BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.17.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261125T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261125T183000 DTSTAMP:20260625T023611Z CREATED:20260623T232758Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T023611Z UID:73816-1795627800-1795631400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks: Season 2\, Understanding the Language of your Body DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-season-2-the-language-of-your-body/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-tt-language-of-your-body.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261202T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261202T183000 DTSTAMP:20260709T034048Z CREATED:20260625T024453Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T034048Z UID:73897-1796232600-1796236200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks: Season 2\, 100 Year History of Legacy\, Ballarat DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-season-2-100-year-history-of-legacy-ballarat/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-tt-legacy.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261210T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261210T210000 DTSTAMP:20260414T073342Z CREATED:20260129T055545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T073342Z UID:70454-1796931000-1796936400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Smiley Gets a Gun DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-film-society-smiley-gets-a-gun/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/smiley-sq-promo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261212T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261213T140000 DTSTAMP:20260619T051722Z CREATED:20260619T034945Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T051722Z UID:73676-1797069600-1797170400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Sale | Reward yourself with some excellent Christmas reading DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/book-sale-reward-yourself-with-some-excellent-christmas-reading/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-christmas-26.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270501T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270502T140000 DTSTAMP:20260619T051712Z CREATED:20260619T051024Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T051712Z UID:73683-1809165600-1809266400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Sale | Reward yourself with some excellent Autumn reading DESCRIPTION:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n May 7\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n7:30 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n$11.78 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Humffray Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The House of Kwa \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Mimi Kwa. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The dragon circles and swoops … a tiger running alone in the night … Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it\, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved Aunt Theresa\, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this\, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s 32 children\, Mimi’s father\, Francis\, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later\, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother\, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed\, chronic mental illness. Soon after\, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived\, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began… \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Riveting\, colourful and often darkly humorous\, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations\, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence\, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and f inally putting them to rest. Throughout\, her inspiration is Francis’s late older sister\, the jet-setting\, free-spirited Aunt Theresa\, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Praise for 'House of Kwa' \n \n ‘Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.’ Trent Dalton ‘Compelling\, memorable and vividly told\, this is a startling tale of the past\, its grip on the present\, and the battle to set yourself free.’ Richard Glover ‘An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.’ Lisa Millar ‘Heartbreaking and uplifting.’ Meaghan Wilson Anastasios ‘Mimi’s heroic saga illustrates what makes us the multi-cultural nation we are today.’ Mike Munro \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About the author \n \n Mimi Kwa has been an Australian journalist and television newsreader on the ABC and Nine Network for twenty years as well as an actor and presenter appearing in commercials and FOXTEL\, STAN and ABC TV series. She and her partner\, John\, live in Melbourne\, with their four children\, a cavoodle and a Burmese cat. Mimi loves to paint and write. This memoir is her first book. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Price includes booking fee & gst\, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/book-sale-reward-yourself-with-some-excellent-autumn-reading/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-autumn-26.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR