw the BMI Fashion Parade event transform the Minerva into a glamourous catwalk setting, as almost 60 attendees enjoyed vintage fashions from the BMI Vintage Shop being modeled expertly, by our generous volunteer models. Thanks to Geraldine and Dona and other volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring this event together, Liam for
October brings with it daylight savings, warmer weather (theoretically!) and of course the beautiful gardens of Ballarat really come alive. There are also many good reasons to step away from the heater at home and pop into the BMI for our events, to borrow a book or two, to show visiting friends and family through
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Night Tours
Fri 31 Oct –Â Sat 15 Nov
& Fri 12 Dec
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Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm.Â
Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.
Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges.Â
Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20
Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60
Spring Season, History Talks:
Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!
Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm.Â
Australian Heritage Festival
Minerva's Secrets
25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets.Â
Linen & Lace Exhbition
Includes Devonshire Tea | $20
Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm
 Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
 Coming soon…
Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.
 Coming soon…
Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.Â
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing