BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20240406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20241005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251119T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251119T183000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20250728T054722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T232935Z UID:66407-1763573400-1763577000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 5\, Recent Years | Ballarat's Her Majesty's Reinvention\, Presented by Richard Nicholson DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/her-majestys-reinvention/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-2025-her-majestys-final.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251122T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251123T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20240822T062240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T012503Z UID:58498-1763805600-1763913600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Open Garden & Devonshire Tea - BMI Fundraiser | Errard Hall DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/open-garden-fundraiser-2025/ LOCATION:Errard Hall\, Errard Street North\, Ballarat Central\, City of Ballarat\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Urban Agriculture Month ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/square-promo-errard-hall.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251126T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251126T183000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20250728T055539Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251110T233614Z UID:66413-1764178200-1764181800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 5\, Recent Years | Ballarat Arts Foundation: 25 Years Old\, Presented by Paula Nicholson DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-arts-foundation/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/square-promo-2025-ballarat-arts-foundation.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251206T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251206T140000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20251110T024632Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251128T005707Z UID:68436-1765015200-1765029600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Christmas Book Sale DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bmi-christmas-book-sale/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/book-sale-square-promo-christmas-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251207T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20251207T140000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20251110T010546Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T043313Z UID:68424-1765098000-1765116000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Christmas Market DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bmi-christmas-market/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Art programs,Christmas,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/square-promo-christmas-market-calling-for-stallholders-v5-final-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260110T130000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260110T160000 DTSTAMP:20260418T024326 CREATED:20251209T021738Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T041541Z UID:69434-1768050000-1768060800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Artistanbul: Create your own Turkish Mosaic Lamp DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 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. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/art-istanbul-workshop/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,Christmas,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/sq-promo-art-instanbul.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR