BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.16.2//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:20220402T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20221001T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20230401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20230930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20240406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20241005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240820T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240820T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240430T023540Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T051523Z UID:54352-1724176800-1724184000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Anna Romer DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/anna-romer/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/square-promo-anna-romer-v-4.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240429T031641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T112257Z UID:54288-1723140000-1723147200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/margaret-hickey/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/square-promo-margaret-hickey-v2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240605T015052Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113538Z UID:55878-1722276000-1722283200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Leah Kaminsky & Jacinta Halloran DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kaminsky-halloran/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/promo-square-from-poster-leah-jacinta.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240716T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240716T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240612T054536Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T110700Z UID:56092-1721152800-1721160000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Louise Le Nay DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/louise-le-nay/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/square-promo-louise-v2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240712T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240712T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240514T061801Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T121216Z UID:54564-1720807200-1720814400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Léonie Kelsall DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/leonie-kelsall/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/square-promo-leonie-kelsall-v2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240604T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240604T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240223T021113Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T121220Z UID:51430-1717524000-1717531200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Paula Gleeson DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-paula-gleeson/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/square-promo-paula-gleeson.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240528T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240528T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240411T094329Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T142859Z UID:53823-1716919200-1716926400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Pam Swanborough DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-pam-swanborough/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/promo-squre-pam-swanborough.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240428T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240428T160000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240221T001116Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T014752Z UID:51252-1714312800-1714320000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Garry Disher DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-garry-disher/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/promo-squre-garry-disher.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240412T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240412T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240305T012726Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240306T191118Z UID:52033-1712944800-1712952000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Rita McInnes | Book Launch DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-rita-mcinnes/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/rita-promo-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240411T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240411T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20231004T031044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T002449Z UID:45976-1712858400-1712865600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Leah Kaminsky & Kylie Ladd DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-kaminsky-ladd/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pomo-square-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240321T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240321T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230919T035313Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T005144Z UID:45400-1711044000-1711051200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Noel Braun DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-noel-braun/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/noel-braun-promotional-squre-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240305T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240305T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20240109T042935Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240305T061154Z UID:49843-1709661600-1709668800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Imbi Neeme | This event has now been cancelled DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-imbi-neeme/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/imbi-neeme-promo-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240221T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240221T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230919T035111Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240208T231637Z UID:45397-1708538400-1708545600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Lucas Jordan DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-lucas-jordan/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/lucas-jordan-promotional-squre-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240207T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240207T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20231207T003031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T043742Z UID:49057-1707328800-1707336000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Elizabeth Coleman DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-elizabeth-coleman/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/square-promo-elizabeth-coleman.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231116T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231116T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230918T012948Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240430T011733Z UID:45333-1700157600-1700164800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Gabriel Bergmoser DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-gabriel-bergmoser/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/gabriel-bergmoser-promotional-squre.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231005T183000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231005T203000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230720T022135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070347Z UID:42008-1696530600-1696537800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Clare Fletcher DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-clare-fletcher/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/promotional-square-clare-fletcher.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230804T042100Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070216Z UID:42765-1695924000-1695931200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Tania Farrelly DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-tania-farrelly/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/tania-farrelly-promotional-squre.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T200000 DTSTAMP:20260526T034045 CREATED:20230705T055031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T043031Z UID:41381-1695232800-1695240000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | Justin Smith DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n February 25\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$10 \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 Outrageous Fortunes \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Adventures of Mary Fortune\, Crime-writer\, and Her Criminal Son \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving' - John Connolly \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 'Mary Fortune's bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story\, pieced together by two tenacious literary detectives\, was best of all.' —Gideon Haigh \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in Melbourne with her infant son in 1855\, she was determined to reinvent herself. The Victorian goldfields were just the place. After a time selling sly grog and a bigamous marriage to a policeman\, Mary became a pioneering journalist and author. The Detective’s Album was the first book of detective stories to be published in Australia and the first by a woman to be published anywhere in the world. Her work appeared in magazines and newspapers for over forty years – but none of her readers knew who she was. She wrote using pseudonyms\, often adopting the voice of a male narrator to write about ‘unladylike’ subjects. When Mary died in 1911\, her identity was nearly lost. In Outrageous Fortunes\, Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex retrieve Fortune’s astonishing career and discover an equally absorbing story in her illegitimate son\, George. While Mary was writing crime\, George was committing it\, with convictions for theft and bank robbery. In their intertwined stories\, crime fiction meets true crime\, and Melbourne’s literary bohemia consorts with the criminal underworld. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the authors \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong\, examining the work of Mary Fortune. She has contributed chapters to The Routledge Companion to Australian Literature and The Unsocial Sociability of Women’s Life Writing. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Megan Brown\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex’s books include Blockbuster! Fergus Hume and The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\, which won the 2015 Victorian Community History Award\, Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century and Saltwater in the Ink: Voices from the Australian Seas. She has a PhD from the University of Wales and is an honorary fellow at La Trobe University. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lucy Sussex\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Host \n \n \n \n \n \n Meg Tasker: Dr Meg Tasker taught British and Australian literature and cultural studies for many years\, her most notable publication being the first and only critical biography of Anglo-Australian writer\, Francis Adams (Struggle and Storm\, Melb UP 2001). She has published quite a few articles and conference papers on Adams and other 19th century writers\, including a handful co-written with Lucy Sussex as part of an ARC funded project on Australian writers in London. Formerly general editor of the Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies (AJVS)\, and President of the Australasian Victorian Studies Association (AVSA)\, she left her position as Associate Professor at Federation University Australia (formerly the University of Ballarat) in 2018\, and is now\, like Lucy and Megan\, happy to be a Victorianist-at-large. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Dr Meg Tasker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Enquiries:  Any event specific enquires should be direct to library@ballaratmi.org.au \n \n \n \n \n \n $10 per person plus booking fee & gst 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 Collins Booksellers\, Ballart on Lydiard will be handling book sales for the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Not become a member\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \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. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More author talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026\n May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Manager Update – June 2026\n Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey | Author Talks Most... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stage Ready Industry Workshops – Liam Mudge\, Venue Manager\n Stage Ready -Industry Workshops. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute recently delivered the... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI Events URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/meet-the-author-justin-smith/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/justin-smith-john-pallot-square.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR