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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240904T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240904T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T012206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T015100Z
UID:55303-1725476400-1725481800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Embracing Change & Finding Purpose
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-4-sep-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ecfp-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240904T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240904T200000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240429T042735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T023004Z
UID:54292-1725472800-1725480000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with J.P. Pomare
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/j-p-pomare/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/josh-pomare-square-promo-v2-final.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240828T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240828T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T011854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T015103Z
UID:55301-1724871600-1724877000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Embracing Change & Finding Purpose
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-28-aug-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ecfp-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240825T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240825T160000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240708T004759Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071355Z
UID:57089-1724596200-1724601600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Play Reading | Queer Canon - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/queer-canon-faqt/
LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/john.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240825T120000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240825T132000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240708T003208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071357Z
UID:57081-1724587200-1724592000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Chasing Dick: A Love Story - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/chasing-dick-faqt/
LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Add-a-heading-11.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T204000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240708T001243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071359Z
UID:57060-1724527800-1724532000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Numa & Karl: Extraordinary Man That He Was - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/numa-karl-faqt/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Add-a-heading-6.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T143000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T173000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240708T001221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071402Z
UID:57059-1724509800-1724520600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Moira Finucaine - Master Class - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/moira-finucaine-faqt/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MOIRA-FINUCANE-1.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240824T140000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240708T000737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071405Z
UID:57052-1724497200-1724508000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Maud Davey - Master Class - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/maud-davey-master-class-faqt/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MAUD-DAVEY.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240823T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240823T211000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240715T235352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071352Z
UID:57285-1724443200-1724447400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:A Body at Work - FAQT
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/a-body-at-work-faqt/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:FAQT - Festival of Australian Queer Theatre,Festival
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/A-Body-at_Work_HiRes_Landscape_Darren_Gill_2.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240821T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240821T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T011628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T015106Z
UID:55299-1724266800-1724272200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Happiness\, Success & the Law of Karma
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-21-aug-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ecfp-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240820T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240820T200000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240430T023540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T051523Z
UID:54352-1724176800-1724184000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Anna Romer
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/anna-romer/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/square-promo-anna-romer-v-4.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240819T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240819T213000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240716T061946Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T063056Z
UID:57341-1724088600-1724103000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Herald Sun Aria Semi-Final
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/herald-sun-aria-semi-final/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Herald-Sun-Aria-Dinner-and-Show-Package-Flyer-2024-Instagram-Post.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240814T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240814T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T011424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T013843Z
UID:55297-1723662000-1723667400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Happiness\, Success & the Law of Karma
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-14-aug-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meditation-Class-Ballarat-Q2-24-Flyer-1-event-image.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240811T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240817T213000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240717T001750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T064952Z
UID:57361-1723372200-1723930200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Competition
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/freemasons-vocal-competition/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/vocal-e1721174871956.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240809T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240809T210000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240604T033411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T112255Z
UID:55847-1723233600-1723237200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Daniel Connell - Little Aussie Battler
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/daniel-connell-aussie-battler/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Comedy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/daniel-oconnell-little-aussie-battler-square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T210000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240130T002804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T143034Z
UID:50611-1723145400-1723150800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Army of Shadows
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-army-of-shadows/
LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/army-of-shadows-e1706575038721.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240808T200000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240429T031641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T112257Z
UID:54288-1723140000-1723147200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Margaret Hickey
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/margaret-hickey/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/square-promo-margaret-hickey-v2.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240807T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240807T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T011044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T011342Z
UID:55294-1723057200-1723062600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Happiness\, Success & the Law of Karma
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-7-aug-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meditation-Class-Ballarat-Q2-24-Flyer-1-event-image.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240807T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240807T190000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240704T051426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T061146Z
UID:56958-1723051800-1723057200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics | Public Talk
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/dark-matter/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Festival,Fundraiser,Members,Science Week,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/square-elizabetta.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240804T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240804T154500
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240716T042503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240717T232452Z
UID:57313-1722780000-1722786300@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Preludes\, Intermezzi and Nocturnes | Program 2
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/preludes-intermezzi-and-nocturnes-2/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Classical Music,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Concert-graphics-Square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240803T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240803T194500
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240716T042041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T061828Z
UID:57298-1722708000-1722714300@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Preludes\, Intermezzi and Nocturnes
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/preludes-intermezzi-and-nocturnes/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Classical Music,Live Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Concert-graphics-Square.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240801T173000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240829T223000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T020059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T020238Z
UID:55314-1722533400-1724970600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Ballarat Chess Club
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-chess-club-aug-24/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Ballarat Chess Club
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ballarat-chess-club-square-with-boarder.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240731T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240731T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190912
CREATED:20240520T013514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T013636Z
UID:55309-1722452400-1722457800@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Happiness\, Success & the Law of Karma
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-31-jul-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meditation-Class-Ballarat-Q2-24-Flyer-1-event-image.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240729T200000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240605T015052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113538Z
UID:55878-1722276000-1722283200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Leah Kaminsky & Jacinta Halloran
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kaminsky-halloran/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/promo-square-from-poster-leah-jacinta.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240726T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240726T143000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240614T045623Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071410Z
UID:56207-1721998800-1722004200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Rare Book Week Melbourne | Regional Event | Introduction to the BMI Collection
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rare-books-melbourne-regional-event-introduction-to-the-bmi-collection/
LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:About us,Important Dates,Rare Book Week,The Collection
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG39-BMI-crop.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240724T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240724T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240520T010815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T010944Z
UID:55292-1721847600-1721853000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Happiness\, Success & the Law of Karma
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-24-jul-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meditation-Class-Ballarat-Q2-24-Flyer-1-event-image.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240722T103000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240727T150000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240625T090014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T072904Z
UID:56453-1721644200-1722092400@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Rare Book Week | BMI Vintage 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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rare-book-week-bmi-vintage-book-sale/
LOCATION:hooper Room
CATEGORIES:About us,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Rare Book Week
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/promo-square-vintage-book-sale-v3.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240721T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240721T160000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240627T030459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T071407Z
UID:56613-1721566800-1721577600@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Fashions in Time Mannequin Parade & Devonshire Tea Fundraiser
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/fashions-in-time/
LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350
CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/square-promo-fashion-in-time.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240717T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240717T203000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240520T010549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T010743Z
UID:55290-1721242800-1721248200@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Detox & Simplify - 3 Steps to Uncomplicate Your Life
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-17-jul-24/
LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:kadampa
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Meditation-Class-Ballarat-Q2-24-Flyer-1-event-image.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240716T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20240716T200000
DTSTAMP:20260513T190913
CREATED:20240612T054536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T110700Z
UID:56092-1721152800-1721160000@ballaratmi.org.au
SUMMARY:In Conversation with Louise Le Nay
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        BMI Fundraiser | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables\n                        Save the date for this year’s Vintage Fashion Parade The... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        After the Noise Kerri Rogan Don’t miss Kerri who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n                        The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will... \n                    \n        \n    \n        \n            \n                \n            \n        Ballarta Writers – write it your way\n                        Stella Day Out\, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events... \n                    \n        \n    \n            \n                    \n                \n                    \n                    Load More
URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/louise-le-nay/
LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library
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