BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART: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:20230502T103000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230502T113000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230327T230710Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230329T222016Z UID:36544-1683023400-1683027000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Reading Room DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/the-reading-room-book-discussion-2/ LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,BMI Produced Event,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Reading_room_adjusted-e1704770529709.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230614T183000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230614T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230530T000254Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230602T020702Z UID:40168-1686767400-1686772800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Jock Serong | In Conversation DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/jock-serong-in-conversation/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/jock-serong-e1685671609469.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230630T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230630T150000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230406T032945Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230508T025730Z UID:37636-1688133600-1688137200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | Maya Linnell DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/meet-the-author-maya-linnell/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/unnamed1-e1680747452966.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230704T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230704T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230404T025826Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230501T043505Z UID:37295-1688497200-1688500800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | A. J. Lyndon DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/meet-the-author-aj-lyndon/ LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cannon-ballarat-2019-e1680574946680.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230705T055031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T043031Z UID:41381-1695232800-1695240000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | Justin Smith DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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 BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230804T042100Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070216Z UID:42765-1695924000-1695931200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Tania Farrelly DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20231005T183000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231005T203000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230720T022135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070347Z UID:42008-1696530600-1696537800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Clare Fletcher DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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;VALUE=DATE:20231007 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231010 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230808T040719Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230922T033348Z UID:43076-1696640400-1696813199@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Spring Book Sale DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/spring-book-sale/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/pexels-clem-onojeghuo-375892.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231111T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231111T150000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230830T010931Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231108T232036Z UID:44323-1699711200-1699714800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:From the Shadows by Gillian Gregory | Book Launch DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/from-the-shadows-gillian-gregory/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Book Launch,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/gillian-gregory-square-promotional.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231116T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231116T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230918T012948Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240430T011733Z UID:45333-1700157600-1700164800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Gabriel Bergmoser DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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;VALUE=DATE:20231202 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231205 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20231013T022508Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231013T023541Z UID:46252-1701478800-1701651599@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Summer Book Sale DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/summer-book-sale/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bios.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231211T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231211T193000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20231109T024316Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231206T042434Z UID:47354-1702315800-1702323000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Members Christmas Party with the Ballarat Singers DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/members-christmas-party/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Library,Members ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/square-promo-christmas.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240207T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240207T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20231207T003031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231218T043742Z UID:49057-1707328800-1707336000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Elizabeth Coleman DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240221T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240221T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230919T035111Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240208T231637Z UID:45397-1708538400-1708545600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Lucas Jordan DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240305T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240305T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 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 Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240321T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240321T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20230919T035313Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240307T005144Z UID:45400-1711044000-1711051200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Noel Braun DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240411T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240411T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20231004T031044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T002449Z UID:45976-1712858400-1712865600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Leah Kaminsky & Kylie Ladd DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240412T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240412T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20240305T012726Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240306T191118Z UID:52033-1712944800-1712952000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Rita McInnes | Book Launch DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240423T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240423T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20240226T044626Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240419T170719Z UID:51648-1713898800-1713902400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Dervla McTiernan: What Happened to Nina? DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/dervla-mctiernan-what-happened-to-nina/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Dervla-McTiernan-1-photo-julia-dunin-photography.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240428T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240428T160000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20240221T001116Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T014752Z UID:51252-1714312800-1714320000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Garry Disher DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240528T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240528T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225405 CREATED:20240411T094329Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T142859Z UID:53823-1716919200-1716926400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Pam Swanborough DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240604T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240604T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240223T021113Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T121220Z UID:51430-1717524000-1717531200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Paula Gleeson DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240712T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240712T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240514T061801Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T121216Z UID:54564-1720807200-1720814400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Léonie Kelsall DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240716T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240716T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240612T054536Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T110700Z UID:56092-1721152800-1721160000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Louise Le Nay DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240722T103000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240727T150000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240625T090014Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T072904Z UID:56453-1721644200-1722092400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Rare Book Week | BMI Vintage Book Sale DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rare-book-week-bmi-vintage-book-sale/ LOCATION:hooper Room CATEGORIES:About us,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Rare Book Week ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/promo-square-vintage-book-sale-v3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240605T015052Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113538Z UID:55878-1722276000-1722283200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Leah Kaminsky & Jacinta Halloran DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240808T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240429T031641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T112257Z UID:54288-1723140000-1723147200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240820T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240820T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240430T023540Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T051523Z UID:54352-1724176800-1724184000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Anna Romer DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/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:20240904T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240904T200000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240429T042735Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T023004Z UID:54292-1725472800-1725480000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with J.P. Pomare DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/j-p-pomare/ 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/josh-pomare-square-promo-v2-final.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240910T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240910T190000 DTSTAMP:20260417T225406 CREATED:20240709T063001Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T022557Z UID:57127-1725991200-1725994800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Great Aussie Road Trip: Heather Ewart in Conversation | NOW SOLD OUT. DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 18\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n An Ill Wind \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Author of Cutters End and Stone Town \n \n \n \n \n \n \n High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen\, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one\, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one of its huge white blades. Married Detective Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard\, a wealthy local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm. Suicide at first seems the likely explanation\, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it. The controversies surrounding the arrival of the wind farm has ripped the rural town in two. Some welcome the jobs and prosperity it brings\, others are enraged by the loss of farming land. So in the eyes of the locals\, Pritchard was both saint and sinner. But who in this small community hated him enough to want him dead? \n \n The natural Australian landscape is the centrepiece of all Margaret’s writing\, and the focus of her creative writing PhD was on depictions of landscape in Australian literature. She has always been struck by the isolation and danger\, as well as the beauty and exhilaration of her local surrounds and this is evident in An Ill Wind as we spend time in the dusty and quiet paddocks of Carrabeen. In previous books she has depicted the harsh\, relentless desert\, the secretive\, sodden bush\, Australia’s ethereal underwater world and the mountainous High Country of North East Victoria where she lives. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n \n Margaret Hickey\, Author | Image: Colin Usher\n \n \n \n We are thrilled to announce that Margaret has won ‘Best Crime’ in the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards for her book The Creeper \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2025 Ned Kelly Award Winners\n \n \n \n \n Margaret Hickey is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and is deeply interested in rural lives and communities. She is the author of the bestsellers Cutters End\, Stone Town\, Broken Bay and The Creeper. Her collection of short stories about country life\, Rural Dreams\, was released in January 2025. \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 will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/great-aussie-road-trip-heather-ewart/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/heather-square-promo-final.webp END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR