Artistanbul: Create your own Turkish Mosaic Lamp
2026-01-10 13:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
January 10
@
1:00 pm
–
4:00 pm

$59 – $129
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

DIY Workshop | Turkish Mosaic Lamp
Bring colour, light, and creativity together in this hands-on Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop hosted by ArtIstanbul, right in the heart of Ballarat.
Guided by our friendly instructors, you’ll design and build your very own mosaic lamp using pre-cut glass and low-fume adhesive – no cutting or grouting required. Perfect for beginners and all skill levels!
Each guest will take home a stunning, fully functional lamp and a take-home grout kit for finishing touches once dry.
Choose Your Lamp Style:• Candle Holder – $59• Table Lamp (Botti) – $109• Swan Lamp – $129
Optional Add-ons:Take home your own DIY Lamp Kit (25% off retail) or browse our pop-up store featuring jewellery, ceramics and finished lamps.All materials, bulbs, aprons, and gloves are included – just bring your creativity!
What’s Included:All materials & tools | Step-by-step instruction | Take-home grout kit | Retail pop-up access
Please arrive 10–15 minutes early to collect your lamp base and get settled.
Queries M: 0410 052 134

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Ballarat Festival of Organ and Fine Music | Darkness & Delight - Jerry Wong (solo piano)
2026-01-12 18:00 - 19:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
January 12
@
6:00 pm
–
7:00 pm
$10.75 – $46.63
Insert venue…

Get Tickets

Darkness & Delight
Jerry Wong (solo piano)

International pianist and Associate Professor of Music – Piano and Head of Keyboard at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Jerry Wong presents – Darkness & Delight – a captivating journey through the contrasting worlds of the piano.
From the brooding depths of Liszt and Australian composer Miriam Hyde and the luminous joy of Beethoven to the introspective clarity of Bach, this recital explores music’s power to move between shadow and light. With artistry, insight and expressive flair, Jerry Wong reveals the piano as both confessional and celebration – a mirror of the full range of human emotion.
Find out more about Jerry Wong

View Full Festival Program

Get tickets $10.75-$46.63

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Billy Hinde's Big Band presents: A Night of Big Band
2026-01-23 19:30 - 21:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
January 23
@
7:30 pm
–
9:30 pm
$49.65
Minerva Space

Get Tickets

This event was designed to bring world class quality jazz music to Ballarat, where we frequently have to travel to find music of such high quality.
Billy Hinde is a homegrown Ballarat Musician who has played with many great big bands around Victoria including the Melbourne Youth Jazz Orchestra, JazzLab Orchestra, Seb Big Band and has recently been a featured soloist for many local groups including the Moorabool Light Orchestra, Ballarat Arts Foundation and Royal South Street Society.
Follow – Billy

Tickets: $49.65 plus booking fee

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

In Conversation with Geoff Parkes and Susi Fox
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
January 28
@
6:00 pm
–
7:30 pm
$11.78
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

Geoff Parkes
Susi Fox

The First Law of the Bush
Geoff Parkes
From the author of When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole and The First Law of the Bush.
Set in the 1990s in New Zealand’s King Country, The First Law of the Bush is the scintillating new rural noir from the author of When The Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole.
It’s a beautiful day to be alive, Bill Dickerson thought, seconds before he tumbled from the viaduct onto the jagged rocks below . . .
His awful death made national news. But still, one year on, Bill’s widow Carol has received no explanation about what happened. Was it suicide? An accident? Maybe murder?
So Carol hires lawyer Ryan Bradley in her fight for justice. Ryan has just returned to the remote town of Nashville after ten years away, so he’s in no position to turn down work.
Except the case seems hopeless from the start. Bill’s employer is denying responsibility, Carol’s friends are shunning her, and the only witnesses – co-workers Gav Coates and Wati Reynolds – can shed no light on the tragic fall. Even Senior Sergeant ‘Stinger’ Nettle is too busy turning a blind eye to Wati’s illegal schemes to dig deeper into the death.
But in small towns, nothing is quite what it seems. And for one Nashville resident the wrong question will come at a deadly price . . .

The Other Child
Susi Fox
From the author of bestselling psychological thriller Mine.
The Other Child is a compelling psychological suspense novel about creeping mistrust and fear of betrayal, from the author of the bestselling Mine.
Who do you trust when you can’t trust the one you love?
Four years on from the devastating loss of their first child, Lauren and Alex De Vale are finally the proud parents of new baby, Charlotte.
However as Lauren – who struggled to bond with her late son – returns to work, she is riddled with anxiety.
She knows all too well that one little mistake can lead to tragedy. What if something terrible happens to Charlotte while she’s not there?
Fear, grief and guilt make for a potent mix. And all it takes is one neighbour’s offhand comment to spark Lauren’s worst fears – and deep-seated suspicions . . .
Praise for Susi Fox
‘An original, brave new voice.’ Australian Women’s Weekly on Mine
‘I couldn’t sleep until I finished it . . . and then I couldn’t sleep at all.’ Dervla McTiernan on Mine

About the authors
Geoff Parkes
Born and raised in rural New Zealand, Geoff Parkes now lives in Melbourne. For the last twelve years he’s written a weekly opinion column for The Roar, Australia’s leading on-line sports website. He is the author of two crime novels, When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole and The First Law of the Bush.
Geoff Parkes | Photo: Penguin Random House, Australia
Susi Fox | Photo: Breeana Dunbar
Susi Fox
Susi Fox is the author of bestselling psychological thriller Mine, which was shortlisted for the Davitt Awards in 2019. Susi is also a GP specialising in relationship and family therapy, with a focus on Internal Family Systems (IFS). She lives in the Macedon Ranges with her family.
This event will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard

$11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.

Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Living From a Place of Inner Peace - Ballarat Public Talk
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:15 | City of Ballarat
January 28
@
7:00 pm
–
8:15 pm
$25
Minerva Space

Living with inner peace is not something we have to wait for. It is something we can actively cultivate every day. Our mind has incredible power. It can create stress and unease, or it can support a life filled with stability, joy, and meaning.
In this course, inspired by Buddha’s teachings, we will explore how to gently transform unhelpful habits of thought and develop the inner qualities that allow peace to flourish. When we nurture calm and clarity within, we bring more harmony into our relationships, our work, and every moment of our life.
In a fast moving world, learning to live from a place of inner peace is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and those around us.
Join us for this uplifting talk and discover practical, compassionate methods to create a peaceful and positive mind, from the inside out.
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Gen Kelsang Rabten is the Resident Teacher of KMC Australia (Dandenong Ranges) and KMC Melbourne (CBD). Ordained in 1994, he has studied under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for 30 years. He has taught in many centres around the world including Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia.
Gen Rabten exemplifies the essence of the modern Kadampa’s way of life, brings a warm heart and joyful attitude to sharing Buddha’s teachings and the practice of meditation.
Gen Kelsang Rabten

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | A Fresh Start: Discover the Power of Meditation
2026-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
February 4
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | A Fresh Start: Discover the Power of Meditation
2026-02-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
February 11
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Ballarat Film Society | Flow
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
February 12
@
7:30 pm
–
9:00 pm
Minerva Room
Animated Animal Ecofable

We begin 2026 with a beautiful animated film about a wide-eyed curious cat and other animals seeking refuge on a boat as their human-free world of eerie buildings and enormous statues is inexplicably and rapidly flooded.
As the waters carry them along, they traverse magical, submerged landscapes, and are exposed to dangerous elemental forces. The film, which does not anthropomorphise the animals by giving them human speech or names, nonetheless shows them as having distinct personalities: a sleepy capybara, a jolly labrador retriever, a narcissistic ring-tailed lemur, and a majestic white secretary bird, brought together by the dangers they encounter to use their various skills to survive as a group. Sound designer Gurwal Coïc-Gallas used real animal sounds for each character – in particular his own cat Miut. A mysterious fable for our times, Flow has become the most attended film in Latvia’s history and won the 2025 Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Madman

Latvia, 2024, 85 min. Directed, written and produced by Gints Zilbalodi
Ballarat Film Society

Membership
12 months – Feb-December: $60
Feb-July: $35 – July-Dec: $30
To join or renew your membership, please e-mail or phone Angus McLachlan (5374 2474), or come with cash on the night.
Membership can be paid by bank transfer or with cash.
For film enquiries, phone Sue Nunn: 5341 2266 or visit the Ballarat Film Society website
All films are subject to availability. If there is no next film shown below it means the BFS is working on next season’s programme.

In conversation with Tori Baxter | Book Launch
2026-02-14 12:00 - 14:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
February 14
@
12:00 pm
–
2:00 pm

$10.00
Minerva Space

Get tickets

My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire
Tori Baxter
Book launch for My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire and live conversation event with Author Tori Baxter and Journalist Abby Dinham around motherhood, survival and domestic violence partnerships.

My Sweet Monster | Tori Baxter
About Tori
Tori Baxter is a Melbourne-based writer whose debut memoir, My Sweet Monster, was brought to life after five years of catastrophic events. These experiences led Baxter down an unknown path of chronic health conditions, mental health crisis, pregnancy abandonment, sex work, poverty, and the pain that comes with loving a substance abuser.
Tori’s writing brings a truth to the page that most people would spend their lives burying; her hope is to help others who experience domestic violence feel less alone.

Follow Tori

Tori will be in conversation with Abby Dinham
Abby Dinham is a Senior Crime & News Reporter, bringing extensive experience in the Australian broadcasting landscape.

$10 per person

Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Joseph Tawadros | Solo Oud
2026-02-15 17:00 - 18:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
February 15
@
5:00 pm
–
6:00 pm
$5 – $40
Minerva Space

Get Tickets

This event was designed to bring world class quality world music to Ballarat, where locals frequently have to travel to find music of such high quality.

Joseph Tawadros AM is a leading Oud virtuoso, composer and 8 time ARIA-award winner. Born in Cairo, his chosen instrument, the Oud is an Arabic lute, the ancestor of the lute and modern guitar.
A virtuoso of diversity and sensitivity, Joseph performs in concert halls worldwide and is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship, storytelling and joyous style of performance. Joseph’s drive to push musical boundaries has inspired collaborations with diverse performers and a solid repertoire of innovative, original music.
He performs live as a soloist, in duo with his brother James on Egyptian percussion, with his jazz quartet or with chamber orchestras and symphony orchestras all over the world.
Joseph has performed his own works with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, Western Australian Symphony, Adelaide Symphony, Ukraine National Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, the Morphing Chamber Orchestra. His ground-breaking Concerto for Oud & Orchestra was performed with the Sydney Symphony and recorded and released by ABC Classics in 2019.
He has recorded his music with many US jazz luminaries such as John Abercrombie, Jack de Johnette, Roy Ayers, John Patitucci, Bela Fleck, Mike Stern, Joey DeFrancesco, Richard Bona and Christian McBride. Classical collaborations include Richard Tognetti, William Barton, The Grigoryan Brothers, Christian Lindberg, Gurrumul, James Crabb and his songs have been performed/recorded by The Song Company and Andreas Scholl.
He has performed several sell-out Australian tours with the Australian Chamber Orchestra led by Richard Tognetti – and performed with them at the Sydney Opera House for their 50th Anniversary concert in November 2025.
Joseph was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for services to music in 2016.

Follow The Bowerbird Collective

Tickets: $40 adults, $37.50 Concession, From $25 pay what you can, $5.00 under 18yrs

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | A Fresh Start: Discover the Power of Meditation
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
February 18
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

In Conversation with Paula McLean
2026-02-25 18:30 - 20:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
February 25
@
6:30 pm
–
8:00 pm
$11.78
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

The One Remaining
Paula McLean

The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories.
Hilary Mason is thirteen when her sister Elaine disappears. She fears someone close to the family is involved but represses her suspicions.
As an adult, Hilary becomes a successful novelist. In her fifties, she comes upon a stack of her old diaries, which document the trauma she’s endured. She decides she is ready to face the hidden backstory of her life.
She embarks on writing a memoir, Hilary’s Story, which will take her through her worst years and her best years, through courage and endurance, through friendship and great love.
‘The One Remaining is a wise, beautiful and moving novel about the whole of a woman’s life. I lived with the main character Hilary through her griefs, suffering and great joys. I cried as I read, then I wiped my eyes and smiled. McLean shows us how surviving loss and trauma is not linear or clear, but gives a depth and richness to life nonetheless.’ Sophie Gee, The Secret Life of Books podcast

About the author
Paula McLean, Author
Paula McLean is the immediate past Deputy Chair and Patron of the Stella Prize, and now a NSW Ambassador. I am on the board of the Country Education Foundation, a member of the She Gives Advisory Group and a trustee of McLean Foundation, which supports conservation, education, domestic violence and literature. I began the Nature Writing Prize, administered by The Nature Conservancy Australia. A former fiction and educational publishing editor, I am also the author of Good Foods for Babies and Toddlers.
This event will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard

$11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.

Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | A Fresh Start: Discover the Power of Meditation
2026-02-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
February 25
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Whispers of Shadows
2026-02-28 20:00 - 23:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
February 28
@
8:00 pm
–
11:00 pm

$20.50
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

‘A celebration of resilience, a hymn to the unwavering power of the human spirit, a poetic whisper that echoes into eternity’
Experience a mesmerising night of art rock, spoken word, and experimental sound as Danielle Whalebone presents Whispers of Shadows an immersive live performance that blends music, projections, and emotion into a powerful multi-sensory journey.

Whispers of Shadows – Damon Sky
Exploring themes of isolation, longing, and resilience, Whalebone and noise guitarist Francesco Manuse create a soundscape that moves between ethereal stillness and volcanic intensity. Their performance combines feedback-laden guitar textures, bowed strings, and shifting psychedelic projections, transforming the stage into a living, breathing canvas of sound and light.
Merging the epic crescendos of post-rock with the raw spontaneity of improvisation, Whispers of Shadows invites audiences to step beyond the ordinary into a space where art, sound, and emotion converge.
Don’t miss this unforgettable live performance a hypnotic fusion of music, light, and poetic storytelling that resonates long after the final note fades.
Artist Overview – Danielle Whalebone
“Where sound becomes a confession — and noise turns to poetry.”
Danielle Whalebone is an Australian songwriter, guitarist, and spoken-word artist whose work dissolves the borders between sound, poetry, and performance art. Emerging from Melbourne’s post-punk underground, she crafts immersive sonic landscapes that shimmer between fragility and ferocity — meditations on isolation, longing, and resilience. Her latest project, Whispers of Shadows, is a hypnotic fusion of noise-guitar, poetic narration, andshifting visual projections. Collaborating with renowned producer Lindsay Gravina (Birdland Studios; Magic Dirt, Rowland S. Howard,) and guitarist Francesco Manuse, Whalebone transforms live performance into a multi-sensory event — equal parts concert, theatre, and dreamscape.
More About – Danielle Whalebone
Whalebone first gained attention in Melbourne underground music scene her post punk band drew comparisons to the darker lineage ofAustralian rock. With Whispers of Shadows, she expands that world — embracing experimental structures, feedback-driven atmospheres, and spoken-word storytelling.Her performances are immersive experiences where light, texture, and tone intertwine. Shifting projections reflect emotional states; guitar feedback swells like ocean tides. At their core lie Whalebone’s words — intimate and haunting, exploring the fractures of identity, memory, and love. Critics have described her sound as “ethereal yet volcanic” and “cinema for the ears.” The work recalls the intensity of artists like Nick Cave, Swans, and My Bloody Valentine, while standing firmlyin its own shadowed territory — art-rock that pulses with vulnerability, intellect, and defiance.With the upcoming Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute performance in 2026, Whispers of Shadows will reach its full immersive form — combining sound design, poetry, and visuals into a performance that feels less like a show and more like a passage through light and darkness.
Follow – Danielle

Tickets: $20 plus booking fee –
Our bar will be open, plus… There will be a meet and greet after the show.

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Pub Cinemas Presents: 'In The Shadow of the Gallows' & short film 'Vendetta 19'
2026-03-02 19:00 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
March 2
@
7:00 pm
–
9:00 pm

$21.00
Minerva Space

Get Tickets

Presented by Pub Cinemas: In the Shadow of the Gallows

In 1873 a frail figure was walked to the gallows at the Adelaide Gaol. She had been convicted of murdering her husband, and there would be no reprise. The hanging of Elizabeth Woolcock has gone on in Australian true crime history as one of the most contested cases to result in capital punishment.
In The Shadow Of The Gallows is a psychological and biographical masterpiece that delves into not only the biographical and forensic details of the case, but also the psychological state of a 23 year old woman in the final hour of her life.
Pub Cinemas invites to you view this original Australian production in the surrounds of one of our pub screening partners. We are dedicated to presenting amazing stories with a pint at your favourite local. Different to a cinema, Pub Cinemas brings you real stories about the people who made us who we are today.

Written by Regina Chieftain & staring Hilary Boyce.
Rated MA15. (NLSV)
Vendetta 19

Melbourne’s inner suburbs erupt in gang violence during the 1919 Fitzroy Vendetta. After a year of bloodshed, Squizzy Taylor stands alone, solidifying his notoriety. Chronicles the early criminal exploits of these infamous gangsters.

Written Written and Directed by Roy Maloy.
Pub Cinemas

$21.00 per person

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | How to Solve Our Human Problems: Managing Anger & Difficult Relationships
2026-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
March 4
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm

Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peacethrough meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community andoffers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve ourdaily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589meditateinballarat.orgABN 86 114 195 550KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

In Conversation with Kate Mildenhall & Josh Pomare
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
March 10
@
6:00 pm
–
7:30 pm
$11.78
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

Kate Mildenhall
J.P. Pomare

The Hiding Place
Kate Mildenhall
From the Author of Skylarking, The Mother Fault and The Hummingbird Effect
They’re good people. Why shouldn’t they get what they deserve?
When Lou sees an ad for a long-abandoned mining town up for sale, it doesn’t take her long to convince her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property buried in the bush – a place where the four families can hide away on weekends, get back to nature and unstick the kids from their screens.
But things start to go wrong before they even arrive for their first camping trip – a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line and squatters have set up camp down by the river. Soon none of that will matter, though, because by the end of the first night someone will be dead.
At first it seems that hiding a body is easier than keeping other sorts of secrets: a lost job, an illegal crop, an outrageous affair, a little embezzlement. But what’s buried has a way of coming to the surface, and even in the bush, it’s hard to remain unseen.
White Lotus meets The Slap in a razor-sharp literary thriller about deception and self-deception, and how far people will go to protect what they feel they ought to have.
‘Absolutely brilliant. I wish I had written this book.’ Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town

The Gambler
J. P. Pomare
A Vince Reid thriller
From the author of 17 Years Later
PI Vince Reid is visiting an old friend when he’s offered a case he can’t Why did a respected local woman open fire at a political rally, killing a promising young university graduate? It’s easy money, he’s told. A sure thing.
But as Reid delves further into the case, the stakes are higher than he imagined. There are invisible players pulling the strings. Will he walk away a winner or pay for the ultimate gamble with his life?
PRAISE FOR THE THRILLERS OF J.P. POMARE, including The Wrong Woman and 17 Years
‘Seriously good’ DERVLA McTIERNAN
‘There’s no better storyteller in the thriller game than Pomare’ COURIER MAIL
‘Shocking, twisty and impossible to put down’ CHRISTIAN WHITE
‘Propulsive. Clever. Satisfying’ THE GUARDIAN
‘Grabbed me from the opening page and didn’t let go’ MICHAEL ROBOTHAM
‘Pomare is a master of the impeccably paced psycho-thriller’ THE AUSTRALIAN

About the authors
Kate Mildenhall
Kate is the author of Skylarking (2016) The Mother Fault (2020) and The Hummingbird Effect ((2023). She lives in Hurstbridge on Wurundjeri lands, with her partner and two children.
Skylarking was longlisted for Debut Fiction in The Indie Book Awards 2017, and the 2017 Voss Literary Award. The Mother Fault was longlisted for the 2021 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Science Fiction Novel of the Year.
Kate Mildenhall, author

J.P. Pomare
J. P. Pomare is a New Zealand author who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
This event will be supported by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard

$11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.

Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | How to Solve Our Human Problems: Managing Anger & Difficult Relationships
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
March 4
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Ballarat Film Society | All We Imagine As Light
2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
March 12
@
7:30 pm
–
9:00 pm
Minerva Room
Contemporary Mumbai Drama/Romance

The first Indian film to receive the Grand Prix at Cannes, and primarily set in contemporary Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light centres on three Hindu women, their everyday lives and the bonds that they share with one another as well as with the larger world.
Payal Kapadia’s award-winning film has a depth that belies its deceptive lightness and calmness of tone. The film cannily observes how even romantic relationships in India are political. A beautiful, sweeping, emotional film that explores the complexities of female friendship, the film is an ode to the city and its people. Palace Film

​India, 2024, 118 mins. Dir: Payal Kapadia
​Stars: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam
Ballarat Film Society

Membership
12 months – Feb-December: $60
Feb-July: $35 – July-Dec: $30
To join or renew your membership, please e-mail or phone Angus McLachlan (5374 2474), or come with cash on the night.
Membership can be paid by bank transfer or with cash.
For film enquiries, phone Sue Nunn: 5341 2266 or visit the Ballarat Film Society website
All films are subject to availability. If there is no next film shown below it means the BFS is working on next season’s programme.

Ballarat Scottish Country Dance
2026-03-22 14:00 - 17:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
March 22
@
2:00 pm
–
5:30 pm

$10 – $30
Minerva Space

Scottish Country Dance is the social and special occasion dancing style of Scotland.And its heaps of fun!

Our group meets on Monday nights at Ballarat North Community Centre.New dancers are always very welcome. Come along and try it or just check it out.
You don’t need to be Scottish (most of us aren’t) or bring a partner – all you need is comfortable casual clothing including a pair of flat, soft shoes.
Scottish Country Dancing’s origins lie in both Scottish folk dancing and in the French Court of the 1700’s, and the steps and forms evolved through the teaching of itinerate dance masters and patronage of the gentry.
It is danced in sets of eight, in two lines. Each pair progresses up and down the set, dancing a series of figures. There are dances that are centuries old and dances devised yesterday!
It is not Highland Dancing with its energetic solo leaps, but it does engage the mind and body actively and literally keeps the dancers on their toes. Best of all is that it is lots of fun as well as being a real challenge.
It is suitable for all ages and adapts well to varied fitness levels but a sense of rhythm and a moderate level of fitness are an advantage. Scottish Country Dancing has extended world-wide with affiliated clubs scattered across the globe where international visitors are welcomed with enthusiasm.
Free all-day parking!
Cost is $30 dancers | $20 non-dancers | $10 full time students and includes a fabulous afternoon tea.
Observers are welcome.
Bookings are necessary for catering purposes.

Music by:
The David South Matthew Robertson Scottish Dance Band
David South – Accordion
Matthew Roberston – Fiddle
Julia Arnold – Piano
And Friends.
RSVP: By 23 March (for catering purposes) to:
Heather Ross – E: heathermross2021@outlook.com
M: 0418 313 060
Ticket Payment
Direct Deposit preferred to:
The Ballarat Scottish Country Dance Group Inc.
BSB 633-000 | Acct No 109985374 (Reference ‘your name/minerva’)

For More Information

In Conversation with Chrissie Bellbrae
2026-03-24 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
March 24
@
6:00 pm
–
7:30 pm
$11.78
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

The Romanov Secret
Chrissie Bellbrae

A priceless Fabergé jewel.
An empire on the brink of revolution.
A love to dangerous to reveal.
A celebrated artist’s painting holds clues to long-held family secrets and lives under threat, long after the fall of the Russian Empire.
1898: When the legitimacy of Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov’s marriage to the Tsar’s brother comes into question, her son’s claim to the Imperial throne is challenged too. But the Romanov dynasty desperately needs an heir, and their fate lies in the hand of the tyrannical Russian ruler. As revolution strikes the streets of St Petersburg and members of the Imperial family disappear, Tatiana must find a way to protect her son from mortal danger.
1982: Fashion Buyer Jean Campain has never forgiven her artist mother Aurora for making her relinquish her child. When Jean inherits the Archibald prize-winner’s previously unknown self-portrait she is compelled to interpret its hidden symbolism— and face the events that tore her family apart. But a conflicting account of the circumstances reveals Aurora’s dark deception, spiralling Jean into a breakdown, and threatens an end to her dream of family unity.
An enthralling story of maternal love and treacherous deceit transporting readers from the lavish palaces of St Petersburg to the lush vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula.

About the author
Chrissie Bellbrae, Author
Chrissie Bellbrae’s first stories were crafted playing families with dressmaking patterns at her mother’s feet while the sewing machine hummed in the background. While working in education, she undertook a Fiona McIntosh Masterclass and hasn’t stopped writing since.
Tempted to explore the rabbit holes within her own family history— Chrissie’s narratives transport readers from past to present, and create more significantly interesting lives for her ancestors than they possibly ever lived. Her debut novel, The Florentine Quilt, was inspired by a life-long interest in art, textiles and tales her grandmother told her.
Lured to the beauty of salt water, Chrissie acknowledges that she lives and writes on the coast of Wadawurrung Country.

Chrissie will be in conversation with Rozzi Bazzani
Rozzi Bazzani is an award winning author who has written scripts, libretti and songs for theatre including two stage musicals together with a wide range of articles about music, theatre and performance for publication. She has been a regular contributor to the Arts pages of the highest circulation newspaper in Australia.
Rozzi Bazzani
$11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.

Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Kadampa Meditation Series | Stillness in Motion: Living Spiritually in a Fast-Paced World
2026-03-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
March 18
@
7:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free – $12
Lending Library, ground floor

These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace
through meditation and Buddhist teachings.
The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and
offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance.
Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our
daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Beginners welcome, no bookings required.
Free for Kadampa members
Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia (Ballarat Branch)
info@meditateinmelbourne.org | 0455205589
meditateinballarat.org
ABN 86 114 195 550
KMC Australia is a not-for-profit organisation

Bookings

The Teacher
Christielli Portela has been teaching modern Kadampa Buddhism for a decade. As an experienced and well-loved teacher, she inspires people to use Buddhist meditation to improve their lives through her sincere example and clear teachings.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

The Dog Logs, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2026-04-10 19:00 - 20:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
April 10
@
7:00 pm
–
8:30 pm
$18 – $30
Minerva Space
A Play by C. J. Johnson, film critic for The Nightlife
Directed by Gin O’Brien
The Dog Logs is a refreshing take on canine life that is touching and surprisingly human.
From a tough Rottweiler with neighbour problems to a prima donna toy poodle who wants attention, this collection of hilarious and heart-breaking monologues examines the lives of dogs from every breed, age, and situation. Telling stories of friendship, romance, and revenge.

Playwright – C. J. Johnson
C.J. Johnson is the film critic for The Nightlife, listened to by a million listeners across Australia on ABC Local Radio and many more online internationally.
His website Film Mafia is widely read internationally, with millions of views to date. He also hosts the webseries Watch This.
He is a regular contributor to magazines and websites internationally, and the co-author of And The Oscar Didn’t Go To…
C.J.’s plays as writer include The Dog Logs, The Young Tycoons, Hollywood Ending, La La Land, Backpacker and Barnesy: The Harbour and You. They have been performed in every state and territory of Australia, on Norfolk Island, and in New York, Bangalore, London, Zagreb, Tallin (Estonia), Belgrade, Zimbabwe and dozens of other towns and cities. His one-man show Kinski and I won the Sydney Fringe Theatre Award 2014.
C. J. Johnson wrote The Dog Logs in 2001 with the first performances at La Mama Theatre, Melbourne, in May of that year. An Australian tour, with Johnson as one of the actors, took place in 2004. The script was adapted for American audiences in 2011.
Directed by Gin O’Brien
Gin has been involved with Ballarat National Theatre for seven years as an actor, production manager and director. The Dog Logs marks Gin’s full length directorial debut.
Gin has been involved in many productions in Ballarat. She has performed several times with Ballarat National Theatre, including in Wyrd Sisters (2023), Steel Magnolias (2021), A Christmas Carol (2019) and Medea (2019).
She is the current vice-president of Ballarat National Theatre and has produced the last three major productions (Dancing at Lughnasa, Next Fall & God of Carnage).
And she loves dogs!
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 Concession, $20 BNT members, Group package (10 adults), $180.00. Ticket sales close 1 hour prior to the performance.
A bar will operate for these sessions.

Get Tickets

There is no allocated seating.
Running Time: 100 minutes (no interval)
Doors open 30 minutes prior to show start time. Bar available
Content warning – This play contains themes of violence, suicide, sexual acts, animal cruelty and death. It is recommended for mature audiences only.
Ballarat National Theatre

Ballarat National Theatre are a BMI Community Partner
Find out more about BMI Community Partnerships below.

Supporters & partners

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

The Dog Logs, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2026-04-11 19:00 - 20:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
April 11
@
7:00 pm
–
8:30 pm
$18 – $30
Minerva Space
A Play by C. J. Johnson, film critic for The Nightlife
Directed by Gin O’Brien
The Dog Logs is a refreshing take on canine life that is touching and surprisingly human.
From a tough Rottweiler with neighbour problems to a prima donna toy poodle who wants attention, this collection of hilarious and heart-breaking monologues examines the lives of dogs from every breed, age, and situation. Telling stories of friendship, romance, and revenge.

Playwright – C. J. Johnson
C.J. Johnson is the film critic for The Nightlife, listened to by a million listeners across Australia on ABC Local Radio and many more online internationally.
His website Film Mafia is widely read internationally, with millions of views to date. He also hosts the webseries Watch This.
He is a regular contributor to magazines and websites internationally, and the co-author of And The Oscar Didn’t Go To…
C.J.’s plays as writer include The Dog Logs, The Young Tycoons, Hollywood Ending, La La Land, Backpacker and Barnesy: The Harbour and You. They have been performed in every state and territory of Australia, on Norfolk Island, and in New York, Bangalore, London, Zagreb, Tallin (Estonia), Belgrade, Zimbabwe and dozens of other towns and cities. His one-man show Kinski and I won the Sydney Fringe Theatre Award 2014.
C. J. Johnson wrote The Dog Logs in 2001 with the first performances at La Mama Theatre, Melbourne, in May of that year. An Australian tour, with Johnson as one of the actors, took place in 2004. The script was adapted for American audiences in 2011.
Directed by Gin O’Brien
Gin has been involved with Ballarat National Theatre for seven years as an actor, production manager and director. The Dog Logs marks Gin’s full length directorial debut.
Gin has been involved in many productions in Ballarat. She has performed several times with Ballarat National Theatre, including in Wyrd Sisters (2023), Steel Magnolias (2021), A Christmas Carol (2019) and Medea (2019).
She is the current vice-president of Ballarat National Theatre and has produced the last three major productions (Dancing at Lughnasa, Next Fall & God of Carnage).
And she loves dogs!
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 Concession, $20 BNT members, Group package (10 adults) $180. Ticket sales close 1 hour prior to the performance.
A bar will operate for these sessions.

Get Tickets

There is no allocated seating.
Running Time: 100 minutes (no interval)
Doors open 30 minutes prior to show start time. Bar available
Content warning – This play contains themes of violence, suicide, sexual acts, animal cruelty and death. It is recommended for mature audiences only.
Ballarat National Theatre

Ballarat National Theatre are a BMI Community Partner
Find out more about BMI Community Partnerships below.

Supporters & partners

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

The Dog Logs, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
April 12
@
2:00 pm
–
3:30 pm
$18 – $30
Minerva Space
A Play by C. J. Johnson, film critic for The Nightlife
Directed by Gin O’Brien
The Dog Logs is a refreshing take on canine life that is touching and surprisingly human.
From a tough Rottweiler with neighbour problems to a prima donna toy poodle who wants attention, this collection of hilarious and heart-breaking monologues examines the lives of dogs from every breed, age, and situation. Telling stories of friendship, romance, and revenge.

Playwright – C. J. Johnson
C.J. Johnson is the film critic for The Nightlife, listened to by a million listeners across Australia on ABC Local Radio and many more online internationally.
His website Film Mafia is widely read internationally, with millions of views to date. He also hosts the webseries Watch This.
He is a regular contributor to magazines and websites internationally, and the co-author of And The Oscar Didn’t Go To…
C.J.’s plays as writer include The Dog Logs, The Young Tycoons, Hollywood Ending, La La Land, Backpacker and Barnesy: The Harbour and You. They have been performed in every state and territory of Australia, on Norfolk Island, and in New York, Bangalore, London, Zagreb, Tallin (Estonia), Belgrade, Zimbabwe and dozens of other towns and cities. His one-man show Kinski and I won the Sydney Fringe Theatre Award 2014.
C. J. Johnson wrote The Dog Logs in 2001 with the first performances at La Mama Theatre, Melbourne, in May of that year. An Australian tour, with Johnson as one of the actors, took place in 2004. The script was adapted for American audiences in 2011.
Directed by Gin O’Brien
Gin has been involved with Ballarat National Theatre for seven years as an actor, production manager and director. The Dog Logs marks Gin’s full length directorial debut.
Gin has been involved in many productions in Ballarat. She has performed several times with Ballarat National Theatre, including in Wyrd Sisters (2023), Steel Magnolias (2021), A Christmas Carol (2019) and Medea (2019).
She is the current vice-president of Ballarat National Theatre and has produced the last three major productions (Dancing at Lughnasa, Next Fall & God of Carnage).
And she loves dogs!
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 Concession, $20 BNT members, Group package (10 adults), $180.00. Ticket sales close 1 hour prior to the performance.
A bar will operate for these sessions.

Get Tickets

There is no allocated seating.
Running Time: 100 minutes (no interval)
Doors open 30 minutes prior to show start time. Bar available
Content warning – This play contains themes of violence, suicide, sexual acts, animal cruelty and death. It is recommended for mature audiences only.
Ballarat National Theatre

Ballarat National Theatre are a BMI Community Partner
Find out more about BMI Community Partnerships below.

Supporters & partners

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Brian Chapman & Friends: A Trio of Stunning Piano Quartets
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
Brian Chapman
& Friends
A Trio of Stunning Piano Quartets

April 12
@
3:00 pm
–
5:00 pm
$20 – $45
Humffray Room

Brian Chapman & Friends
Pianist Brian Chapman will be joined by violinist Susan Pierotti, violist Katharine Brockman and cellist Rosanne Hunt.
The Program.
Mozart: Quartet in G minor. K.478
Beethoven: Quartet in E flat, Op.16
Interval – Refreshments included
Brahms: Quartet in G minor, Op.25
The Musicians
Pianist Brian Chapman
English-born pianist Brian Chapman studied in Brisbane with Nora Baird from 1952, and in Melbourne from 1954 with Lindsay Biggins, J.A. Steele and Roy Shepherd. Brian has performed widely in Melbourne, interstate and overseas, including the United States, Mexico, Germany and China. He has made over 100 ABC studio recordings and broadcasts and presented many recitals with prominent Australian and international musicians. In 2020 he published two contrarian essays with accompanying recordings available as e-downloads from Australian Scholarly Publishing and search for “Brian Chapman”. The first of these essays/recordings – Grief, Denial and Rage: A Personal Odyssey with Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata – offers a unique interpretation of the sonata’s first movement, identifying and eliminating five universally adopted distortions in its execution; these distortions relate to misconceptions about the sonata’s accidental dedication to Countess Julie Guicciardi that were disproved in 1872. The second essay/recording – The Hurdy-Gurdy Man: The sting-in-the-tail of Müller’s ‘Die Winterreise’ – derives from Brian’s long experience with performing and recording Schubert’s Winterreise along with his 2019 creation of a new English singable translation. From his research he concludes that the ironic sting-in-the-tail of the final Winterreise poem has been either accidentally overlooked or wilfully disregarded by almost everyone, including Franz Schubert and most of the subsequent generations of the Müller/Schubert/Winterreise cognoscenti; Brian has adapted Schubert’s own musical thematic material to align the accompaniment of the concluding verse of Winterreise with the
sting-in-the-tail of Müller’s original poem.
Violinist Susan Pierotti
Susan Pierotti began learning the violin at the age of six with Stella Nemet and continued her studies with her daughter Mary Nemet at the Victorian College of the Arts and in London where she played with the London Sinfonietta and the London Mozart Players. Since then, Susan has enjoyed a career spanning symphony, opera and ballet orchestras, chamber music, recitals, theatre, film, live broadcasts, television, teaching, reviewing and adjudicating. She has been closely involved in commissioning, performing and recording contemporary music with numerous groups for over four decades. Susan has worked extensively with several Australian orchestras and with Orchestra Victoria from 1990 where she was the 1st Violin Section Leader for 17 years. She was appointed concertmaster of Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra in December 2016 and has recently led Geelong and Ballarat symphony orchestras. She is an Accredited Editor with the Institute of Professional Editors, her work being shortlisted for the inaugural Rosanne Fitzgibbon Award for the best edited Australian book. She is the National Editor of Stringendo, the magazine of the Australian Strings Association and her history of the association, Molto AUSTA, was published in 2022. She has published two books, Manuscript to Market and Losing My Parents.
Violist Katharine Brockman
Information coming soon…
Cellist Rosanne Hunt
Rosanne Hunt grew up surrounded by music, being the youngest child of iconic Melbourne cello teacher, the late Marianne Hunt, and the younger half-sister of renowned musical twins, violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch and the late cellist Tanya Prochazka. After commencing cello studies with her mother as a six-year-old she was soon playing in orchestras and as a teenager led the Australian Youth Orchestra cellos on their 1984 European tour. After starting medicine at University, Rosanne decided instead to pursue cello further with Christian Wojtowicz in Hobart and then with the extraordinary philosopher-cellist Anner Bylsma in the Hague. After a later detour into organic farming she returned to cello studies with Irene Sharp in San Francisco, resulting in Rosanne’s becoming an effective and passionate cello teacher. Her varied and stimulating career has including playing with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, touring Europe several times with the contemporary group ELISION, and playing baroque cello with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Rosanne organises and plays with the Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, which celebrates its 10th year this year (www.melbournebaroqueorchestra.com), has recently performed Bach’s Fifth Cello Suite at the Melbourne Recital Centre, and has upcoming concerts with Forest Collective and the Inventi Ensemble. She is a teacher of cello and chamber music at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and also has many private students of all ages and stages! Rosanne appeared this past January in Flinders with the the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra chamber players as part of the Peninsula Summer Music Festival.
Brian Chapman
Susan Pierotti, Violinist
Katharine Brockman
Rosanne Hunt, Cellist
Bookings & Refreshment
Complimentary light refreshments will be served at Interval. Although advance booking is recommended,
cash and EFTPOS ticket sales will be available at the door.
Tickets
Adult/Senior $45 | Concession $40 | Student $20
Bookings can be made via the Bookings link or the QR code.
Enquiries: 0438 078 969

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

In Conversation with Gerardine Christou: The story of Peg Rankin
2026-04-14 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
April 14
@
6:00 pm
–
7:30 pm
$11.78
Humffray Room

Get Tickets

Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience
Peter Rankin SDB
As told by Gerardine Christou

This is the story of Peg, an ordinary woman who was
“made of extraordinary stuff ”
Margaret (Peg) Rankin is remembered by all who knew and loved her as a woman of kindness with a ready smile. Her long life brought her much joy, love and happiness. She was the devoted mother of twelve children and many grandchildren, a farmer, a chef and a confidante for many. There were also challenges and tragedy. With her strong will she persisted and got on with the next thing.
Always positive, Peg was quick to move on from trials and setbacks. She was a true Christian. She embodied love, mercy, joy, a ready sense of humour and above all, resilience and faith.
This is her remarkable story told by a loving son.
About the author
Peter Rankin, born in Warragul in 1958, was the tenth of twelve children. A devoted Salesian priest from 1989, he served in parishes across four states. He was loved for his gentle manner, kindness and faith. Aside from religion, he was a passionate Essendon supporter and storyteller. He began writing his mother Peg’s story in 2014. Diagnosed with cancer in 2021, Peter passed away in 2022, leaving this book as his tribute.
Gerardine Christou
Gerardine Christou, is Peter’s sister, she will present Peter’s legacy, and contribute to this remarkable story.
$11.78 per person includes booking fee & gst, also includes light refreshment. All proceeds go to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to support the staging of our author events.

Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

Get Tickets

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
