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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250312T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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:20260522T194241
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
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250924T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250924T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
CREATED:20250728T042702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250828T045221Z
UID:66380-1758735000-1758738600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 3\, Spring Season | Gold! Gold! Bendigo - Ballarat
DESCRIPTION:September 24\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					 \nGold! Gold! A comparison between the Ballarat & Bendigo Goldfields. \nAn overview of the production of gold and its implications from the goldrush era of the 1850s up until today in both the Ballarat and Bendigo regions. Historian Dr Phil Roberts will provide a summary about gold in Ballarat followed by fellow historian Dr Charles Fahey who will discuss gold in Bendigo during the same years. \nSpeakers \nDr Phil Roberts OAM \nPhil Roberts \nPhil is a former secondary humanities teacher and school principal. Also\, he taught in schools in England in 1971 and in Denver\, USA in 1984. He has written twenty-four local history books – seven involve schools\, six are about sport\, five concern local Ballarat industry and six involve community history. \nIn 2017 Phil received an Order of Australia Award for community service and in 2019 graduated from Federation University with a PhD based on Ballarat’s Avenue and Arch. A keen Geelong supporter\, he enjoys sporting pursuits including Royal Tennis\, golf and cycling. His family includes his wife Geraldine\, son Andre\, daughter Tonya\, six grandsons and one granddaughter. \n\n										Dr Phil Roberts OAM | BMI Patron & Co-host of Twilight Talks\nDr Charles Fahey \nCharles Fahey formerly taught in the History Program at La Trobe University. His research has focused on the Victorian goldfields\, labour history and agricultural history. His recent publications include the joint authorship of Mallee Country: Land\, People History (Monash 2020) and Living together on Upside Down Country: Faith\, spirituality\, and social cohesion on Victorias goldfields since 1851 to be published by ANU Press.  \nIn the June 2025 edition of the Victorian Historical Journal he published an article on the family farm and he is a contributor to a forthcoming special edition of the Asia Pacific Economic History Review on the history of manufacturing in Australia. \n\n										Dr Charles Fahey\nAdditional publication by Dr Fahey \nGold Tailings: Forgotten Histories of Fmaily and Community in the Central Victorian Goldfields – edited by Alan Mayne & Charles Fahey \nThe rich landscapes of the Victorian central goldfields are the legacy of thousands of ordinary men and women who settled in the wake of the alluvial gold discoveries of the early 1850s. Gold Tailings  explores how these men and women established families and created enduring communities that survived long after the alluvial gold was exhausted. \nGold tailings explores the private and often forgotten lives of the gold settlers who built these communities. It moves beyond the sterotype of rootless single male diggers and analyses how enduring communities were formed when male gold diggers – who often travelled with mates and kin – were joined by women\, and together they formed families and networks of common interest and mutual support. \n\n										Gold Tailings: Forgotten Histories of Family and Community on the Central Victorian Goldfields | Edited by Alan Mayne & Charles Fahey\n\n										Cottage c1860 | MH 138 – The BMI Max Harris Collection\nProudly supported by\nCommunity 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								\n									Get tickets\n					\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-gold-gold/
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-20253.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251029T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251029T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
CREATED:20250728T043616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T043434Z
UID:66385-1761759000-1761762600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 4\, Remembrance Day | A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Ballarat Connections to HMAS Sydney 2 in 1941
DESCRIPTION:October 29\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n \nGet tickets\n \nA Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook – Ballarat Connections to HMAS Sydney 2 in 1941 \nHMAS Sydney 2 Crew\, 1934\nIt is nearly 84 years this November that the mighty pride of the Royal Australian Navy was lost together with 645 crew in the Indian Ocean. Two Ballarat born men were on the crew that were lost. This talk will discuss the lives of these men and their contribution to WWII. This is said to be the greatest naval catastrophe in Australia’s military history. \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. During 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\nUnfortunately Dr Tamanika\, sadly passed away very recently.\n\n\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  \nThis event is part of the Ballarat Seniors Festival \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-surgeon-commander-leading-cook/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks,Victorian Seniors Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/hmas-sydney-2.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251105T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251105T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
CREATED:20250728T053444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T033437Z
UID:66400-1762363800-1762367400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 4\, Remembrance Day | Recent War Memorabilia - from WW2 to Afghanistan\, Presented by David Wright.
DESCRIPTION:November 5\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					 \nRecent War Memorabilia – from WW2 to Afghanistan. \n																												 \nLeft to right – Australian Service Medal – Afghanistan Medal – International Force East Timor Medal – Australian Service Medal for Korea – Iraq Medal – Vietnam Medal. \nOn ANZAC\, Vietnam Veterans and Remembrance Days each year ex-Service people bring out their medals! David will talk about Australian medals from the Post World War 2 period\, to include\, Korea\, Malaya\, Borneo\, Vietnam\, East Timor\, Afghanistan\, Iraq\, and the other conflicts where Australians were awarded medals. \nHe will also talk about the correct wearing and care of medals\, about the various badges such as the  Returned from Active Service 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). \n\n										\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															 \nThis event is part of the Ballarat Seniors Festival \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-war-memorabilia/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks,Victorian Seniors Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-medals-v36.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251119T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251119T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
CREATED:20250728T054722Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T232935Z
UID:66407-1763573400-1763577000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 5\, Recent Years | Ballarat's Her Majesty's Reinvention\, Presented by Richard Nicholson
DESCRIPTION:November 19\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nHer Majesty’s Renovation \n \nThis talk will examine the recent renovation of Her Majesty’s Theatre and explore the challenges\, rewards and outcomes for the community that accompany transformational change to a treasured Heritage Building in the heart of the City of Ballarat. \nSpeaker: Richard Nicholson \nRichard Nicholson\, Director\, Nicholson Construction \nRichard is the fourth generation of the Nicholson family to serve on the board.  Richard has been a Director since 1998 and is a qualified Civil Engineer specialising in structural engineering. \nSince joining Nicholson Construction\, Richard has been pivotal in growing the company from a locally-based contracting firm in Ballarat\, to a major commercial construction company completing projects across the State of Victoria. \nHe is a proactive leader with a particular focus on corporate governance and risk management\, and is committed to community engagement. \n\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 \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/her-majestys-reinvention/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-2025-her-majestys-final.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251126T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251126T183000
DTSTAMP:20260522T194241
CREATED:20250728T055539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T233614Z
UID:66413-1764178200-1764181800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 5\, Recent Years | Ballarat Arts Foundation: 25 Years Old\, Presented by Paula Nicholson
DESCRIPTION:November 26\n@\n5:30 pm\n–\n6:30 pm \nBar open at 5pm \n$9.73 – $13.83 \nHumffray Room \n\nGet tickets\n \nBallarat Arts Foundation: 25 Years Old \n\nThe Ballarat Arts Foundation (BAF) has been supporting the emerging artists of Ballarat for 25 years. The Foundation is completely community funded and supports artists from any genre\, with an alumni group numbering over 500 artists who have lived\, worked or studied locally. This talk will examine the work of the Foundation\, the achievements of its alumni\, what the support of BAF and the wider community means to an emerging artist. \nSpeaker: Paula Nicholson \nPaula Nicholson has always had a keen interest in performing arts. She studied singing\, piano and music theory throughout her education\, has been involved in musical theatre and has performed with bands and in duos. After obtaining a degree in science\, her career took her into customer service management and human resources. Through voluntary community based activity\, she gained extensive experience in fundraising\, event management and community engagement. She enjoys using her skills to contribute to the local community as a member of various boards and committees of not-for-profit organisations. Paula believes her membership and Chairmanship (since 2013) of the Ballarat Arts Foundation Board allows her to encourage the broader community to be involved with the local arts community to help artists to launch their careers\, and in turn\, enjoy the rewards that the arts offer. Paula will be joined by alumni of the Arts Foundation in this the 25th anniversary year of the organization to examine the impact of this community funded body as it supports emerging artists with a connection to Ballarat and in turn enriches the wider community. \n\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 \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/ballarat-arts-foundation/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks
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