Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 5 | Ballarat Heritage Festival
2023-05-24 17:30 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Chinese Library, 200 Sturt Street
Twilight Talks 2025, Season 3, Spring Season | Into the Dragon’s Den, The Chinese community in Bendigo

September 17

@

5:30 pm

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6:30 pm

Bar open at 5pm

$9.73 – $13.83

Humffray Room

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Saving Dragons: The Life and Times of Russell Goldfield (Louey Yeung Man) Jack by Dianne Dempsey

Russell Jack, the visionary founder of the internationally renowned Golden Dragon Museum, spent his life breaking barriers and preserving the history of the Chinese Australian community. Growing up in the shadow of the White Australia Policy, he turned adversity into strength, using the vibrant traditions of Chinese dragon processions as a bridge between cultures. Through the power of storytelling and historical insight, Dempsey paints a vivid portrait of a man who replaced fear with knowledge and ignorance with beauty. This compelling biography explores Jack’s humble beginnings, family legacy, athletic achievements, community leadership, and the extraordinary creation of the Golden Dragon Museum—a cultural institution that transformed Bendigo’s understanding of its Chinese heritage. Told with verve, compassion, and illuminating vignettes, Saving Dragons offers a unique slice of Australian social history and a testament to the resilience of a Chinese community that has shaped the nation’s identity.

Saving Dragons book review | 13 May 2025 View Article: Saving Dragons Book Review by Steven Carroll in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Publication: The Sydney Morning Herald Date Published: 30/04/2025

Speaker: Di Dempsey

Dianne Dempsey “I am a freelance journalist, specialising in literary and regional journalism, writing for metropolitan as well as regional newspapers and magazines. I have also been a newsroom reporter. As a scriptwriter, I have written for Neighbours (Reg Grundy) and Altogether Now (Clive Packer). I made Gorilla Girls (Film Victoria), and Shredded (the Victorian Women’s Trust). I almost forgot to mention my books, Girls in Our Town, When He Came Home, and most recently, Saving Dragons: The Life and Times of Russell Goldfield Jack. I live in Bendigo, in the shadow of the Cathedral. It’s a beautiful town. It’s where my family comes from and I love it here. I hope you enjoy this story of our city’s revered Chinese elder, Russell Louey Jack.”

Dianne Dempsey

Community Bank Buninyong & District not only gives you access to award-winning financial products and services, we’re also committed to returning profits to our local communities.

This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong

Tickets and Bookings

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

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More Twilight Talks

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.

Living Heritage Exhibition
2023-05-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-19 11:00 - 16:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

The Artwork of the BMI | Special Programs
2023-05-24 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours | Ballarat Heritage Festival
2023-05-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-20 23:55 - 2023-05-21 01:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
2023-05-16 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-03-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Library Ground Floor, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 4 | Ballarat Heritage Festival
2023-05-23 10:30 - 12:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Cataloguing workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault
2023-05-22 10:30 - 14:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Baron von Mueller Collection | Special Programs
2023-05-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Life Drawing in the Basement (this event now cancelled)
2023-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours | Ballarat Heritage Festival (Originally scheduled 9pm-10pm)
2023-05-21 19:00 - 20:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Life Drawing in the Basement
2023-05-21 14:00 - 16:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

The Ballarat Courier Collection | Special Programs
2023-05-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Victorian Pinup Pageant 2023 & Revue de Ballarat
2023-05-20 12:00 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

The Heritage Collection | Special Program
2023-05-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society - A Hero (Ghahreman)
2023-05-18 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 2
2023-05-10 17:30 - 19:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 1
2023-05-03 17:30 - 19:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

The Reading Room
2023-05-02 10:30 - 11:30 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Digitisation Workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault
2023-05-01 10:30 - 14:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow | Ballarat
2023-04-30 19:30 - 22:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Meet the Author | Olivia Wearne & Elizabeth Coleman
2023-04-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
