Twilight Talks 2024, Season 2, Session 4 | THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED
2024-05-15 18:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
May 15
@
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm
$8 – $12
THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED
This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre.
Since then, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer, the former candy bar of the cinema, before the talk.

The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001, check out our website for upcoming talks.
Not the Last Picture Show: City of Chaos and Hope
Ever wonder how Minerva got her groove back? Buildings are made of our imagination, the life that goes on inside provides the colour, life and culture that is legacy for this beautiful city. And it is people who bring buildings to life. Join filmmaker Erin M McCuskey as she shares some of those stories through film, particularly the buildings that housed cinemas. She will take us on a journey into the cinemas of Ballarat and the people who made it happen.
This session will include screenings in the beautiful Minerva Space of footage from the Jack Anderson archive and the film City of Chaos and Hope (2014) which tells the tales of three iconic Ballarat buildings from the inside. The Ballarat Town Hall, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, and the Ballarat Railway Station. The small stories add up to big stories, social history gives us an understanding of who we are as people, set in three of Ballarat’s finest buildings.
Speaker: Erin McCuskey | Film Artist
Erin McCuskey
McCuskey’s art is cinema, multilayered film using archival, found and captured moving image. She uses screen language of the half-dark, overlay and blur to reflect her long-sightedness (hyperopia). Working at the intersection of cinema and art, she explores themes of feminisms, memory and death. Known for her use of muses, she explores the idea that joy is resistance and that expressing culture through dance is a way to protect our hard won freedoms.
McCuskey’s love of the moving image grew from lounge-room screenings of family films created by her father. The youngest girl of a large Irish immigrant family, she studies the once prohibited Gaeilge (Irish language) and Irish mythology to understand concepts of home and belonging.
“Film artist Erin M McCuskey’s work is indeed one of Australia’s great ‘unknown pleasures’… fusing analogue film (created and archival), music, dance, literature, theatre and a visual artist’s perspective into digital cinematic works that are firstly sensual and delightful, and secondly resonantly poetic and deep.” (Bill Mousoulis – Unknown Pleasures).
Erin McCuskey | Film Artist
More about Erin

Yum Studio

Event starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm), close 7pm.
Cost: $12 general admission | $8 BMI members

Bookings

2024 Twilight Talks

Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong

Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials:

This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival

More Twilight Talks
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Today

Now
Now
–
2024-05-17
May 17

Select date.

May
15
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 2, Session 4 | THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED
$8 – $12

May
17
May 17 @ 10:30 am – May 30 @ 4:00 pm

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show | Ballarat Heritage Festival
Free

May
17
May 17 @ 10:30 am – May 30 @ 4:00 pm

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show: From the Archives | Ballarat Heritage Festival
Free – $5

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Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show
2024-05-17 10:30 - 2024-05-30 16:00 | Hugh Williamson Foyer, Level 1
May 17
@
10:30 am
–
May 30
@
4:00 pm
Free
MH 94 Coliseum Grenville Street, Ballarat
Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895, the first screenings of this new technology of ‘moving pictures’ were held at the Mechanics’ Institute.
By the 1970’s, cinema’s death was being heralded after the devastating impact of television and the attraction of the drive-in, making the BMI’s Vegas 70 for a brief time Ballarat’s only indoor cinema.
Our latest photographic exhibition Not the Last Picture Show traces the history of cinemas in Ballarat, from the spectacular nitrate film-fuelled conflagration of the 4,000 seat Coliseum Picture Palace, now a supermarket car park, to the Skyline Drive-in, now a housing estate with a ‘Bogart Avenue’.
The exhibition will be held in the Williamson Foyer space, which formerly hosted the candy bar of the cinema, with an additional exhibition in our beautiful Heritage Reading Room.
Entry by $5 donation to the Heritage Reading Room (BMI members free).
This event is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival

This 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.
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Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show: From the Archives
2024-05-17 10:30 - 2024-05-30 16:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
May 17
@
10:30 am
–
May 30
@
4:00 pm
Free – $5
This event is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival

This 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.
BMI news

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The White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose…

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Making Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat, 1988. …

Line up announced for: Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow – Ballarat

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 2, Session 5 | Stories of the Silver Screen in the Golden City
2024-05-22 18:00 - 19:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
May 22
@
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm
$8 – $12
This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre.
Since then, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer, the former candy bar of the cinema, before the talk.

Not the Last Picture Show: Stories of the Silver Screen in the Golden City.
The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute’s Minerva Space has borne witness to the journey of cinema, from hosting the Ballarat debut of the cinematograph in 1896, to the arrival of the ‘talkies’ in 1930, to the dramatic dip in audiences in the late 1950’s after the arrival of television and popularity of the drive-in, to the waning of the drive-in and the rise of the multiplex – leading to the demise of the single screen cinema.
Two figures have played a key role in the latter part of this journey and the cinema industry in Ballarat. John Bourke started working in cinema as a ‘car hop’ at the Village Northern Drive-In, formerly Hoyts’ Skyline. He worked as an Assistant Projectionist at the drive-in while completing his studies, landing a role as Manager – Projectionist at the newly refurbished Regent Cinema in 1977, ultimately holding the position for 28 years. Jack Anderson was responsible for the Regent revival and also reviving the hall at the Mechanics’ into the Vegas 70.
Chris Jones started working with John in ‘94 as an usher at The Regent, the same year the Mechanics’ Hall had once again been resurrected as a cinema, this time called ‘The Sturt’. Chris worked at the Sturt and Regent, ultimately working in senior positions for Village and Hoyts Joint Venture companies, and as the National Operations Manager for Reading Cinemas before co-founding Twilight Cinemas (2008) and Showbiz Cinemas (2013). Chris opened the third Showbiz cinema location in Ballarat in 2017 at the brand-new Delacombe Town Centre catering to the burgeoning growth area that has exploded in the southwestern part of Ballarat.
Between the two they have a wealth of knowledge and stories to share and reflect on, from dramatically unfurling a reel of film down the stairs of the Mechanics’, to the wild characters sneaking into the drive-ins in the boots of cars, and the Hollywood stars who graced the town.
Speakers: John Burke & Chris Jones
John Bourke
Chris Jones
John Bourke
John commenced in the Cinema industry in 1974 as a ‘Car Hop’ at the Village Northern Drive-In (formerly the Hoyts Skyline Drive-In) whilst completing Year 11 as a mature age student at St Patrick’s College Ballarat.
Technically though, John and his siblings were working in the industry when they 6 years old carrying display boards around the local football ovals advertising what was screening at the Village Southern Drive-In and Vegas 70 Cinema Ballarat.
After completing his studies, John landed a role as a full-time Assistant Projectionist at the Drive-In. Over the next two years, John continued to work full-time while studying at RMIT to become a fully-qualified Cinema Projectionist.
In February of 1977, John took on the position of Manager – Projectionist at the newly refurbished classic cinema, The Regent, Ballarat. John held the position for 28 years. After a brief absence, John’s passion for cinema lured him back to The Regent in the role of Sales Manager. John continued for another nine or so years, retiring from the cinema industry following heart surgery.
During his career, John experienced the evolution of cinema and drive-in from the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st. John is now the Manager of Patient Services and Switchboard at Grampians Health Ballarat. John continues to be involved in cinema through his lifelong friendship with Chris Jones and Showbiz Cinemas, and his membership of the Cinema Pioneers Association.
Chris Jones
Chris is the Director of Showbiz Group & Showbiz Cinemas, and is a Board Member at Independent Cinemas Australia.
Chris commenced in the cinema industry in 1994 as an usher at the historic Regent Cinemas in Lydiard Street whilst attending the University of Ballarat. After completing his studies, he then worked at various cinemas located in Melbourne and Adelaide and has worked in senior positions for Village and Hoyts Joint Venture companies as well as the National Operations Manager for Reading Cinemas before co-founding Twilight Cinemas (2008) and Showbiz Cinemas (2013). Chris holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) majoring in finance and marketing and holds a Bachelor of Arts & Social Sciences (Film, Media and Psychology).
Chris opened the third Showbiz cinema location in Ballarat in 2017 at the brand-new Delacombe Town Centre catering to the burgeoning growth area that has exploded in the southwestern part of Ballarat.
Showbiz Ballarat is a modern state of the art, 6-screen multiplex. All cinemas feature luxury leather seating, Dolby 7.1 surround sound and Digital Laser Projection on all screens. The cinema holds a full liquor license and is open 7-days a week. The cinema is also the ideal location to provide full digital conferencing, seminars and other non-cinema events including live sporting telecasts. The facility is an accessible venue with a front ramp and dedicated accessible seating bays in all cinemas, limited Open Caption and Audio Description sessions.
Chris is passionate about delivering a cinema experience that is engaging, genuine and respectful.
Showbiz’s Drive-in Cinema in 2020 | Image Provided by Chris Jones.
The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001, check out our website for upcoming talks.
Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm), close 7pm.
Cost: $12 general admission | $8 BMI members

Book here

2024 Twilight Talks

Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong

Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials:

This event is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival

More Twilight Talks
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Today

Now
Now
–
2024-05-22
May 22

Select date.

May
17
May 17 @ 10:30 am – May 30 @ 4:00 pm

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show
Free

May
17
May 17 @ 10:30 am – May 30 @ 4:00 pm

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show: From the Archives
Free – $5

May
22
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 2, Session 5 | Stories of the Silver Screen in the Golden City
$8 – $12

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Today

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This 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.
BMI news

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The White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose…

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Making Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat, 1988. …

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Australia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off again…

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Daddy’s Girl Josephine Cox. When heartbroken Sarah Quinn is left…

Load More

This enent 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.

BMI165th Birthday Devonshire Tea Party
2024-05-26 15:00 - 16:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
May 26
@
3:00 pm
–
4:30 pm
$15
As the Institute is 165 years old this year, we will take the opportunity to celebrate during the festival, by including a heritage-style Devonshire Tea as an afternoon Birthday Party, the first of many celebratory events for 2024.
This will be on offered as a ticketed event, and will be held in our beautiful Heritage Humffray Room, paying homage to one of the early community builders here in our city.
Talk Subject: Claire Adams & Mooramong
Claire Adams
Born in Canada in 1898, Claire Adams was a silent movie star and a role model for ‘the new woman’ of the 1920s. She was an innovator, world traveler, conservationist and philanthropist.
In London, on April Fools day 1932, she married Scobie Mackinnon of Mooramong, near Skipton. Together they renovated the house in Hollywood Art Deco style, with no expense spared. This illustrated talk, tells her story and includes images from the National Trust collection, showing her delight in entertaining, on and off screen.
Claire Adams
Speaker: Susan Pilbeam
Susan Pilbeam has been working on the Mooramong Collection since 2016. She studied Museums and Cultural Heritage and researched and lectured in the Visual and Performing Arts. She has worked in Arts administration, been a community artist and theatre director. She is the Artistic Director of The Bard in Buninyong.
Mooramong

Cost: $15

Book here

This event is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival

This 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.
BMI news

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The White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose…

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Making Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat, 1988. …

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Australia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off again…

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 2, Session 6: History of Hoyts
2024-05-29 18:00 - 19:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
May 29
@
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm
$8 – $12
This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre.
Since then, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer, the former candy bar of the cinema, before the talk.

The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001, check out our website for upcoming talks.
Not the Last Picture Show: History of Hoyts, Ballarat
Hoyts is synonymous with cinema in Australia. As Australia’s oldest and largest cinema, it has entertained generations of audiences from the silent era through to the present age.
At the start of the 20th century, Melbourne dentist and cornet player Arthur Russell bought a share in a small touring American circus that visited Melbourne, called Hoyts Circus. Russell toured with the circus as a magician, but it did not prove to be a financial success. In 1908, he started presenting moving pictures at St George’s Hall in Bourke Street, accompanying the silent films with his small family band: his wife on piano, son on drums, and Russell on cornet. On 18 September 1909 he opened Hoyts Picture Palace, and formed a company called Hoyts Pictures Pty Ltd. The old hall was rebuilt and renamed “Hoyts De Luxe”. By the end of World War I, Hoyts had expanded into the suburbs of Melbourne and into Sydney. The shows included vaudeville acts, as was common practice in those days.
While countless stories have been shown on Hoyts’ screens, the story of the Hoyts along with its unique connection with Australian audiences has largely been overlooked.
A project is underway that aims to gain an insight into the unique history Hoyts by conducting oral history interviews with Hoyts cinema patrons as well as those who worked there.
We hope that you will participate in this exciting project by sharing your stories, experiences, and memories with us through the ‘Share a Story’ page.
Speaker: Dr Stephen Gaunson
Stephen Gaunson is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University. He researches cinema histories including the experience of going to the cinema as a social act.
Dr Gaunson’s books include The Ned Kelly Films and American–Australian Cinema: Transnational Connections.
Steve researches on national and international cinema industries. Over the past few years, a significant focus of his research has been investigating the social act of going to the cinema. Having built national standing as a leading authority during this time, in 2022 he secured a grant to research the history of Hoyts Cinemas in Australia, which will deliver a series of impactful outcomes including a book, under contract.
Steve is Higher Degree Research Director, DSC, which is one of three academic colleges at RMIT consisting of eight schools and 750 HDR candidates across a broad range of disciplines and with presence in Vietnam, Barcelona, Singapore and China. He leads HDR College activity as it relates to industry partnered projects, internships and international recruitment strategies.
Dr Stephen Gaunson
More about Research History of Hoyts Cinemas in Australia

In the School of Media & Communication, Steve teaches undergraduate cinema courses on adaptation, documentary, national cinema & film history.
He can be regularly heard on ABC Melbourne and Radio National as an expert commentator on the national film industry.
Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm), close 7pm.
Cost: $12 general admission | $8 BMI members

Book here

2024 Twilight Talks

Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong

Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials:

This event is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival

This 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.
BMI news

White Night | Deborah Klein: ‘Decorated Women’

The White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week | 13 May 2024

Making Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat, 1988. …

Line up announced for: Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow – Ballarat

Australia’s biggest and best comedy spectacular is setting off again…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week | 6 May 2024

Daddy’s Girl Josephine Cox. When heartbroken Sarah Quinn is left…

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Winter Book Sale | Stockpile your reading pleasure
2024-06-01 10:00 - 2024-06-02 14:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
June 1
@
10:00 am
–
June 2
@
2:00 pm
Free
Books priced from $1 – more for collectable items.

Image, artist impression only | Photo by | helloiamtugce
Don’t miss our book sale this weekend.
Admission 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!
We will have some children’s books for your kids and grand kids. Plus, all proceeds are help to support our Library programs.

membership

Library

This 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.
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Human Designs | Zlatko Balazic & John McKee (aka Jack Morph): Featuring the art of Melinda Muscat
2024-06-17 10:00 - 2024-07-26 15:00 | Hugh Williamson Foyer, Level 1
Now Open during Library operating hours

June 17
–
July 26
On until 26 July
During regular Library operating hours (see page footer)
Free
Hugh Williamson Foyer, 1st floor
Any Donations to the BMI will be greatly received and will go to future Art Projects.
An Immersive Experience – Soft Launch
A Fortunare Series Of Events
The Wizard | Melinda Muscat
Human Designs: Zlatko Balazic & John McKee (aka Jack Morph).
Both 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.

Melinda Muscat
Melinda 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.
A 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!”
At 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.
Now 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.
Transforming 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.
Come be a part of our magical wonderland experience at BMI.
And 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.

This projection wIll be trialled in the Hugh Williamson Foyer with a view to a more extensive future installation.
2015 Bronzina | Melinda Muscat
Aloha | Melinda Muscat
Installation Design Concept
Baroque Wonderland | Melinda Muscat
This installation is proudly supported by our Corporate Partner

We would also like to thank.

Assisting with the install
Tony Matkov | IMDTech
Use of fabrication facilities
Walleed Askari | Steel It Engineering
walaskari@steelitengineering.com.auMobile +61 407 301 592

This 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.
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Teeny Tiny Stevies - Twice the Love Tour, Ballarat
2024-09-08 14:30 - 16:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
September 8
@
2:30 pm
–
4:00 pm
$32
The ultimate live gig experience for young families.

The old feel young, the young feel like grown-ups, and everyone just meets somewhere in the middle for a rocking good time!
Playing 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.
Get ready to make some core memories together.
Note: Babies in arms/parent’s lap (aged 12 months and under) are admitted free with a full paying adult ticket.
Get tickets

Tickets

This 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.
BMI news

White Night | Deborah Klein: ‘Decorated Women’

The White Night excitement is certainly building. Deborah Klein whose…

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Making Up Amanda Rozzi Bazzani. A Cold Case Ballarat, 1988. …

Line up announced for: Melbourne International Comedy Roadshow – Ballarat

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Calum Graham: Phoenix Rising
2024-10-05 19:00 - 20:15 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
October 5
@
7:00 pm
–
8:15 pm
$47
One of the world’s top 30 guitarists under 30.

Named 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.
Born 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.
His 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.
Join 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!
Online bookings only.
Get tickets $47 plus bkg fee.

Tickets

This 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.
BMI news

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections
2024-10-09 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
October 9
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room
Subject: Discovering the lost men of Fromelles and Ballarat Connections
Lambis 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.
While 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?
On 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.
A theory was developed that dead Australian diggers had been reclaimed from the battle field by the victorious Germans in July 1916 and buried elsewhere.
The 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.
With 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.
In this session we will also be exploring Ballarat’s connections to discovering The last men of Fromelles

Fitting from 1908 Pattern Web Infantry Equipment.
Speakers: Lambis Englezos AM & Garry Snowden OAM
Lambis 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.
While 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?
Lambis Englezos AM
Garry 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.
Garry Snowden OAM
Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance.

Bookings

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

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9

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections
$8 – $12

Oct
16

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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass, Boer War to Vietnam
$8 – $12

Oct
23

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$8 – $12

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6

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–
6:30 pm

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$8 – $12

Nov
13

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5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
$8 – $12

Nov
20

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
$8 – $12

Nov
27

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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
$8 – $12

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Follow Daniel

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia's commemorative stained glass, Boer War to Vietnam
2024-10-16 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
October 16
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room
Subject: Australia’s commerative stained glass from the Boer War to Vietnam
Almost hidden within religious buildings, hospitals, school chapels and civic buildings, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war.
Bronwyn 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.
Following 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.
This session will be a wonderful reflection, prior to Remembrance Day in November.

Speaker: Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM
Bronwyn 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance.

Bookings

More Twilight Talks
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Select date.

Oct
9

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections
$8 – $12

Oct
16

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass, Boer War to Vietnam
$8 – $12

Oct
23

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation.
$8 – $12

Nov
6

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.
$8 – $12

Nov
13

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
$8 – $12

Nov
20

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
$8 – $12

Nov
27

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
$8 – $12

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BMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October, 4pm

The Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week

The Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide……

Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024

Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases….

BMI Monthly Calendar 2025

Due to popular demand our calendar is back again for…

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid, compelling stories about Australia's lost generation.
2024-10-23 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
October 23
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room
Subject – Life So Full of Promise: vivid, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation.
Award-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.
In 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
love story in the mix.
Don’t miss this one. You’ll be enlightened, entertained and moved as Ross brings these extraordinary yet unknown Australians back to life.
Barry 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”.
Life So Full of Promise: Further Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation | Ross McMullin
Speaker: Ross McMullin
Ross McMullin is an award-winning historian, a renowned storyteller and an
entertaining speaker.
He has written two books about Ballarat’s own Pompey Elliott. His biography
Pompey Elliott won multiple awards. Ross also wrote the biographical plaques
surrounding Ballarat’s statue of Pompey in Sturt Street.
His biography of a remarkable Ballarat-born artist and writer, Will Dyson:
Australia’s Radical Genius, was highly commended by the judges of the National
Biography Award. Ross’s political histories include the commissioned ALP
centenary history The Light on the Hill together with So Monstrous a Travesty:
Chris Watson and The World’s First National Labour Government.

Ross McMullin

Ross McMullin | Charlton ‘Pompey’ Elliott unveiling

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $8 BMI members and Seniors Festival attendees & $12 general admittance.

Bookings

More Twilight Talks
Loading view.

Today

Upcoming
Upcoming

Select date.

Oct
9

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections
$8 – $12

Oct
16

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass, Boer War to Vietnam
$8 – $12

Oct
23

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation.
$8 – $12

Nov
6

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.
$8 – $12

Nov
13

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
$8 – $12

Nov
20

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
$8 – $12

Nov
27

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
$8 – $12

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BMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October, 4pm

The Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week

The Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide……

Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024

Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases….

BMI Monthly Calendar 2025

Due to popular demand our calendar is back again for…

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Daniel Champagne | Ballarat
2024-11-01 20:00 - 22:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 1
@
8:00 pm
–
10:00 pm
$32
The finest guitar player of this generation.

The 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!
Growing 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.
The 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.
He 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!
“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.”
– themusic.com.au
TIMES:
Doors – 7.30pm
Performance – 8pm
Get tickets $32 plus bkg fee.

Tickets

This 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.
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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city - identifying, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.
2024-11-06 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 6
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room
The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.
Speaker: Jeremy Smith.
Heritage Victoria recently received funding from the Heritage Council Victoria to prepare an Archaeology Management Plan for parts of the City of Ballarat.
The 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.
This 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.
Jeremy Smith
Jeremy Smith is Heritage Victoria’s Principal Archaeologist, and is an Honorary Research Fellow in Classics & Archaeology at the University of Melbourne.
He 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).
Jeremy Smith
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available.

Bookings

More Twilight Talks
Loading view.

Today

Upcoming
Upcoming

Select date.

Oct
9

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Discovering the lost men of Fromelles & Ballarat Connections
$8 – $12

Oct
16

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass, Boer War to Vietnam
$8 – $12

Oct
23

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 3 | Life So Full of Promise: vivid, compelling stories about Australia’s lost generation.
$8 – $12

Nov
6

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: The archaeology of a Goldrush city – identifying, protecting and managing Ballarat’s buried relics and ruins.
$8 – $12

Nov
13

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
$8 – $12

Nov
20

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
$8 – $12

Nov
27

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
$8 – $12

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BMI News

BMI AGM 2024 – Monday 21st October, 4pm

The Institute’s 2024 Annual General Meeting will be held on…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week

The Fallen Woman Fiona McIntosh. She has everything to hide……

Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations October 2024

Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases….

BMI Monthly Calendar 2025

Due to popular demand our calendar is back again for…

Load More

Jackson Dahlenburg: Album Launch: With Love | Debut Solo Piano Album
2024-11-10 14:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 10
@
2:00 pm
–
4:00 pm

$15.00 – $20.00
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

Album Launch: With Love.

Jackson Dahlenburg | Photo: Issy Austin

Ballarat 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.
Coming 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.
Come join Jackson for an intimate Sunday afternoon performance on the grand piano, with a special guest announced soon…
Guest Artist
Joining Jackson is the acclaimed, award-winning Iranian-Australian musician Gelareh Pour.
Known 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.

Gelareh Pour
Get tickets $15 plus bkg fee. | $20 at the Door.

Get Tickets

This 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.
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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
2024-11-20 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 20
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room

Get tickets

How James became King: The true story of James ‘King’ O’Malley
Speaker: Author, Brian O’Malley
Brian O’Malley is a retired Australian Federal public servant with experience in law enforcement functions and wide range of work and travel experience.
Has has won the ACT Marjorie Graber-McInnes short story competition and was short listed in Shoalhaven national short story competition.
He 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.
Brian has uncovered the dark secret taken to the grave by a founding father of Australia’s 1901 Federal Parliament, ‘King’ O’Malley.
A 100 year old scrapbook of family memorabilia.
In 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.
During 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.
Reconstructing 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…
Brian O’Malley, Author
Subject: How James became King
‘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.
Arriving 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.
Following 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’.
How James Became King: The True Story of James ‘King’ O’Malley | Brian O’Malley
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $8 BMI members & $12 general admittance | Season Pass is also available.

Get tickets

More Twilight Talks
Loading view.

Today

Upcoming
Upcoming

Select date.

Nov
13

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
$8 – $12

Nov
20

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: How James became King
$8 – $12

Nov
27

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
$8 – $12

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BMI News

Twilight Talks 2024 | Season 3 & 4 | 9 – 23 October & 6 – 27 November

As events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.

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Get Rhythm: The Johnny Cash & June Carter Show | THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED
2024-11-22 20:00 - 22:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 22
@
8:00 pm
–
10:00 pm
$55

Get Tickets

Australia’s most authentic Johnny Cash & June Carter Show,
with full live band.
Get Rhythm
Will take you on a Musical Journey

Get 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
Get tickets $55 plus bkg fee.

Get Tickets

This 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.
BMI news

Rosemary’s Book of the Week

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo... of Ballarat Notoriety
2024-11-27 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 27
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$8 – $12
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat notoriety
Speaker: Author, John Smyth
Article: by Edwina Williams, Ballarat Times – Friday 24 May 2024
When 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.
Johnny 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.
Having 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.
Sociologist-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.
“He set up a cook shop, a bit of a tent, right near the entrance of Eureka Stockade,” Smyth said. “He served English food.
“But the miners lost the Eureka lead… picked up and went over to gravel pits just near where St Pauls Church is, Bakery Hill.”
Alloo 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.
“Gill probably agreed to draw the establishment for food and lodging, so that is immortalised,” Smyth said. “He was an important recorder of history.
“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.”
Smyth 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.
Author John Smyth | Photo: Edwina Williams, Ballarat Times
While 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.
“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.
He moved to New Zealand a decade later during the Otago Gold Rush and became the first Chinese police constable there too.
“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.”
Smyth 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.
“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.”
Subject: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat notoriety
A 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.

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Ballarat’s Heritage Gaps Review Program
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Twilight Talks 2024, Season 4 | Uncovering the Past: Johnny Alloo… of Ballarat Notoriety
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Twilight Talks 2024 | Season 3 & 4 | 9 – 23 October & 6 – 27 November

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Summer Book Sale | Stockpile for the holidays
2024-11-30 10:00 - 2024-12-01 14:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
November 30
@
10:00 am
–
December 1
@
2:00 pm
Free
Lending Library
Books priced from $1 – more for collectable items.

Image, artist impression only | Photo by | helloiamtugce
Don’t miss our book sale this weekend.
Admission 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!
We will have some children’s books for your kids and grand kids. Plus, all proceeds are help to support our Library programs.

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This 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.
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Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: 'Don't Look Back' 1967
2024-12-11 19:00 - 21:15 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker
December 11
@
7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm
Bar open at 6pm
$15 – $35
Minerva Theatre

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Don’t Look Back
Director: D.A. Pennebaker, 1967 (1hr 36m)
Bob Dylan
To 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.
Clear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre.
D.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’.
Pennebaker’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.
Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.
$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.

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Art Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition
Medieval to Metal
For 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.

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11
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967
$15 – $35

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12
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Ballarat Film Society | Smiley

Jan
15
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970
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Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: 'This is Spinal Tap' 1984
2025-01-15 19:00 - 20:45 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker
January 15
@
7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm
Bar open at 6pm
$15 – $35
Minerva Theatre

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This is Spinal Tap
Director: Rob Reiner, 1984 (1hr 22m)
Spinal Tap
To 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.
Clear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre.
Cult 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.”
In 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.
Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.
$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.

Get tickets

Art Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition
Medieval to Metal
For 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.

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Dec
11
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967
$15 – $35

Dec
12
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Ballarat Film Society | Smiley

Jan
15
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7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm

Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984
$15 – $35

Jan
22
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970
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'Gimme Shelter' 1970 | THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO TECH ISSUES
2025-01-22 19:00 - 20:40 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker
January 22
@
7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm
Bar open at 6pm
$15 – $35
Minerva Theatre

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Gimme Shelter
Director: Albert Maysles, David Maysles & Charlotte Zwerin (1hr 31m)
The Rolling Stones
To 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.
Clear your palette of the recent serving of slick music documentaries with quintessential films of the ‘direct cinema’ genre.
In 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.
Other bands performing included Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and Santana.
Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $10 BMI members & Ballarat Film Society members ($30 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.
$15 general admittance ($35 Season Pass). Plus booking fee.

Get tickets

Art Gallery of Ballarat – Exhibition
Medieval to Metal
For 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.

More films
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Nov
14
Featured
7:30 pm
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9:00 pm

Ballarat Film Society | EO

Dec
11
Featured
7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm

Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967
$15 – $35

Dec
12
Featured
7:30 pm
–
9:00 pm

Ballarat Film Society | Smiley

Jan
15
Featured
7:00 pm
–
11:00 pm

Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 1984
$15 – $35

Jan
22
Featured
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Medieval to Metal Rocumentary Film Series: ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1970
$15 – $35

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Newsletter – November 2024

In this issue: Message from the Chair | Author Talks…

Rosemary’s Book of the Week

Swift River Essie Chambers. An incredible blend of intimate and…

Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations November 2024

Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases….

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson
2025-02-26 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
February 26
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm

$9 – $13
Humffray Room

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Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste
1994-2002
Speaker: Gabrielle Samson, Author
Gabrielle Samson
Gabrielle, 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).
Gabrielle 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.
Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October, 2023.

Gabrielle Samson

Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art
Dancers on the Sea
This 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.
It 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.
Dancers 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.
“A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa, Readalot Reviewer

Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea
Christine 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’
Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’.
Lansell 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.’
Jenny 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.
It 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.’
Klaas 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!’
Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’
Felix 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.
(Congratulations Ibu, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’
Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’
Sieneke 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.’
Bibi 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.’
Christine 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.
The 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.’
Sally 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.
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.’
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst.

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More Talks
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Feb
26

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson

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Mar
5

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A BMI Fundraising Public Talk | The world in 2025 and beyond with Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC

$35 – $110

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12

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures

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19

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry

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26

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor

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2

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy

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Apr
9

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective

$9 – $13

Apr
16

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Chaplain’s Perspective

$9 – $13

Apr
23

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5:30 pm
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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits

$9 – $13

Apr
30

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers

$9 – $13

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Ballarat's Growth: Infrastructure Pressures
2025-03-12 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
March 12
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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Ballarat’s Growth – Infrastructure Pressures
Panel Discussion: Chair, Paula Nicholson, BMI President
Paula Nicholson | Chair, Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
Panel Members
Terry Natt, Strategic Planning Manager, City of Ballarat
Terry 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.
Terry Natt | Strategic Planning Manager, City of Ballarat
Steven Healy, Head of Sustainable Infrastructure, Central Highlands Water
Steven 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.
From 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.
Steven has fulfilled a number of operational and planning roles, including managing Headworks, Water Treatment, Planning, Developer Services, Infrastructure Delivery, Rural Channels and Water Resources.
Steven Healy | Head of Sustainable Infrastructure, Central Highlands Water
Gayle Boschert, Chair of the Board of Ballarat Cemeteries Board
Gayle 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.
Beyond 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.
Gayle’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.
Through her various leadership roles, Gayle Boschert has made significant contributions to the Ballarat community, particularly in the sectors of community services, arts, and healthcare.
Gayle Boschert | Chair of the Ballarat Cemeteries Board
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

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Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

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Mar
12

Featured
5:30 pm
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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures
$9.73 – $13.83

Mar
19

Featured
5:30 pm
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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry
$9 – $13

Mar
26

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor
$9 – $13

Apr
2

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy
$9 – $13

Apr
9

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective
$9 – $13

Apr
16

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Medals and Memorabilia
$9 – $13

Apr
23

Featured
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits
$9 – $13

Apr
30

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5:30 pm
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6:30 pm

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers
$9 – $13

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Change in Ballarat's Car Industry
2025-03-19 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
March 19
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5:30 pm
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6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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Changes in Ballarat’s Car Industry
Panel Discussion: Chair, Phil Roberts OAM, Patron & Twilight Talks Coordinator.
Dr Phil Roberts OAM
Phil 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.
Dr Phil Roberts OAM
Panel Members
Peter Stevens
Peter 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.

John Emery
John came to Ballarat in 1977 and started a business at 204 Creswick Road mostly selling new European cars.
For 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.
John Emery
Garry Harrowfield
Garry 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.
Over 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.
The business was sold in August 2007 to Mr Chris Alizzi of Ballarat Holden.
Garry Harrowfield
Barry Bedggood
Barry 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.
His business moved to a larger site in Learmonth Road in 2015. By 2025 he retails Kia, Peugeot, Chery, Ssangyong, LDV and Franklin Caravans.
Barry Bedggood
Much More Than Cars | Phil Roberts
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

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More Twilight Talks

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat's Changing Scene - Changes to the Canadian Corridor
2025-03-26 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
March 26
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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The Changing Face of the Canadian Corridor
This 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.
Speaker: Jeff Rootes
Jeff Rootes
Jeff 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.

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

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More Twilight Talks

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Dr Hardy
2025-04-02 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
April 2
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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Dr Hardy and the Men of St Paul’s Anglican Church WWI Participants
Speaker: Neil Leckie – Co-Cordinator Twilight Talks
Neil Leckie is a BMI Member with many years of military service and an interest in The Great War in particular.
Neil Leckie
Dr Hardy
Dr 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.
Apart 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.
Anne 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.
Two of Dr Hardy’s family will attend the talk.
Dr Charles Henry ‘William’ Hardy
Lives of Honour: Ballarat East and the Great War | Anne Doggett
This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

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Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving - Doctor's Perspective
2025-04-09 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
April 9
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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War Grieving from a Doctor’s Perspective
Grief 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.
Speaker: Dr Jean Douglas
Jean Douglas MBBS. FRACGP. Diploma Obstetrics (Auckland). Master of Medicine (Melbourne).
Jean 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.
After 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.
She 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.

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

Get tickets

More Twilight Talks

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Medals and Memorabilia
2025-04-16 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
April 16
@
5:30 pm
–
6:30 pm
Bar open at 5pm
$9.73 – $13.83
Humffray Room

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Medals and Memorabilia
David 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.
Speaker: David Wright
Manchester 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.
David 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).
David Wright

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong
Community 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.

Tickets and Bookings
Tickets $9.73 BMI members & $13.83 general admittance, includes gst & bkg fee.

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More Twilight Talks
