BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20230401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20230930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20240406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20241005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240601T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240602T140000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240517T033112Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T132922Z UID:55204-1717236000-1717336800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Winter Book Sale | Stockpile your reading pleasure DESCRIPTION:June 1\n@\n10:00 am\n–\nJune 2\n@\n2:00 pm \nFree \nBooks priced from $1 – more for collectable items.\n \nImage\, artist impression only | Photo by | helloiamtugce \nDon’t miss our book sale this weekend. \nAdmission and parking are free. There are hundreds of books – some of which are in gently used condition and some in mint condition – and many start at a dollar or two. And it’s not just books – there are CDs\, DVDs and more! \nWe will have some children’s books for your kids and grand kids. Plus\, all proceeds are help to support our Library programs. \n\nmembership\n\n\nLibrary\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n\n \n\nDebut Novel an Original Tale | Ballarat Times: Edwina Williams 17 May\n\nAUTHOR Paula Gleeson will release her debut novel in two… \n\n\n \n\nRex’s Snippits | The BMI The Early Days\n\nThis is a open file of the minutes of the… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week | 20 May 2024\n\nRed Gifts in the Garden of Stones Pam Swanborough. A… \n\n\n \n\nWhite Night | Deborah Klein: ‘Decorated Women’\n\nThe White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/winter-book-sale/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Ballarat Winter Festival,BMI Produced Event,Culture,Fundraiser ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/book-sale-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240617T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240726T150000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240530T040409Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071412Z UID:55716-1718618400-1722006000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Human Designs | Zlatko Balazic & John McKee (aka Jack Morph): Featuring the art of Melinda Muscat DESCRIPTION:Now Open during Library operating hours\n\nJune 17\n–\nJuly 26 \nOn until 26 July \nDuring regular Library operating hours (see page footer) \nFree \nHugh Williamson Foyer\, 1st floor \nAny Donations to the BMI will be greatly received and will go to future Art Projects. \nAn Immersive Experience – Soft Launch\nA Fortunare Series Of Events \nThe Wizard | Melinda Muscat\nHuman Designs: Zlatko Balazic & John McKee (aka Jack Morph).\nBoth Zlatko & John have come from very different backgrounds. This has made for a highly fertile and vibrant mix of life experiences upon which to synthesis innovative design ideas\, producing truly original artwork. As such\, this creative process has involved the inimitable blending of various art mediums and new technologies. The organic\, ‘morphic’ quality of our work has become our binding signature style. Presently our main goal is to engage our audience through direct\, tactile light and sound displays\, or what we like to refer to as ‘LightStations’. We can’t wait to see it. \n  \nMelinda Muscat \nMelinda is a Surrealist at heart\, drawing inspiration from Hieronymus Bosch\, who’s work she saw at age seven. The magical world of The Garden of Earthly Delights transformed her vision of how amazing life can be when the imagination is free. And since then she’s made it her focus to create wonderlands of her own. \nA true believer in colour she has a passion to make the world around her as colourful as possible. “Why should the world be grey or beige? Why should we conform to everyone else’s style or fashion??? Be yourself\, be brave\, have fun\, let your imagination run wild\, who knows what you can create until you let yourself be free\, be you!” \nAt artschool Melinda started doing wall size charcoal drawings as part of her journey into creating her own wonderlands. She’s had installation style exhibitions at Backspace Gallery. \nNow in conjunction with BMI\, together with Zlatko Balazic and Human Designs\, Melinda has been able to truly experience and share in true sensory overload style an immersive experience of her artwork larger than life. \nTransforming from one image to another\, together with Zlatko’s ingenious meeting of minds style interactive creations\, viewers are made welcome to play\, hear\, see a world transformed by their interaction with the artworks. \nCome be a part of our magical wonderland experience at BMI. \nAnd afterwards come experience another of Melinda’s wonderlands – The Ballarat Imaginarium\, which showcases not just her own work but that of over one hundred local Ballarat artists\, writers\, musicians and makers\, just at the front of BMI. \n\n \n\n\n\n \nThis projection wIll be trialled in the Hugh Williamson Foyer with a view to a more extensive future installation. \n2015 Bronzina | Melinda Muscat\nAloha | Melinda Muscat\nInstallation Design Concept\nBaroque Wonderland | Melinda Muscat\nThis installation is proudly supported by our Corporate Partner\n\n \nWe would also like to thank.\n\n \nAssisting with the install\nTony Matkov  | IMDTech \nUse of fabrication facilities\nWalleed Askari  | Steel It Engineering \nwalaskari@steelitengineering.com.auMobile +61 407 301 592\n\n \n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nFAQT – Festival of Australian Queer Theatre\n\n22 – 25 August | As BMI associated events are… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nEdenhope Louise Le Nay. ‘A moving story about one woman’s… \n\n \n\nNational Science Week\n\n10 – 18 August | As BMI associated events are… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Homestead in the Eucalypts Léonie Kelsall. Sometimes finding the… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/human-designs-melinda-muscat/ LOCATION:Hugh Williamson Foyer\, Level 1 CATEGORIES:Art programs,Ballarat Winter Festival,BMI Produced Event,Exhibition,Festival,Projection ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/baroque-wonderland-adjusted-2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240908T143000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240908T160000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240325T021720Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T142905Z UID:52724-1725805800-1725811200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Teeny Tiny Stevies - Twice the Love Tour\, Ballarat DESCRIPTION:September 8\n@\n2:30 pm\n–\n4:00 pm \n$32 \nThe ultimate live gig experience for young families.\n \nThe old feel young\, the young feel like grown-ups\, and everyone just meets somewhere in the middle for a rocking good time! \nPlaying all the Teeny Tiny Stevies favourites along with some sparkly new ones from their most recent offering\, The Green Album\, Byll\, Beth and their band create a snug atmosphere with much delight! Even the most serious adults will find themselves singing\, laughing and potentially even moving their bodies in a way that resembles… dancing. \nGet ready to make some core memories together. \nNote: Babies in arms/parent’s lap (aged 12 months and under) are admitted free with a full paying adult ticket. \nGet tickets \n\nTickets\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nWhite Night | Deborah Klein: ‘Decorated Women’\n\nThe White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week | 13 May 2024\n\nMaking Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat\, 1988. … \n\n \n\nLine up announced for: Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow – Ballarat\n\nAustralia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off again… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week | 6 May 2024\n\nDaddy’s Girl Josephine Cox. When heartbroken Sarah Quinn is left… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/teeny-tiny-stevies/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Comedy,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/teeny-tiny-stevies-e1711333465682.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241005T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241005T201500 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240908T234149Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T063643Z UID:58576-1728154800-1728159300@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Calum Graham: Phoenix Rising DESCRIPTION:October 5\n@\n7:00 pm\n–\n8:15 pm \n$47 \nOne of the world’s top 30 guitarists under 30.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nNamed one of the World’s Top 30 Guitarists under 30 and hailed as a “virtuoso of the fingerstyle guitar” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine\, Calum Graham is a captivating force in the acoustic music scene. \nBorn in Fort St. John\, British Columbia\, and now based in Victoria\, Canada\, Calum’s meteoric rise began when he won the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at just 17. Since then\, he has toured the world\, including performances at the Vancouver and London Olympics\, and released 10 critically acclaimed albums. \nHis live repertoire is a tapestry woven from the Acoustic Guitar\, interweaving original compositions with traces of folk\, world\, soul\, blues\, and jazz\, all anchored in his virtuosic mastery of fingerstyle technique inspired by Michael Hedges\, Don Ross\, Andy McKee\, and Antoine Dufour. \nJoin in for an evening with Calum Graham\, where innovative compositions meet breathtaking skill. Experience the magic of one of the world’s finest young guitarists as he takes you on a musical journey that will linger long after the final note. Don’t miss Calum’s inaugral Australian tour! \nOnline bookings only. \nGet tickets $47 plus bkg fee. \n\nTickets\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBack Roads: The Great Aussie Road Trip Heather Ewart. A… \n\n \n\nBallarat Begonia Festival\n\nBALLARAT BEGONIA FESTIVAL | 8 – 10 March 2025. Related… \n\n \n\nAustralian Heritage Festival: Unearthed\n\nAUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Unearthed. 18 April to 18 May 2025…. \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\n17 Years Later: Who really killed the Primrose family J.P…. \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/calum-graham-phoenix-rising/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/square-promo-calum-graham.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Concerts Australia":MAILTO:michael@concertsaustralia.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241009T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241009T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240703T001031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211933Z UID:56840-1728495000-1728498600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections DESCRIPTION:October 9\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \nSubject: Discovering the lost men of Fromelles and Ballarat Connections\nLambis Englezos is a Greek-born\, retired Art Teacher from Melbourne\, with a “magnificent obsession” to find\, recover\, and honour Australia’s missing diggers from the Battle of Fromelles – an obsession that grew from meeting many returned diggers as a child growing up in Melbourne. \nWhile visiting the cemetery at Fromelles in 2000\, Lambis noticed a large discrepancy between the numbers of AIF soldiers killed and those in marked graves. But where were the missing dead buried? \nOn studying the battle\, Lambis and a small group of supporters came to the realisation that after the slaughter of allied solders under the incompetent command of Lieutenant-General Richard Haking\, a proposed amnesty to collect the dead and wounded was refused by the British. The lack of amnesty led to the tragedy of many unreclaimed wounded dying horrific deaths over days in no-man’s-land. \nA theory was developed that dead Australian diggers had been reclaimed from the battle field by the victorious Germans in July 1916 and buried elsewhere. \nThe team was now fired with the enthusiasm to solve this mystery. Efforts at getting official recognition of the issue of misplaced diggers and gaining information were constantly thwarted. But the team persisted. Using contemporary photographs and records they hypothesised that the bodies would be buried in mass graves close to the German light railway in the Fromelles area. They finally gained evidence from a time series of aerial photographs that soon after the battle the Germans had in fact dug eight pits close to the light railway adjacent to Pheasant Wood a short distance away from the front line. Aerial photographs showed that these pits were soon filled in. \nWith the likely spot located and the logic deemed plausible\, the team finally persuaded the powers to carry out non-intrusive surveys with ground penetrating radar and imaging. This found the amount of material buried in the ground was too great to ignore. An archaeological dig was ordered. \nIn this session we will also be exploring Ballarat’s connections to discovering The last men of Fromelles \n\nFitting from 1908 Pattern Web Infantry Equipment.\nSpeakers: Lambis Englezos AM & Garry Snowden OAM\nLambis Englezos is a Greek-born\, retired Art Teacher from Melbourne\, with a “magnificent obsession” to find\, recover\, and honour Australia’s missing diggers from the Battle of Fromelles – an obsession that grew from meeting many returned diggers as a child growing up in Melbourne. \nWhile visiting the cemetery at Fromelles in 2000\, Lambis noticed a large discrepancy between the numbers of AIF soldiers killed and those in marked graves. But where were the missing dead buried? \nLambis Englezos AM\nGarry Snowden is president of Ballarat’s Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee and has extensively researched the men and women commemorated in the Avenue. He has visited Gallipoli 18 times and has made 9 visits to Fromelles as part of Western Front tours. It was his friendship with Lambis Englezos that led to the creation of Ballarat’s Garden of the Grieving Mother. \nGarry Snowden OAM\nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance. \n\nBookings\n\n\n\n \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nMore Twilight Talks\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming \n\n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nOct\n9 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n16 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass\, Boer War to Vietnam \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n23 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n6 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n\n \n\nBMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October\, 4pm\n\nThe Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide…… \n\n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n\n \n\nBMI Monthly Calendar 2025\n\nDue to popular demand our calendar is back again for… \n\n\nLoad More\n \nFollow Daniel URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-lights-fromelles-ballarat-connections/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Festival,Fundraiser,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks,Victorian Seniors Festival ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/square-promo-the-lost-men-of-fromelles.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241016T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241016T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240702T082713Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211936Z UID:56817-1729099800-1729103400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia's commemorative stained glass\, Boer War to Vietnam DESCRIPTION:October 16\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \nSubject: Australia’s commerative stained glass from the Boer War to Vietnam\nAlmost hidden within religious buildings\, hospitals\, school chapels and civic buildings\, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war. \nBronwyn Hughes focuses on commemorative stained glass—an overlooked art form—describing its rich artistic and architectural heritage and the artists and firms who created it. Memorial stained glass serves to depict and illuminate the men and women who fought and died for their faith and their country. It has a tragic beauty. \nFollowing Bronwyn’s talks will be the screening of a documentary Let the Light Shine\, which recently had it’s ‘World Premiere’ at the David Williamson Theatre\, Prahran. \nThis session will be a wonderful reflection\, prior to Remembrance Day in November. \n \nSpeaker: Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM\nBronwyn Hughes is a glass artist\, teacher\, lecturer\, and art historian\, specialising in stained glass and is a consultant to heritage architects and organisations. Her research interests are in stained glass history and conservation\, nineteenth century art and architecture and twentieth century sculpture. Since completing her PhD on Anglo-Australian stained-glass artist\, William Montgomery\, she has been compiling and editing the first encyclopaedia of Australia’s stained glass makers and researching stained glass war memorials. She was awarded an OAM in 2019 for services to fine arts. \n\n\n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance. \n\nBookings\n \nMore Twilight Talks\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming \n\n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nOct\n9 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n16 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass\, Boer War to Vietnam \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n23 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n6 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n\n \n\nBMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October\, 4pm\n\nThe Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide…… \n\n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n\n \n\nBMI Monthly Calendar 2025\n\nDue to popular demand our calendar is back again for… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-lights-everlasting/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Festival,Fundraiser,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks,Victorian Seniors Festival ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/square-promo-lights-everlasting.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241023T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241023T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240703T005239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211930Z UID:56852-1729704600-1729708200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia's lost generation. DESCRIPTION:October 23\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \nSubject – Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation.\nAward-winning historian\, biographer and storyteller Ross McMullin returns to the BMI for a talk about his latest book. His multi-biographies about Australia’s lost generation of World War I have been widely acclaimed. Life So Full of Promise won the 2024 Age Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Nib Literary Award. It follows Farewell Dear People\, which won The Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History and the National Cultural Award. \nIn Life So Full of Promise Ross has again combined prodigious research and narrative flair in a collection of interwoven family stories about forgotten Australians who had radiant potential. The rich cast of characters includes a popular doctor\, a brilliant cricketer\, and a potential prime minister\, with a fervent\nlove story in the mix. \nDon’t miss this one. You’ll be enlightened\, entertained and moved as Ross brings these extraordinary yet unknown Australians back to life. \nBarry Jones reviewed Life So Full of Promise in The Age: “His scholarship is impeccable\, he writes like an angel … and his narrative gift is Blaineyesque”. \nLife So Full of Promise: Further Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation | Ross McMullin\nSpeaker: Ross McMullin\nRoss McMullin is an award-winning historian\, a renowned storyteller and an\nentertaining speaker.\nHe has written two books about Ballarat’s own Pompey Elliott. His biography\nPompey Elliott won multiple awards. Ross also wrote the biographical plaques\nsurrounding Ballarat’s statue of Pompey in Sturt Street. \nHis biography of a remarkable Ballarat-born artist and writer\, Will Dyson:\nAustralia’s Radical Genius\, was highly commended by the judges of the National\nBiography Award. Ross’s political histories include the commissioned ALP\ncentenary history The Light on the Hill together with So Monstrous a Travesty:\nChris Watson and The World’s First National Labour Government. \n\nRoss McMullin\n \nRoss McMullin | Charlton ‘Pompey’ Elliott unveiling\n\n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance. \n\nBookings\n \nMore Twilight Talks\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nOct\n9 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n16 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass\, Boer War to Vietnam \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n23 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n6 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nBMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October\, 4pm\n\nThe Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide…… \n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n \n\nBMI Monthly Calendar 2025\n\nDue to popular demand our calendar is back again for… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-life-so-full-of-promise/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Festival,Fundraiser,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks,Victorian Seniors Festival ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/square-promo-life-so-full-of-promise.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241101T200000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241101T220000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240424T033006Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T022254Z UID:54249-1730491200-1730498400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Daniel Champagne | Ballarat DESCRIPTION:November 1\n@\n8:00 pm\n–\n10:00 pm \n$32 \nThe finest guitar player of this generation.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nThe young virtuoso recently described as “the finest guitar player of this generation” has been selling out shows all over the globe and will be bringing his dynamite live show back home audiences this Spring! \nGrowing up in the Bega Valley on the Far South Coast of New South Wales\, Australia the story goes that the young singer-songwriter and one of a kind guitar virtuoso first picked up his instrument of choice as a 5-year-old following in the footsteps of a musical father. He began writing songs at 12\, training classically throughout his teens and performing wherever he could\, honing his craft and developing the dynamic live show that he is renowned for today. At 18 he finished school\, turned professional and hit the road without looking back. \nThe following 15 years have seen him independently release 7 studio albums\, tour relentlessly around the globe\, play some of the biggest festivals under the sun and share stages with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel\, INXS\, John Butler\, Lucinda Williams\, Ani DiFranco\, Judy Collins and Rodrigo y Gabriela. \nHe has been described as “the finest guitar player of this generation”\, “a leading light in acoustic music” and “a performer that must be seen to be believed” and through October and November he will be touring back home in Australia where it all began! \n“Daniel Champagne exudes a natural ease on stage\, as he sings poignant lyrics and beautifully crafted melodies that invariably whisk the heart up with grand romanticism. Coupled with an exhilarating guitar talent that transcends mere acoustic playing to replicate a whole band\, Champagne is just magical.”\n– themusic.com.au \nTIMES:\nDoors – 7.30pm\nPerformance – 8pm \nGet tickets $32 plus bkg fee. \n\nTickets\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBack Roads: The Great Aussie Road Trip Heather Ewart. A… \n\n \n\nBallarat Begonia Festival\n\nBALLARAT BEGONIA FESTIVAL | 8 – 10 March 2025. Related… \n\n \n\nAustralian Heritage Festival: Unearthed\n\nAUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Unearthed. 18 April to 18 May 2025…. \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\n17 Years Later: Who really killed the Primrose family J.P…. \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/daniel-champagne-ballart/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/square-from-poster.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241106T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241106T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240924T015619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211928Z UID:58950-1730914200-1730917800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city - identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins. DESCRIPTION:November 6\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \nThe archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.\nSpeaker: Jeremy Smith.\nHeritage Victoria recently received funding from the Heritage Council Victoria to prepare an Archaeology Management Plan for parts of the City of Ballarat. \nThe plan has reviewed historical records and utilised innovative new mapping technologies to identify places where historical archaeological sites are likely to survive beneath the modern city. \nThis talk will present the results of the study and explain why Ballarat’s 19th century archaeology is likely to survive in remarkable condition beneath parts of the modern city. \nJeremy Smith\nJeremy Smith is Heritage Victoria’s Principal Archaeologist\, and is an Honorary Research Fellow in Classics & Archaeology at the University of Melbourne. \nHe has written a number of publications about Victoria’s urban archaeology and was a key contributor to the award-winning book Ned Kelly Under the Microscope. (CSIRO Publishing\, 2014). \nJeremy Smith\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. \n\nBookings\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nOct\n9 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n16 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass\, Boer War to Vietnam \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nOct\n23 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid\, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n6 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying\, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins. \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nBMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October\, 4pm\n\nThe Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide…… \n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n \n\nBMI Monthly Calendar 2025\n\nDue to popular demand our calendar is back again for… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-uncovering-the-past-archaeology/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Festival,Fundraiser,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/jerremy-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241110T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241110T160000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240917T235139Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211325Z UID:58801-1731247200-1731254400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Jackson Dahlenburg: Album Launch: With Love | Debut Solo Piano Album DESCRIPTION:November 10\n @\n2:00 pm\n –\n4:00 pm \n\n$15.00 – $20.00 \nHumffray Room \n \n Get Tickets\n \nAlbum Launch: With Love.\n\n Jackson Dahlenburg | Photo: Issy Austin\n \n \n \n \nBallarat born pianist returning home to launch his debut instrumental solo piano album With Love. Combining jazz teachings with classical\, ambient\, and contemporary music\, Jackson plays piano as a tool to express deep contemplation and meditations on his life. \nComing from a background of learning jazz piano as a child and playing in original pop and contemporary groups for the last 15 years the outcome of this album is a unique juxtaposition of a foundation in jazz met with melodic sensibilities of pop music and strong inspirations of ambient classical music. \nCome join Jackson for an intimate Sunday afternoon performance on the grand piano\, with a special guest announced soon… \nGuest Artist\nJoining Jackson is the acclaimed\, award-winning Iranian-Australian musician Gelareh Pour. \nKnown for her mastery of the Persian Kamancheh and Qeychak\, and her distinctive voice\, Gelareh draws on her deep roots in Persian classical music and poetry while blending diverse influences and musical exploration to create her unique sound of Neo-Persian Experimentalism. \n\n Gelareh Pour\nGet tickets $15 plus bkg fee. | $20 at the Door. \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nHow James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’… \n\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nIn the Margins Gail Holmes. We are the spaces between… \n\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBurn it all Down TG Reid. If you play with… \n\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Valley Chris Hammer. The sins of the father |… \n\n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/jackson-dahlenburg/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/jackson-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241120T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241120T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240924T024501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211058Z UID:58970-1732123800-1732127400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King DESCRIPTION:November 20\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nHow James became King: The true story of James ‘King’ O’Malley\nSpeaker: Author\, Brian O’Malley\nBrian O’Malley is a retired Australian Federal public servant with experience in law enforcement functions and wide range of work and travel experience. \nHas has won the ACT Marjorie Graber-McInnes short story competition and was short listed in Shoalhaven national short story competition. \nHe has been an amateur genealogist for 40 years\, has lived in United Kingdom for 8 years\, and two years in Canada on secondment to Canadian Government. \nBrian has uncovered the dark secret taken to the grave by a founding father of Australia’s 1901 Federal Parliament\, ‘King’ O’Malley. \nA 100 year old scrapbook of family memorabilia. \nIn the book is an errant photograph of a high-profile namesake of the author – a politician and member of the first Australian Federal Parliament. This arouses curiosity about a possible family connection. \nDuring the 1890s this parliamentarian obfuscates his past\, claiming Canadian birth to enable him to stand for Australian parliament\, elaborating a fantastical story of his nativity and early years in North America to enable him to be elected. \nReconstructing the purported family tree of the main actor reveals a family in New Haven\, which was the centre of a sensational murder in 1881 and the subsequent trial in 1882 . The trial was a national and internationally identified miscarriage of justice\, bankrolled by an uncle of the accused. Witnesses and the judiciary allegedly have their mouths ‘covered with greenbacks’.  The author locates a photograph of the accused  –  James Malley – and it bears a striking resemblance to the Australian Politician ‘King’ O’Malley – and the journey begins… \nBrian O’Malley\, Author\nSubject: How James became King\n‘King’ O’Malley is known to history as a ‘larrikin’ and maverick politician\, member of the first Australian Federal Parliament and Federal Minister\, whose political career spanned two decades. \nArriving from America in the late 1880s he quickly drew attention through his public shenanigans; his theatrical storytelling\, fashionable accoutrements\, and ‘larger than life’ Yankee persona. However\, his past remained shrouded in mystery. Yet\, on the other side of the Pacific another mystery remained unresolved. \nFollowing the notorious 1882 New Haven\, Connecticut\, trial and acquittal of James Malley\, main suspect in the death of Jennie Cramer\, Malley disappears from official records in the north east United States\, and the saga begins. This is the story of how James became ‘King’. \nHow James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’ O’Malley | Brian O’Malley\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming \n\n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n\n \n\nTwilight Talks 2024 | Season 3 & 4 | 9 – 23 October & 6 – 27 November\n\nAs events are confirmed they will be listed HERE. \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nHow James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nIn the Margins Gail Holmes. We are the spaces between… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBurn it all Down TG Reid. If you play with… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-uncovering-the-past-3/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/square-promo-brian-omalley.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241122T200000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241122T220000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240910T030313Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211629Z UID:58645-1732305600-1732312800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Get Rhythm: The Johnny Cash & June Carter Show | THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:November 22\n@\n8:00 pm\n–\n10:00 pm \n$55 \n\nGet Tickets\n \nAustralia’s most authentic Johnny Cash & June Carter Show\,\nwith full live band.\nGet Rhythm\nWill take you on a Musical Journey\n\n\n\n\n\nGet Rhythm: The Johnny Cash & June Carter Show delivers a respectful Cash experience that will leave you uplifted and energised. Lead by real life married couple Mark and Joanne Caligiuri\, who were recently featured on Channel 9’s Today Show for their uncanny resemblance and vocals to Johnny Cash & June Carter. Get Rhythm is one of the most authentic and sincere Johnny Cash and June Carter shows in Australia. Their show is full of energy and excitement and focuses mainly on the earlier career of Johnny Cash and June Carter with a few later hits such as HurtStep back in time and listen to the songs you know and love such as Folsom Prison Blues\, Jackson\, Riders In The Sky\, A Boy Named Sue\, Walk the Line\, Ring of Fire and famous duets Jackson and Long Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man. A show not to be missed!http://bmi-dev.sdhosting.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/johnny_cash_-_30sec-Original-16_1.mp4 \nGet tickets $55 plus bkg fee. \n\nGet Tickets\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nHow James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nIn the Margins Gail Holmes. We are the spaces between… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBurn it all Down TG Reid. If you play with… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Valley Chris Hammer. The sins of the father |… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/johnny-cash-june-carter-show/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/johnny-cash-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241127T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241127T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240924T031552Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T211055Z UID:58976-1732728600-1732732200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat Notoriety DESCRIPTION:November 27\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$8 – $12 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet Tickets\n \nJohnny Alloo… of Ballarat notoriety\nSpeaker: Author\, John Smyth\nArticle: by Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024  \nWhen you hear ‘Johnny Alloo\,’ you might be like many people in Ballarat who associate the name with a local cafe. But it stems far beyond recent years to the mid-nineteenth century. \nJohnny Alloo was the Anglicised name Chinese orphan\, Chin Thun Lok took on when he came to Australia in about 1844\, from a Hong Kong mission school\, to work during a labour shortage. \nHaving learnt to cook for the western palate on a sea captain’s property in New South Wales\, he made the move to Ballarat in 1852 when he heard gold had been discovered\, and set up a restaurant there. \nSociologist-turned-historian John Smyth has written a book about this man called Johnny Alloo of Ballarat notoriety\, published by the local Xin Jin Shan Chinese Library. \n“He set up a cook shop\, a bit of a tent\, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade\,” Smyth said. “He served English food. \n“But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is\, Bakery Hill.” \nAlloo moved his restaurant to the east side of Main Road\, between Bridge and Humffray Street\, and this business was captured in two illustrations by artist\, Samuel Thomas Gill. \n“Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging\, so that is immortalised\,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history. \n“If anything is known about Alloo – there are no pictures or photographs of him – it’s those two lithographs on the inside and outside of the restaurant.” \nSmyth said Alloo was only in Ballarat for a few years\, but his time cooking on the goldfields was just the beginning of a fascinating life story. \nAuthor John Smyth | Photo: Edwina Williams\, Ballarat Times\nWhile working as an interpreter for Protector of the Chinese in Ballarat\, William Henry Foster in 1855\, he wasn’t paid for four-and-a-half months. While away from the restaurant\, his staff got fined for selling alcohol to police officers and received a big fine\, eventually leading to his insolvency. In 1856\, he sold the shop to his business partner\, and moved to Melbourne. \n“He’s naturalised\, he’s Christian\, and he speaks English\,” Smyth said. “He sets himself up in Little Bourke Street roughly where China Town is.” With gambling all around him\, Alloo became an undercover informant to Victoria Police\, particularly the chief of detectives\, and he went on to be appointed the first Chinese detective in Victoria Police in 1858. \nHe moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too. \n“It’s a fascinating story\, but it’s a bit of a babushka doll story\,” Smyth said. “You’ve got a local bit encased in colonial governance. “He was one of the very first Chinese to come to Australia\, and he never hunted for gold.” \nSmyth was asked by the local Chinese library to write the story after they discovered he was transcribing the rates books of the more-than 100 pubs that have been based on Main Road in its history. He said it’s been a “an exercise in love.” “I had passion\, and the Chinese library had passion\,” he said. \n“We’ve got an amazing individual here in our history who is largely unknown\, and this is the first piece of work that’s been done on him.” \nSubject: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat notoriety\nA remarkable story of and enterprising and savvy Chinese who arrived before the discovery of gold\, who converted challenges into opportunities\, amid chaos and mayhem\, colonial authorities who willfully kept issues off the books\, and a sindow in to a slice of Australian history that still reverberates today. \n \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available. \n\nGet Tickets\n \nMore Twilight Talks\n\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming \n\n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nNov\n13 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n20 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n \nNov\n27 \n \n\nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2024\, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety \n$8 – $12 \n\n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n\n \n\nTwilight Talks 2024 | Season 3 & 4 | 9 – 23 October & 6 – 27 November\n\nAs events are confirmed they will be listed HERE. \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nHow James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nIn the Margins Gail Holmes. We are the spaces between… \n\n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nBurn it all Down TG Reid. If you play with… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-uncovering-the-past-4/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/square-promo-john-smyth.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241130T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241201T140000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20240827T045027Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T012154Z UID:58515-1732960800-1733061600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Summer Book Sale | Stockpile for the holidays DESCRIPTION:November 30\n@\n10:00 am\n–\nDecember 1\n@\n2:00 pm \nFree \nLending Library \nBooks priced from $1 – more for collectable items.\n \nImage\, artist impression only | Photo by | helloiamtugce \nDon’t miss our book sale this weekend. \nAdmission and parking are free (one hour on Saturday\, all day Sunday). There are hundreds of books – some of which are in gently used condition and some in mint condition – and many start at a dollar or two. And it’s not just books – there are CDs\, DVDs\, framed prints from our image collection and more! \nWe will have some children’s books for your kids and grand kids. Plus\, all proceeds are help to support our Library programs. \n\nmembership\n\n\nLibrary\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. \nBMI news\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations September 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nHeadland Ged Gillmore. A thrilling mystery debut – not to… \n\n \n\nNewsletter – September 2024\n\nIn this issue: Message from the Chair | Royal South… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Ghost of Briar Rose Anna Romer. A heart-wrenching enemies… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/summer-book-sale-2024/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Fundraiser,Library,Members ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/book-sale-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241211T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20241211T211500 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241111T035654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T192738Z UID:59851-1733943600-1733951700@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: 'Don't Look Back' 1967 DESCRIPTION:Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker \nDecember 11\n@\n7:00 pm\n–\n11:00 pm \nBar open at 6pm \n$15 – $35 \nMinerva Theatre \n\nGet tickets\n \nDon’t Look Back\nDirector: D.A. Pennebaker\, 1967 (1hr 36m)\nBob Dylan\nTo celebrate the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Medieval to Metal exhibition\, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is screening three iconic rock films in our historic Minerva Theatre. \nClear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre. \nD.A. Pennebaker documents Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England\, which opens with Dylan flipping cards with the lyrics to Subterranean Homesick Blues\, considered one of the first ‘music videos’. \nPennebaker’s camera follows him from airport to hall\, from hotel room to public house\, from conversation to concert. Joan Baez and Donovan\, among others\, are on hand. It’s the period when Dylan is shifting from acoustic to electric\, a transition that not all fans\, including Baez\, applaud. \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n\nGet tickets\n \nArt Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition\nMedieval to Metal\nFor those who rock\, we salute you! Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar tours to Ballarat\, Victoria this October. Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat\, the exhibition features 40 iconic guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA) alongside an awe-inspiring assemblage of photographs\, paintings\, drawings\, illustrative designs\, and objects. \n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \nMore films\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nNov\n14 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | EO \n\n\n\n \nDec\n11 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nDec\n12 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | Smiley \n\n\n\n \nJan\n15 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nJan\n22 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nUrban Agriculture Month | Annually in November 2024\n\nURBAN AGRICULTURE MONTH\, The month of November | BMI events… \n\n \n\nNewsletter – November 2024\n\nIn this issue: Message from the Chair | Author Talks… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nSwift River Essie Chambers. An incredible blend of intimate and… \n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations November 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/dont-look-back-1967/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Art Gallery of Ballarat,BMI Produced Event,Film,Important Dates ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/humanitix-dob-e1731297748218.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250115T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250115T204500 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241113T003024Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T192558Z UID:59922-1736967600-1736973900@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: 'This is Spinal Tap' 1984 DESCRIPTION:Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker \nJanuary 15\n@\n7:00 pm\n–\n11:00 pm \nBar open at 6pm \n$15 – $35 \nMinerva Theatre \n\nGet tickets\n \nThis is Spinal Tap\nDirector: Rob Reiner\, 1984 (1hr 22m)\nSpinal Tap\nTo celebrate the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Medieval to Metal exhibition\, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is screening three iconic rock films in our historic Minerva Theatre. \nClear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre. \nCult mockumentary This is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner\, 1984)\, which parodies its direct cinema predecessors in a film Dave Grohl dubbed “the only rock movie worth watching.” \nIn 1982\, the legendary English heavy metal band Spinal Tap attempt an American comeback tour accompanied by a fan who is also a film-maker. The resulting documentary\, interspersed with powerful performances of Tap’s pivotal music and profound lyrics\, candidly follows a rock group heading towards crisis\, culminating in the infamous affair of the eighteen-inch-high Stonehenge stage prop. \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n\nGet tickets\n \nArt Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition\nMedieval to Metal\nFor those who rock\, we salute you! Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar tours to Ballarat\, Victoria this October. Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat\, the exhibition features 40 iconic guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA) alongside an awe-inspiring assemblage of photographs\, paintings\, drawings\, illustrative designs\, and objects. \n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \nMore films\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nNov\n14 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | EO \n\n\n\n \nDec\n11 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nDec\n12 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | Smiley \n\n\n\n \nJan\n15 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nJan\n22 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nUrban Agriculture Month | Annually in November 2024\n\nURBAN AGRICULTURE MONTH\, The month of November | BMI events… \n\n \n\nNewsletter – November 2024\n\nIn this issue: Message from the Chair | Author Talks… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nSwift River Essie Chambers. An incredible blend of intimate and… \n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations November 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/this-is-spinal-tap-1984/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Art Gallery of Ballarat,BMI Produced Event,Film,Important Dates ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/spinal-tap-square.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250122T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250122T204000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241113T005429Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T192735Z UID:59934-1737572400-1737578400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Gimme Shelter' 1970 | THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO TECH ISSUES DESCRIPTION:Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker \nJanuary 22\n@\n7:00 pm\n–\n11:00 pm \nBar open at 6pm \n$15 – $35 \nMinerva Theatre \n\nGet tickets\n \nGimme Shelter\nDirector: Albert Maysles\, David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin (1hr 31m)\nThe Rolling Stones\nTo celebrate the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Medieval to Metal exhibition\, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is screening three iconic rock films in our historic Minerva Theatre. \nClear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre. \nIn Gimme Shelter (1970)\, the Maysles brothers are ‘flies on the wall’ to the Rolling Stones’ 1969 American tour\, which culminates in murder at the Altamont Free Concert\, an event which marked the spiritual end of the 1960’s. \nOther bands performing included Jefferson Airplane\, The Flying Burrito Brothers\, Ike and Tina Turner\, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and Santana. \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee. \n\nGet tickets\n \nArt Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition\nMedieval to Metal\nFor those who rock\, we salute you! Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar tours to Ballarat\, Victoria this October. Exclusive to the Art Gallery of Ballarat\, the exhibition features 40 iconic guitars on loan from the National Guitar Museum (USA) alongside an awe-inspiring assemblage of photographs\, paintings\, drawings\, illustrative designs\, and objects. \n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n \nMore films\nLoading view. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nNov\n14 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | EO \n\n\n\n \nDec\n11 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nDec\n12 \nFeatured \n7:30 pm\n– \n9:00 pm \n\nBallarat Film Society | Smiley \n\n\n\n \nJan\n15 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\n \nJan\n22 \nFeatured \n7:00 pm\n– \n11:00 pm \n\nMedieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970 \n$15 – $35 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events\n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nUrban Agriculture Month | Annually in November 2024\n\nURBAN AGRICULTURE MONTH\, The month of November | BMI events… \n\n \n\nNewsletter – November 2024\n\nIn this issue: Message from the Chair | Author Talks… \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nSwift River Essie Chambers. An incredible blend of intimate and… \n\n \n\nOur Library | New Releases & Recommendations November 2024\n\nGo to the Library webpage to view all New Releases…. \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/gimme-shelter-1970/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Art Gallery of Ballarat,BMI Produced Event,Film,Important Dates ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/mich-jagger-square.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250226T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250108T015354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113129Z UID:60976-1740591000-1740594600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson DESCRIPTION:February 26\n @\n5:30 pm\n –\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n\n$9 – $13 \nHumffray Room \n \n Get tickets\n \nDancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste\n1994-2002\nSpeaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author\nGabrielle Samson \nGabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). \nGabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. \nHer memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. \n\n Gabrielle Samson\n\n Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\nDancers on the Sea \nThis story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. \nIt doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. \nDancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. \n“A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer \n \nReviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea \nChristine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ \nChristopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. \nLansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ \nJenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. \nIt was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ \nKlaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ \nSarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ \nFelix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. \n(Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ \nMane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ \nSieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ \nBibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ \nChristine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. \nThe book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ \nSally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read. \n Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n \n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. \n \n Get tickets\n \n \nMore Talks\n 10 events found. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n Today\n \n Upcoming\n Upcoming \n \n \n Select date. \n \n\n\n \n \n \n Feb\n 26 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Mar\n 5 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 6:00 pm\n – \n 7:00 pm \n\n \n A BMI Fundraising Public Talk | The world in 2025 and beyond with Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC \n\n $35 – $110\n\n\n \n \n \n Mar\n 12 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Mar\n 19 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Mar\n 26 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Apr\n 2 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Apr\n 9 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Apr\n 16 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Chaplain’s Perspective \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Apr\n 23 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n \n \n \n Apr\n 30 \n \n Featured \n\n Featured \n 5:30 pm\n – \n 6:30 pm \n\n \n Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2\, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers \n\n $9 – $13\n\n\n\n\n \n Previous Events\n \n\n\n \n Today \n\n\n \n Next Events \n \n\n\n\n \n Subscribe to calendar \n\n\n \n Google Calendar \n\n\n \n iCalendar \n\n\n \n Outlook 365 \n\n\n \n Outlook Live \n\n\n \n Export .ics file \n\n\n \n Export Outlook .ics file \n\n\nBMI News\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Mystery of Haverford House Rachel Burton. A Mystery that… \n\n\n \n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nDead Man’s Shoes Marion Todd. A Master of the Tartan… \n\n\n \n \n\nBMI Live Events\n\nBMI LIVE | This is a new BMI program of… \n\n\n \n \n\nBAROC* Poems: A Personal Cancer Journey by Mike Stephens\n\nThis book of Poems & Illustrations is available for purchase… \n\n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-atauro-timor-leste/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-dancers-on-the-sea.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241107T052354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113149Z UID:59773-1741800600-1741804200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Ballarat's Growth: Infrastructure Pressures DESCRIPTION:March 12\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nBallarat’s Growth – Infrastructure Pressures\nPanel Discussion: Chair\, Paula Nicholson\, BMI President\nPaula Nicholson | Chair\, Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\nPanel Members\nTerry Natt\, Strategic Planning Manager\, City of Ballarat \nTerry has been an urban planner in Ballarat\, Sydney\, Melbourne and London where he has worked on a large number of projects including strategic land use planning\, infrastructure planning\, developer contributions  and development assessment with an urban design and conservation area focus. \nTerry Natt | Strategic Planning Manager\, City of Ballarat\nSteven Healy\, Head of Sustainable Infrastructure\, Central Highlands Water \nSteven has a deep understanding of the water sector drawn from more than 25 years of leading asset\, operations\, and project delivery teams in the industry. \nFrom project management\, water supply and quality to climate adaptation\, Steven has provided water\, recycled water and wastewater network services leadership in 5 different Water Corporations in Victoria\, across Melbourne and regional areas. \nSteven has fulfilled a number of operational and planning roles\, including managing Headworks\, Water Treatment\, Planning\, Developer Services\, Infrastructure Delivery\, Rural Channels and Water Resources. \nSteven Healy | Head of Sustainable Infrastructure\, Central Highlands Water\nGayle Boschert\, Chair of the Board of Ballarat Cemeteries Board \nGayle is a distinguished leader in the Ballarat community\, known for her extensive contributions across various sectors. She has notably served as the Chair of the Trust Board for Ballarat Cemeteries\, where she has been instrumental in overseeing significant projects\, including the restoration of historic rotundas.\nBeyond her work with Ballarat Cemeteries\, Gayle has demonstrated a strong commitment to community services through her involvement with Child and Family Services (Cafs) Ballarat. During her nine-year tenure on the Board of Governance\, eight of which she served as Chair\, she led the organization through substantial strategic and governance transformations. \nGayle’s dedication to the arts is evident through her position on the board of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. Her extensive experience with for-purpose boards has equipped her with strategic insight\, fostering the growth and health of local community organisations over the past two decades. \nThrough her various leadership roles\, Gayle Boschert has made significant contributions to the Ballarat community\, particularly in the sectors of community services\, arts\, and healthcare. \nGayle Boschert | Chair of the Ballarat Cemeteries Board\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Talks\n8 events found. \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\nToday\n \nUpcoming\nUpcoming\n \n\nSelect date. \n \n\n\n\n \nMar\n12 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures \n$9.73 – $13.83 \n\n\n\n \nMar\n19 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nMar\n26 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nApr\n2 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nApr\n9 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nApr\n16 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Medals and Memorabilia \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nApr\n23 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\n \nApr\n30 \n  \nFeatured \n5:30 pm\n– \n6:30 pm \n\nTwilight Talks 2025\, Season 2\, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers \n$9 – $13 \n\n\n\nPrevious Events\n\nToday \n\nNext Events \n\n\n\nSubscribe to calendar \n\n\nGoogle Calendar \n\niCalendar \n\nOutlook 365 \n\nOutlook Live \n\nExport .ics file \n\nExport Outlook .ics file \n\nBMI News\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nPeter Stevens: Much More Than Cars Dr Phil Roberts OAM…. \n\n \n\nRosemary’s Book of the Week\n\nThe Florentine Quilt Chrissie Bellbrae. The Florentine Quilt is a… \n\n \n\nNewsletter – March 2025\n\nA Message from the Chair… \n\n \n\nA Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | March 2025\n\nHello everyone. Autumn is here\, and as the leaves start… \n\n\nLoad More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-ballarats-growth/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/square-promo-individuals-infrastructure.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250319T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T033900Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113146Z UID:60810-1742405400-1742409000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Change in Ballarat's Car Industry DESCRIPTION:March 19\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nChanges in Ballarat’s Car Industry\nPanel Discussion: Chair\, Phil Roberts OAM\, Patron & Twilight Talks Coordinator.\nDr Phil Roberts OAM \nPhil Roberts is the co-ordinator of the BMI Twilight Talks and BMI Patron. He is a former secondary school history teacher and school principal and author of 23 books with a concentration on Ballarat. \nDr Phil Roberts OAM\nPanel Members\nPeter Stevens \nPeter has had a lifetime of involvement in Ballarat’s car industry. He was Ballarat’s Motor Apprentice of the Year four times in the 1950s and established his own business in 1977. He forged a very successful career in the motor trade and volunteered for many community causes. This February a book about his story\, Peter Stevens: Much More than Cars\, was published. \n\nJohn Emery \nJohn came to Ballarat in 1977 and started a business at 204 Creswick Road mostly selling new European cars. \nFor the new 27 years John and his wife Helen ran a successful business. John was a renowned Motor Sports commentator including at the Adelaide and Tasmanian Grand Prix Rallies. \nJohn Emery\nGarry Harrowfield \nGarry joined the new vehicle industry in August of 1974 trading as Gardon Motors Ballarat on the north east corner of Mair and Doveton Streets. In October 1978 we moved to a new purpose built facility at 1041 Howitt St Wendouree. \nOver the 33 years in business we held\, at various times\, the franchises for Renault\, Peugeot…original franchises…. SAAB\, Volvo Daihatsu\, Subaru\, Jaguar\, Land Rover and Rover vehicles. \nThe business was sold in August 2007 to Mr Chris Alizzi of Ballarat Holden. \nGarry Harrowfield\nBarry Bedggood \nBarry started in the Ballarat motor industry in 1969 as a Motor Cycle Dealer. Then\, from August 1988\, he conducted a Used Vehicle Centre on the corner of Howitt and Dowling Streets until he became a New Car Dealer for Kia in 2009. \nHis business moved to a larger site in Learmonth Road in 2015. By 2025 he retails Kia\, Peugeot\, Chery\, Ssangyong\, LDV and Franklin Caravans. \nBarry Bedggood\nMuch More Than Cars | Phil Roberts\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarats-car-industry/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ballarats-car-industry.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250326T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T034349Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113143Z UID:60812-1743010200-1743013800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Changes to the Canadian Corridor DESCRIPTION:March 26\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nThe Changing Face of the Canadian Corridor\nThis talk will outline the impact of the goldrush and forestry on the corridor’s native vegetation and waterways. Featuring the long gone Bunny Railway\, mining water races\, mining infrastructure\, forestry and rifle ranges. And focussing on the changing face of the landscape and community values as a result of human activity up to and including the establishment of Woowookarung Regional Park. \nSpeaker: Jeff Rootes\nJeff Rootes \nJeff is one of the original convenors of the Friends of Canadian Corridor formed when the large Canadian Forest Blue Gum plantation was removed and the land handed back to the State Government for sale. This led to the establishment of the Woowookarung Regional Park in 2016 and its ongoing development. \n\n \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/canadian-corridor/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-canadian.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250402T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250402T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T035224Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113140Z UID:60820-1743615000-1743618600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy DESCRIPTION:April 2\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nDr Hardy and the Men of St Paul’s Anglican Church WWI Participants\nSpeaker: Neil Leckie – Co-Cordinator Twilight Talks\nNeil Leckie is a BMI Member with many years of military service and an interest in The Great War in particular. \nNeil Leckie\nDr Hardy\nDr Charles Henry ‘William’ Hardy was a well-known and well-respected member of the Ballarat Community. He was a member of many Ballarat organisations\, including the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute\, where he was President twice. \nApart from those involvements he was a family man and a member of the militia. After war broke out\, in 1915 Dr Hardy enlisted into the AIF and took the 6th Field Ambulance\, a part of the 2nd Australian Division\, to Egypt and Gallipoli. \nAnne Doggett\, in her recently published book on the Honour Board of St Paul’s Church on Bakery Hill Lives on Honour\, Ballarat East and the Great War gives details on nine of St Paul’s Church men who also served with the 6th Field Ambulance. Dr Hardy and the men of St Paul’s Church chronicles the life of Dr Hardy and those nine men. \nTwo of Dr Hardy’s family will attend the talk. \nDr Charles Henry ‘William’ Hardy\nLives of Honour: Ballarat East and the Great War | Anne Doggett\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/dr-hardy/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/dr-hard-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T040512Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113137Z UID:60826-1744219800-1744223400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving - Doctor's Perspective DESCRIPTION:April 9\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nWar Grieving from a Doctor’s Perspective\nGrief is a natural response to loss. War Grief is complex.  Ballarat’ s participation in WW1 was substantial: about 4000 men from Ballarat enlisted in World War One and approximately 800 died.  How was this preserved from a medical perspective- then and now? There are many facets for discussion. Actual recorded personal notes of 1914-1918 are not easy to find as it was not discussed and written down openly\, it is only now our examination and interpretation of diaries and letters that show the extent of personal grief.  Doctors did not write too many notes in those days and certainly not for History. Certainly Ballarat today is full of public war grief in it’s memorials and statues. \nSpeaker: Dr Jean Douglas\nJean Douglas MBBS. FRACGP. Diploma Obstetrics (Auckland). Master of Medicine (Melbourne). \nJean has been a general practitioner working with her husband Dr Havea Tamanika in Bendigo for over forty years\, retiring in 2015. After a stay in Melbourne\, they moved to Ballarat three years ago to be close to family.\nDuring her years in Bendigo\, she was involved with various community agencies such as Breastscreen\, CASA and Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Service\, Bendigo Hospital Aged Care and St John of God Medical Advisory Board. \nAfter retirement she has renewed her interest in History and Family research. She is a member of the Heritage and Archives Committee of Australian Medical Association Victoria. \nShe has researched the seventy-nine Victorian Doctors dying in World War 1 and World War 2 culminating in a Memorial Service in November at the AMA Headquarters in Parkville Melbourne in 2023. \n\n \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/war-grieving-doctors-perspective/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-war-grieving-doctors.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T044531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113132Z UID:60832-1744824600-1744828200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Medals and Memorabilia DESCRIPTION:April 16\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nMedals and Memorabilia\nDavid will talk about Australian medals from the Sudan in 1885\, The Boer War 1899-1905\, WW1\, WW2 and the other conflicts where Australians were awarded medals. He will also talk about the correct wearing and care of medals\, about the various badges such as the Widow’s Badge and the Mother’s Badge. David will answer questions on any aspect of medals and military memorabilia. \nSpeaker: David Wright\nManchester born David Wright emigrated to Adelaide in 1964\, aged 5\, and became interested in collecting medals and memorabilia. He served in the Ordnance Corps in the Regular Army from 1976 to 1986. This led to a Storeman’s position during the building of the Adelaide Casino. \nDavid moved to Ballarat in 1997 and worked in the area he loved of Medals and Memorabilia with I. S. Wright. In 2007 David opened his own shop. David Wright Militaria and Collectables\, fittingly now located in Shepherd Street behind the old Ranger Barracks (now Dan Murphy’s). \nDavid Wright\n\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/medals-and-memorabilia/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-medals-memoribilia.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250423T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250423T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20241219T044445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113134Z UID:60830-1745429400-1745433000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits DESCRIPTION:April 23\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nFeeling the Battlefield Spirits\nSpeakers: Rene Degryse\, Garry Snowden & Marion Snowden\nFeeling the Battlefield Spirits \nSometimes in life\, a seemingly inconsequential event can\, without us realising it\, nudge our life along a new and exciting pathway. \nThis talk will look at how such a fortuitous meeting\, in Turkey\, between a Ballarat man and a Belgian union official\, triggered by a piece of music by Scottish\, now Australian singer–song writer\, Eric Bogle\, would positively touch the lives of many Ballarat people and many more people across Australia. \nGarry Snowden \nPresident of Ballarat’s Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee. \nGarry has visited Gallipoli 19 times. On one of those visits he fortuitously met Rene\, and the resulting friendship has taken his Western Front (France and Flanders) tour tally to nine\, with many of those tours involving people from Ballarat. \nGarry’s WWI interest is not so much focused on the strategies and technicalities of major battles but on the stories and experiences of the soldiers and nurses involved. \nMarion Snowden \nThroughout her life Marion has been aware of her family connections to the First World War. With that foundation\, combined with Garry’s passion\, it was inevitable that at least one pilgrimage would be on the cards. She never expected to have felt the spirits in England\, Turkey\, Belgium\, France\, Malta and Greece in the company of a Belgian chap named Rene\, with his depth of knowledge\, combined with pathos and a unique sense of humour. \nRene Degryse \nRene grew up in Belgium\, often playing in remnant trenches and tunnels of WWI battlefields. In later life he established his own business as a battlefield guide\, Feel the Spirits Tours\, specialising in guiding Australians. After his chance meeting with Garry\, at Gallipoli in 2009\, he has formed a strong connection to Ballarat\, and he was here for the opening of our Garden of the Grieving Mother in the Arch precinct. He has twice been engaged by the Order of Australia Association to guide their Western Front tours. \nThe he three presenters looking through a cemetery gate at Gallipoli ….. Marion\, Rene Degryse and Garry.\nPurple Shirts on the Western Front\nPurple Shirts on the Western Front\nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n \nThis event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n\n \n \nMore Twilight Talks URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/stories-of-the-somme/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-spirits.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250108T020658Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113126Z UID:60981-1746034200-1746037800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2\, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers DESCRIPTION:April 30\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nThe Life of Walter Withers\nUntil now there has been no family history of Walter Withers (1854-1914)\, a notable but underestimated Australian landscape artist of the Heidelberg school. For nearly 200 years his Birmingham ancestors had worked as tailors\, sometimes also butchers. During the Georgian period and then into Victorian England\, Birmingham changed and the Withers family with it. Tobacco and twine took over from butchery and tailoring which made it possible for Walter’s father\, Edwin Withers to become a wealthy businessman and gentleman. \nHow Edwin Withers acquired his wealth\, why he changed his family’s business\, and what caused his dislike of his son’s choice of career are questions asked in this book. How Walter acquired his aptitude for painting\, why he chose to become an artist and what made him decide upon Australia for his career are answered in this volume. \nThe importance of Walter Withers lies in the fact that he was the first to paint Australia in Australia’s own colours. He explored Victoria from the Bellarine to Creswick and from Ballarat to Cowes. \nHis influence upon the next generation is found in the work of the Lindsay brothers; and it was he who welcomed the first women\, Jane Seymour whom he taught and then Clara Southern\, into the Buonarotti club and the Victorian Artists Society. \nThe value of my approach and methodology opens the way to further research which might similarly explore the motivations of other artists within the social contexts of their lives and origins. \nNo Place Quite Like It (October 2023) includes a Foreword by Andrew Mackenzie OAM (art historian) and Eileen Mackley AM (President\, Victorian Artists Society). Extensive images\, maps\, charts and family trees\, provide a visual porthole through which an insight is made into the lives and times of Walter Withers and his wife Fanny Flinn. \n \nWalter Herbert Withers\, 22 October 1854\, Handsworth\, Staffordshire UK\nTranquil Winter\, 1895 by Walter Withers | oil on canvas\, 76.0 × 122.7 cm. | National Gallery of Victoria.\nSpeaker: David Rathgen\, Author\nDavid Rathgen is a retired Anglican clergyman now living at Phillip Island\, Victoria\, Australia with his wife and two adult children. \nBorn in New Zealand he has served the Anglican church in New Zealand\, Africa\, Australia\, England and Europe. He has a Master of Social Science degree from the Australian Catholic University. His interest in genealogy arose from a 40-year search for his grandfather which eventually found him in a list of ship’s cargo dumped on the wharf at Lyttelton along with other members of the crew. The last sight of his grandfather was on a police ‘Wanted’ list at Reefton\, New Zealand. \nOver the past 20 years David has supplied numerous family histories and family trees for many people asking “How far back does my family go?” “Who was my grandfather?” He is a past president and current volunteer at the Phillip Island and District Genealogical Society \nDavid Rathgen\, 2023\, family collection\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n\nMore Twilight Talks\n \nThis event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-life-of-walter-withers/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-david-rathgen-final.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250629T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250629T163000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250523T002017Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T234616Z UID:65094-1751205600-1751214600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Australian Barbra Streisand Show | Featuring Rachael Grace DESCRIPTION:June 29\n @\n2:00 pm\n –\n4:30 pm \n\n$52.25 \n \n Get Tickets\n \nAn Occasion in Ballarat\nFeaturing Rachael Grace \nThe Australian\nBarbra Streisand Show\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nExperience the magic of Barbra Streisand’s legendary career with Rachael Grace\, as she brings to life the timeless hits that have defined generations. \nThis stunning production\, featuring musical direction by Green Room Award-winning John Thorn\, takes audiences on a musical journey through Streisand’s iconic songs – from emotional ballads to disco classics. Rachael’s powerful voice\, unique interpretation and world class band make this show more than just a tribute – it’s a heartfelt love letter to one of the greatest voices in music history. \nHailed ‘as divine as Streisand herself’ by Glam Adelaide\, this unforgettable performance blends musical genres with an exceptional ensemble to create a truly spellbinding experience. \n \nGet tickets $52.25 Includes bkg fee & gst. \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/australian-barbra-streisand-show/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Ballarat Pride,BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/babs-sq-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250816T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250816T220000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250605T021537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250801T031934Z UID:65518-1755372600-1755381600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Craig McLachlan Live & Intimate - Six String Stories DESCRIPTION:August 16\n@\n7:30 pm\n–\n10:00 pm \n$69.90 \n\nGet Tickets\n \nLive & intimate.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nGet ready Australia for a Night To Remember as Australian heartthob Craig McLachlan brings his unique & exciting Live & Intimate stage show to theatre’s and venues across Australia. \nCraig McLachlan – actor\, singer\, musician & songwriter from TV’s Ramsay Street to 1950’s Ballarat & across stages of the world\, Craig as Henry\, Doctor Blake\, Frank n Furter \, Doctor Zuko\, Ed\, Grant or simply as himself has entertained millions of people for over three decades. \n \nHis Successes include – The Doctor Blake Mysteries\, The Rocky Horror Show\, CSI Los Angles\, Packed To The Rafters\, McLeod’s Daughters\, Grease\, Bugs\, Catherine The Great\, Superfire\, Hating Alison Ashley\, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang\, City Homicide\, The Cut\, Special Ops\, Redfern Now\, Deep Water\, Restoration\, Home and Away\, Neighbour’s – the list goes on and continuous to grow. \nCraig is a Gold Logie\, Aria Winner\, Three Time Silver Logie and Helpmann Award Winner and has several Australian & UK Hit Singles to his name along with some very shiny Gold & Platinum Records he has yodeled with the Bee Gees while waiting to sing for The Queen ! Yes That Queen. ! \nSo join Craig & his snare smackin’ mate Dave\, as he takes you on a strange musical journey! Playing\, singin’\, riffin’ & chatting his way. \n \nGet tickets : $69.90 incl. gst\, booking fee.\nTickets can also be purchased at the Library. \n\nTickets\n\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/craig-mc-lachlan/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Live Music,Talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CRAIG-MCLACHLAN-SixStringStories_CM_Hero_draft2-Liam-Mudge.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250903T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250903T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250728T035749Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T031406Z UID:66371-1756920600-1756924200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 3\, Spring Season | Ballarat's Henry Lawson\, Unknown facts presented by Hedley Thomson DESCRIPTION:September 3\n @\n5:30 pm\n –\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n\n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n \n Get tickets\n \nBallarat’s Henry Lawson\, Unknown facts presented by Hedley Thomson \nThe young Henry visited Ballarat\, specifically to ‘bone up’ on the happenings at Eureka on Sunday 3rd December 1854; he proceeded to write numerous poems and prose pieces about the ‘battle’ and – more so – the effects of its outcome on the developing Australian national identity; that many of his pieces mention Ballarat in the same context. \nAs with so many of our iconic personalities across our history\, there’s much that is not well-known about their lives and achievements. Henry Lawson is a case in point\, with the special appeal that in 1889\, as a twenty two-year old\, he actually came to Ballarat and that the visit materially affected his subsequent writings over the course of his nearly forty-year career. \nTo help make up for that deficiency\, as the first of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute’s Spring 2025 ‘Twilight Talks’\, Hedley Thomson – local actor and a big Lawson fan – will be presenting a talk on Lawson’s time in Ballarat\, which will include performances of several of the more notable pieces (both poetry and prose) that Lawson was inspired to write following his Ballarat visit. \n \nSpeaker: Hedley Thomson \n\n Hedley Thomson | Former Environmental Manager\, City of Ballarat\nHedley Thomson \n‘I’ve spent 35 of my 70 years in Ballarat\, having been raised in suburban Melbourne and holidayed and worked on the Mornington Peninsula\, where I also met my wife\, Christine\, and started raising our family of three excellent daughters. My work has been in the fields of land use\, environmental\, strategic and corporate planning\, principally in local government\, but also with stints in State\, regional\, private and community organisations. Throughout my life I’ve had an interest in regional Australia\, in theatre – especially performing – and\, developing from not much to a near obsession (in all the right ways)\, in Henry Lawson. \nComing to Ballarat\, which I/the family did in 1988\, has enabled me to indulge all three interests; e.g.: the Rosebud Memorial Hall was OK for the occasional play but I never counted on a venue as wonderful as Her Majesty’s Theatre\, being part of Fred Fargher-directed musicals\, and being on stage with my children in ballet performances at Royal South Street Society competitions (I like to demuse people by boasting that I have a ‘first’ in ballet from those comps – as ‘the male’ in a winning troupe). \nAs far as Henry Lawson is concerned\, like many of us growing up\, I knew of his well-known pieces such as The Loaded Dog and The Drover’s Wife but little else. I’d scanned through a few selections of his works but – like many people\, I think – I found them a bit too serious; ‘Banjo’ Patterson was certainly the more popular writer. Then\, in the 1980s\, I happened to buy what became the very popular two-volume complete works of Lawson\, compiled by Leonard Cronin (I also bought a similar two-volume job of A.B. ‘Banjo’ Patterson’s works that came out around the same time); once I started reading\, I was hooked. I discovered he wrote about everything\, in almost every possible style\, with humour\, with pathos\, with serious analysis of the topic chosen\, with prophetic intent. This clearly was/is no ‘bush poet’. I found – like all great writers – that his truths\, his observations\, his descriptions of human foibles and failings\, the brilliance of his verbal descriptions of the settings of his pieces stand the test of time; that is why I am so infatuated with his work. And that it is of Australia; palpably of this country\, including when he writes of our indigenous peoples (with whom he frequently had amicable dealings\, despite the views of some commentators). \nTo find that Lawson visited Ballarat in 1887\, following which he wrote a number of pieces about that seminal event in modern Australian history – the Eureka rising\, has enabled me to make a connection between my passion for his writings\, my place of residence and my long-time involvement with theatre/performance. During 2022 – the 100th anniversary year of Lawson’s death – a trio of us performed various of Lawson’s works to community group audiences. Now the BMI has provided me with the opportunity to focus on Ballarat’s Henry Lawson and to highlight the effect that the young Henry’s visit had on his writings.’ \nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\n \n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n \n Get tickets\n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks\n \n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-henry-lawson/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-2025.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250917T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250917T183000 DTSTAMP:20260406T044040 CREATED:20250728T041859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250826T032241Z UID:66377-1758130200-1758133800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 3\, Spring Season | Into the Dragon's Den\, The Chinese community in Bendigo DESCRIPTION:September 17\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n\n \nSaving Dragons: The Life and Times of Russell Goldfield (Louey Yeung Man) Jack by Dianne Dempsey \nRussell Jack\, the visionary founder of the internationally renowned Golden Dragon Museum\, spent his life breaking barriers and preserving the history of the Chinese Australian community. Growing up in the shadow of the White Australia Policy\, he turned adversity into strength\, using the vibrant traditions of Chinese dragon processions as a bridge between cultures. Through the power of storytelling and historical insight\, Dempsey paints a vivid portrait of a man who replaced fear with knowledge and ignorance with beauty. \nThis compelling biography explores Jack’s humble beginnings\, family legacy\, athletic achievements\, community leadership\, and the extraordinary creation of the Golden Dragon Museum—a cultural institution that transformed Bendigo’s understanding of its Chinese heritage. \nTold with verve\, compassion\, and illuminating vignettes\, Saving Dragons offers a unique slice of Australian social history and a testament to the resilience of a Chinese community that has shaped the nation’s identity. \nSaving Dragons  book review | 13 May 2025 \nView Article: Saving Dragons Book Review by Steven Carroll in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald \nPublication: The Sydney Morning Herald \nDate Published: 30/04/2025 \n \nSpeaker: Di Dempsey \nDianne Dempsey \n“I am a freelance journalist\, specialising in literary and regional journalism\, writing for metropolitan as well as regional newspapers and magazines. I have also been a newsroom reporter. As a scriptwriter\, I have written for Neighbours (Reg Grundy) and Altogether Now (Clive Packer). I made Gorilla Girls (Film Victoria)\, and Shredded (the Victorian Women’s Trust).  \nI almost forgot to mention my books\, Girls in Our Town\, When He Came Home\, and most recently\, Saving Dragons: The Life and Times of Russell Goldfield Jack. I live in Bendigo\, in the shadow of the Cathedral. It’s a beautiful town. It’s where my family comes from and I love it here. \nI hope you enjoy this story of our city’s revered Chinese elder\, Russell Louey Jack.” \nDianne Dempsey\nCommunity Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services\, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities. \nThis event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong\n\n \nTickets and Bookings \nTickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance\, includes gst & bkg fee. \n\nGet tickets\n\n\n\nMore Twilight Talks\n\n \nThis event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-saving-dragons/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-20252.webp END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR