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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231010T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231010T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230920T235838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070618Z
UID:45516-1696966200-1696969800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Unsettling:  An insight into landscape change from Barry Golding
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/unsettling-conservation-six-peaks/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Culture,Indigenous,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/promo-square-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231007
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231010
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230808T040719Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230922T033348Z
UID:43076-1696640400-1696813199@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Spring Book Sale
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
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:20231006T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231006T120000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230713T231912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231005T012725Z
UID:41671-1696588200-1696593600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:The Photography of the BMI | Victorian Seniors Festival | Now fully Booked
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/photography-bmi-seniors-festival/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/MH-1900-Lydiard-St-Flood-1983.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231005T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231005T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230720T022135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070347Z
UID:42008-1696530600-1696537800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Clare Fletcher
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-clare-fletcher/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/promotional-square-clare-fletcher.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230717T010541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230914T015032Z
UID:41747-1696415400-1696419000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-of-the-ballaarat-mechanics-institute-victorian-seniors-festival/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BMI-woodcut_bags.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230717T010541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230914T015032Z
UID:41747-1696415400-1696419000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-of-the-ballaarat-mechanics-institute-victorian-seniors-festival/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BMI-woodcut_bags.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20231004T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230717T010541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230914T015032Z
UID:41747-1696415400-1696419000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-of-the-ballaarat-mechanics-institute-victorian-seniors-festival/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BMI-woodcut_bags.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230928T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230804T042100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T070216Z
UID:42765-1695924000-1695931200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Tania Farrelly
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
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:20230924T210000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230924T220000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230705T042605Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230914T015126Z
UID:41364-1695589200-1695592800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-6/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230924T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230924T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230705T042602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230914T015134Z
UID:41363-1695582000-1695585600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-5/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230923T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230923T230000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230825T020345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230825T030733Z
UID:44076-1695497400-1695510000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Australian Burlesque Festival | The Big Teaser
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/the-big-teaser/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Burlesque
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/burlesque.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230920T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230705T055031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T043031Z
UID:41381-1695232800-1695240000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Meet the Author |  Justin Smith
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
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:20230916T170000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230916T180000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230804T052600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230825T030905Z
UID:42786-1694883600-1694887200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Chamber Music in Ballarat | All Beethoven Duo Recital
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/all-beethoven-duo-recital/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Art programs,Classical Music,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Square-promotional.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230914T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230914T210000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230202T033121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011354Z
UID:33974-1694719800-1694725200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - Ema
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-ema/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ema01.jpg-e1675308876596.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230713T051346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230811T040043Z
UID:41664-1692817200-1692822600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-4-2/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kadampa-Ballarat-sep-dec-2023-1-logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230713T051346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230811T040043Z
UID:41664-1692817200-1692822600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-4-2/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kadampa-Ballarat-sep-dec-2023-1-logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230827T210000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230827T220000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230705T041857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T043532Z
UID:41357-1693170000-1693173600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-4/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230827T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230827T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003534
CREATED:20230705T041900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T043517Z
UID:41358-1693162800-1693166400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-3/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230826T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230826T213000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230726T024254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230726T024259Z
UID:42329-1693080000-1693085400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Sweeney Preston & Ethan Cavanagh: Presentation is Everything | SPECIAL TAPING
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/presentation-is-everything/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Comedy,Externally Produced Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Eventbrite-Lead-Image-e1690339348319.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230823T203000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230713T051346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230811T040043Z
UID:41664-1692817200-1692822600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-4-2/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/kadampa-Ballarat-sep-dec-2023-1-logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230818T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230818T160000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230801T011327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230801T015937Z
UID:42439-1692352800-1692374400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Conservation for non-conservators
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/conversation-for-non-conservators-amaga/
LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Conservation
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Volunteers-web.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230812T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230812T211500
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20220630T020615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230802T022033Z
UID:19932-1691870400-1691874900@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Daniel Connell - I'm Always Sore
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/daniel-connell/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Comedy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/daniel-connell-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230810T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230810T210000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230202T031313Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011409Z
UID:33959-1691695800-1691701200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - While at War (Mientras dure la guerra)
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-whileatwar/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/vdq-TkpVIQY-e1675308153820.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230729T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230729T230000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230614T020804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T235423Z
UID:40564-1690657200-1690671600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Fanny Lumsden: Hey Dawn Tour - Ballarat
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/hey-dawn-tour/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/fanny-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230723T210000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230723T220000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230705T040454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T041631Z
UID:41354-1690146000-1690149600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-2/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230723T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230723T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230705T040742Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T041742Z
UID:41337-1690138800-1690142400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/minervas-secrets-night-tours-1/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/night-tours-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230722T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230722T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230620T044609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230705T234644Z
UID:40732-1690052400-1690056000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Feltopia World Tour | Randy Feltface
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/feltopia-world-tour/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/feltopia.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230713T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230713T210000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230202T032934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011400Z
UID:33969-1689276600-1689282000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - Lake of Scars
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-lakeofscars/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/r0_0_1160_1578_w1160_h1578_fmax-e1675307860713.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230516T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230516T150000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230515T053426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230515T053446Z
UID:39816-1684245600-1684249200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/tours-of-ballarat-mechanics-institute-heritage-2/
LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BMI-facade.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230707T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230707T200000
DTSTAMP:20260409T003535
CREATED:20230626T052415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230706T042322Z
UID:41071-1688756400-1688760000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Six Strings\, One Heart | Australian Concert Tour: Spanish Guitar
DESCRIPTION:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 1\, Special Event | Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson				\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n																														\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n		\n			February 26\n\n	\n\n	  @  \n\n\n5:30 pm\n\n		\n\n\n\n	\n	  -  \n\n6:30 pm\n\n\n\n	\n				\n				\n				\n									Bar open at 5pm 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n				\n					\n$9 – $13 				\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									Get tickets\n					\n					\n								\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					Dancers on the Sea: Stories from Atauro Island\, Timor-Leste \n1994-2002				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Speaker: Gabrielle Samson\, Author				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Gabrielle Samson Gabrielle\, a writer of fiction and memoir\, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia\, Indonesia\, PNG\, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Gabrielle now lives on a community nature refuge in southern Queensland where she writes\, reads\, gardens\, listens to music and attempts playing it. She teaches Indonesian language\, is a U3A tutor of a Warwick writing group and is a member of the Carindale Writers Group (Brisbane). Gabrielle has a degree in Anthropology and English Literature and post graduate diplomas in Education and Special Needs Education. Gabrielle lived and worked on Atauro from 1996 – 2008 and beyond. Her memoir ‘Dancers On The Sea’ – Stories from Ataúro Island Timor Leste (1994 – 2002) – was published in October\, 2023. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n												\n																					Gabrielle Samson\n										\n									\n				\n												\n																					Elizeo (Azyu) | Book Art\n										\n									\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island\, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education. The memoir shares the stories of some of the people with whom she lived in a time of great change…During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement\, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.Supported by the university\, Gabrielle agreed to spend six months on the remote and poor island of Atauro\, to live in the community as the only Westerner in its harsh and often cruel conditions. It doesn’t take long for Gabrielle to fall in love with the island\, its people and an Indonesian co-worker\, resulting in the following twelve years of her life being spent living on the island. Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for\, and achieved\, its independence and became Timor-Leste. “A moving and insightful book of reality and compassion…beautifully told and deeply shared…” Lisa\, Readalot Reviewer 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																														\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Reviews and comments about Dancers On The Sea Christine Perkins (ex AVI Timor)‘Oh Gabrielle\, I have just finished reading Dancers On The Sea\, thank you. Your writing is evocative and engaging. So many of my own memories of Atauro and the people there have resurfaced. I have laughed and often read with tears on my cheeks.. The telling of the love between you and Anton was beautiful and the honest way which you have described Timor-Leste and Timorese is powerful. I have read many books about Timor and they are mostly descriptive but your ability to be reflective and to also lead the reader to see\, hear\, and feel the environment is amazing. Thank you again\, Christine’ Christopher Dureau‘I’m reading it at the moment sitting in Broome. And loving it all. Congratulations’. Lansell Taudevin (ex-AusAid Timor)‘Gabrielle was one who lived and worked with the people of Atauro. She spent over a decade there\, quietly and unassumingly going about her daily tasks without fanfare or accolades. She was a true advocate of empathetic humanity. She based her life and work on the most noble of human virtues: love for and understanding of\, the people with whom she worked. She worked out of love – for and from them.Her book reflects these qualities. They have nothing to do with ‘look at me\, look at me!’ Her contribution arises from a perspective that can only arise from love.These qualities underpin her writing. The book flows like dancers on the sea. The love story is intertwined with a real love story with her Anton. You can sense the character she has and be overwhelmed by her sincerity.Of all the books I have read about Timor Leste\, this is by far the most moving and genuine as it evolves from a deep understanding of the people amongst whom she lived and loved.When I lived in Timor\, I used to refer to her as the Angel Gabriel. I was right.’ Jenny Toisuta (ex Satya Wacana University UKSW\, Salatiga)‘I received my copy of your book two days ago and couldn’t put it down – I finished it last night. It is truly beautiful. . . .beautiful descriptions of the sea\, of the moon and the sunrises and of the Atauro people of all ages working together and singing as they pulled the boats out of the water for repairs\,or the Bikeli fishermen singing as they passed\, catching the lobster with Pak Vasco. It was very useful to have a brief introduction to the history of East Timor under the Portuguese and the divvying up of parts of the Archipelago between the Dutch and the Portuguese. The more nuanced picture you painted of East Timor under Indonesia will\, I hope\, lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of people like Anton and the Indonesian teachers and public servants who were really committed to making a difference.’ Klaas Vandersluis‘Just reading your book\, moving and beautiful\, lots of heart . . . it is a fully embodied love and adventure story!!! You bare who you are from page to page!’ Sarah Moon‘Thank you for promoting the documentation of this corner of history!’ Felix Nahak (Satya Wacana University\, Java)‘Selamat Bu\, semoga bermanfaat khususnya buat masyarakat Atauro dan teman-teman yang pernah bersama Ibu dalam kurung waktu tersebut. God BLESS You. (Congratulations Ibu\, I hope this is useful for the Atauro community and the friends that were with you during that time. God Bless You)’ Mane Bonito Feto Bonita‘You are their hero. People from Atauro Island want to say thank you.’ Sieneke Martin (ex Oxfam and Caritas Timor)‘What a beautiful book ! Fantastic. I read it in one go and have now lent it to our friend\, Jose Simsa.’ Bibi Ahmed (ex-community worker\, Timor)‘Gabrielle\,I want to write to you about how much I loved your book. But I feel like I don’t even have the words to start to describe the effect it had on me. Seriously. It’s too big. But I really want to tell you how much I loved it. It’s the most moving book I have ever read in my entire life. It’s affected me in a way that no other book has. Like a punch in the guts that I can’t let go of. It could be partly because I share your deep love\, and connection to the people of East Timor (also through a previous connection to Indonesia). So your words\, your stories\, your observations and experiences hit me deep in the core of my guts\, with a deep black umbilical cord connection. You put words to the complexities\, mysteries and paradoxes of the East Timorese /Indonesian relationship\, the challenges of navigating cross cultural relationships and experiences and the inexpressible beauty of indigenous connection to nature\, ancestors\, knowledge\, and truth that I too have witnessed. I have never been affected so strongly by a book before. It really did grab me deep inside and hold me like I was actually there with you\, as if I was actually living the experiences you described so beautifully.I had to put it away for a while sometimes\, just to stave off the despair of the thought of it finishing.’ Christine Stark (U3A Reviewer\, Warwick)‘Dancers on the Sea is a page-turner that’s strangely soothing at the same time. The switching of topics and the information and descriptions that are included\, kept me wanting to read more\, right to the end. This was due to my curiosity about what comes next\, rather than the dread that fast-paced books often have. The book is loosely in chronological order\, allowing you to develop a sense of time and understanding of the changes and the people Gabrielle comes to know very well. Set within this over-arching story are rich and varied vignettes that provide vividly detailed snapshots of cultural and human-interest topics; revealing a fascinating and complex tapestry of lives on what first appears to be a tropical island with a small population living simple lifestyles.’ Sally Walvin (Brisbane)‘I recently read ‘Dancers on the Sea’\, a memoir by Gabrielle Samson. The book is set in East Timor before that country became independent.  It explores the extraordinary years Gabrielle spent on the remote Atauro Island during the last years of the resistance against Indonesia. I didn’t have a great knowledge on the history or politics of the Indonesian military regime.  However through the storytelling I found a balance of history and was inspired by the island life stories and intrigued by the cultural rituals that were so sensitively captured by Gabrielle. I really enjoyed this captivating story and was delighted by the moving love story that was entwined throughout.’ A wonderful read.  Elise Schuster (Australian Embassy\, Dili)‘I thoroughly enjoyed your book…any book written about Timor Leste is a treasure because of its rarity\, yours was so lush and poetic and human\, refreshing and enchanting\, but also illuminating for other malae for whom so many aspects of Timorese culture\, history and community remain mysteries. Thanks you for sharing your story and how it is entwined with the story of the hard-won restoration of Timorese independence. Dancers On The Sea should be essential reading for all Malae.’ 								\n				\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					This event is proudly supported by Community Bank Buninyong				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									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. 								\n					\n		\n				\n			\n						\n																\n															\n															\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					Tickets and Bookings 				\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n									Tickets $9 BMI members & $13 general admittance\, plus bkg fee | These prices include gst. 								\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					More Talks				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n							\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n							\n			\n		\n						\n				\n					BMI News				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n					\n            \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Executive Manager Update – April 2026\n                        Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI\,... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Newsletter – April 2026\n                        Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones\, a... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/six-strings-one-heart-spanish-guitar/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/andrea-gonzalez-caballero.png
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