BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.19//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20240406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20241005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250720T093000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250720T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250624T050147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T063107Z UID:65830-1753003800-1753041600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Schedule DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rsss-vocal-schedule-3/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sq-promos3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250719T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250719T213000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250624T031631Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T063216Z UID:65790-1752919200-1752960600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Schedule DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rsss-vocal-schedule-2/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sq-promos3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250718T170000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250718T213000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20240717T012721Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250625T032911Z UID:57382-1752858000-1752874200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Schedule DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rsss-vocal-schedule/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sq-promos3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250718T123000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250718T153000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250625T032957Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250625T033649Z UID:65910-1752841800-1752852600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Schedule DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/rsss-vocal-schedule-1/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Important Dates,Royal South Street Society ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sq-promos3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250716T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250716T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T035652Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T035944Z UID:64363-1752692400-1752696000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for A Clear Mind DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-16-july/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Clear-Mind-Urban-Ballarat-square-promo.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250716T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250716T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250604T015536Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T011514Z UID:65475-1752688800-1752694200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Irma Gold | This event has now been CANCELLED due to low ticket sales DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/irma-gold/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Ballarat Winter Festival,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/irma-sq-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250715T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250715T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T053759Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T005007Z UID:65236-1752588000-1752591600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Winter Festival 15 July DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-ballarat-winter-festival-2/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Ballarat Heritage Festival,Ballarat Winter Festival,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250711T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250711T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250526T023451Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T012211Z UID:65144-1752262200-1752267600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Andrew Hamilton | Jokes about the time I went to Prison DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/andrew-hamilton/ 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/2025/05/sq-promo-andrew-hamilton.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250710T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250710T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250212T025248Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T110608Z UID:61983-1752175800-1752181200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Sweet As DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-sweet-as/ 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/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sqaure-promo-bfs-update.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250709T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250709T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T033940Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T035613Z UID:64356-1752087600-1752091200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for A Clear Mind DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-9-july/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Clear-Mind-Urban-Ballarat-square-promo.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250709T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250709T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T060905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T004045Z UID:65240-1752084000-1752089400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Matthew Spencer DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/matthew-spencer/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Ballarat Winter Festival,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sq-promo-matthew-spencer.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T041755Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250707T031118Z UID:65216-1751997600-1752003000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Author Talk | Ella Stone - 'Breakfast With You' | Now CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ella-stone/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Ballarat Winter Festival,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sq-promos-davidson-h-t3.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T150000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T163000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250523T031147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250707T030941Z UID:65105-1751986800-1751992200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Author Talk | J.S. Davidson 'Hunted' & 'Tethered' | Now CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/hunted-tethered-davidson/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Ballarat Winter Festival,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sq-promos-davidson-h-t.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250708T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250317T032147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T005150Z UID:62936-1751983200-1751986800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Winter Festival 8 July DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-ballarat-winter-festival-1/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Ballarat Winter Festival,Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250704T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250704T190000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250617T020437Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250617T022343Z UID:65677-1751650200-1751655600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Royal South Street Society | Margaret Schofield OAM | Memorial Grand Piano Unveiling DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/grand-piano-unveiling/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Community Partner,Royal South Street Society,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/grand-piano-launch-for-post.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250702T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250702T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T033759Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T033918Z UID:64354-1751482800-1751486400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for Relaxation DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-2-july/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Relaxation-Ballarat-promo-square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250629T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250629T163000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250523T002017Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T234616Z UID:65094-1751205600-1751214600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Australian Barbra Streisand Show | Featuring Rachael Grace DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/australian-barbra-streisand-show/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Ballarat Pride,BMI Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/babs-sq-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250625T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250625T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T033234Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T033736Z UID:64345-1750878000-1750881600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for Relaxation DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-25-june/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Relaxation-Ballarat-promo-square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250625T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250625T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250403T040834Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250624T020208Z UID:64256-1750874400-1750879800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Kylie Ladd | This event has now been CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kylie-ladd/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/kylie-ladd-promo-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250622T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250622T170000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T020353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T235219Z UID:65181-1750600800-1750611600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Next Fall'\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/next-fall-bnt-5/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Ballarat Pride,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Next-Fall-Square-BMI-Event-Listing-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250621T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250621T220000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T015841Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T001222Z UID:65177-1750532400-1750543200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Next Fall'\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/next-fall-bnt-4/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Next-Fall-Square-BMI-Event-Listing-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250621T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250621T170000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T020143Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T000716Z UID:65179-1750514400-1750525200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Next Fall'\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/next-fall-bnt-3/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Ballarat Pride,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Next-Fall-Square-BMI-Event-Listing-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250620T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250620T220000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250527T010329Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T002458Z UID:65168-1750446000-1750456800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Next Fall'\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/next-fall-bnt-1/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Ballarat Pride,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Next-Fall-Square-BMI-Event-Listing-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250619T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250619T220000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250519T053343Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T002909Z UID:64995-1750359600-1750370400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:'Next Fall'\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/next-fall-bnt/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Ballarat Pride,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Next-Fall-Square-BMI-Event-Listing-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250618T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250618T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T031324Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T033501Z UID:64337-1750273200-1750276800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for Relaxation DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-18-june/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Relaxation-Ballarat-promo-square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250612T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250612T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250212T023200Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T110613Z UID:61968-1749756600-1749762000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | La Chimera DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-la-chimera/ 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/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sqaure-promo-bfs4.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250611T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250611T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T030135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T030337Z UID:64335-1749668400-1749672000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Healthy Habits for A Happy Mind DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-11-june/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Healthy-Habits-square-promo.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250604T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250604T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250408T022550Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T030106Z UID:64333-1749063600-1749067200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Healthy Habits for A Happy Mind DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kadampa-meditation-series-4-june/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Healthy-Habits-square-promo.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250604T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250604T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250307T025149Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T051907Z UID:62519-1749060000-1749065400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Gail Holmes DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/gail-holmes/ 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/2025/03/sq-promo-gail-holmes-final.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250603T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250701T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T211906 CREATED:20250113T050930Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T053004Z UID:61155-1748959200-1751382000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Series DESCRIPTION:An Evening with Peter FitzSimons AM \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n November 20\n\n \n\n @ \n\n\n6:30 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Minerva Room \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Get Tickets\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon\, prisoner-of-war\, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma Railway \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter FitzSimons \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop. \n \n Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia’s bestselling non-fiction writer\, and for the past 39 years has also been a journalist and columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun Herald. He is the author of a number of highly successful books\, including Breaker Morant\, Burke and Wills\, Monash’s Masterpiece\, Kokoda\, Ned Kelly and Gallipoli\, as well as biographies of such notable Australians as Sir Douglas Mawson\, Nancy Wake and John Eales. His passion is to tell Australian stories\, our own stories: of great men and women\, of stirring events in our history.Peter grew up on a farm north of Sydney\, went to boarding school in Sydney and attended Sydney University. An ex-Wallaby\, he also lived for several years in rural France and Italy\, playing rugby for regional clubs. He and his wife\, Lisa Wilkinson AM – journalist\, magazine editor and television presenter – have three children; they live in Sydney. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The extraordinary story of the heroic doctor whose courage and leadership were a lifeline for thousands of Australian prisoners-of-war on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway of World War II – brilliantly told by Australia’s favourite storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. In September 1939\, young Australian surgeon Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop was working in London when the dogs of war were unleashed. Signing up\, he was commissioned a captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) and sent to the Middle East\, serving in Palestine\, Greece\, Crete\, Egypt and Tobruk. \nAs the European war dragged on\, an emboldened Japanese force captured Singapore and marched closer to Australian shores. Weary and over 3000 others sailed back to Java to fight this new enemy. At the No. 1 Allied General Hospital in Bandoeng\, the Japanese were ready to murder the bedridden when Weary put his body in front of the bayonets. From that moment his leadership\, ingenuity and selflessness became legend as Allied prisoners-of-war were sent to Singapore\, Thailand and finally faced the hell of working as slave labour on the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. In the POW camps\, tropical diseases\, malnutrition\, and the brutal work regime imposed by their Japanese captors meant the death toll was horrific. And yet\, with little to no medical supplies\, under extreme physical pressure\, Weary Dunlop took risks and beatings to defy the Japanese and keep his men alive in circumstances that tested the limits of human endurance. \nWeary was a gentle giant of a man. A boxer and former Wallaby\, he could have been an elite sportsman but chose a different path – one that led him from rural Victoria to training as a pharmacist and then to medical school. World War II was the fire that fuelled this remarkable hero. His courageous leadership and calm endurance became beacons of hope to the POWs under his command. His name has become synonymous with courage\, compassion and resilience. Now\, Weary Dunlop’s heroic and inspiring story has been brought to life by Australia’s greatest storyteller\, Peter FitzSimons. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is hosted by Collins Booksellers on Lydiard \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Free   \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 This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work\, learn and create. Always Was\, Always Will Be\, Aboriginal Land. URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/day-tours-may-jun-2025/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BMI-woodcut_bags-low-res-1kb-e1703024949185.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR