BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.19//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH 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:20250402T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250402T203000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250210T232440Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T074541Z UID:61890-1743620400-1743625800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Calm Amidst Chaos: How to Deal with Difficult People 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-apr-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/square-promo4-final.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250404T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250404T220000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250403T233030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250404T040042Z UID:64276-1743793200-1743804000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:This is the Way the World Ends\, 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/this-is-the-way-the-world-ends/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TWWE-Square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250405T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250405T230000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250217T004441Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T042123Z UID:62137-1743881400-1743894000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Zak Plays Zach: The Ultimate Zach Bryan Tribute Show 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/zak-plays-zach/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ZPZ-Ballarat-Mechanics-Institute-Poster-April-2025-5-square-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250406T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250406T170000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250404T035555Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250404T035937Z UID:64297-1743948000-1743958800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:This is the Way the World Ends\, 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/this-is-the-way-the-world-ends-2/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/TWWE-Square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T183000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20241219T040512Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113137Z UID:60826-1744219800-1744223400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving - Doctor's Perspective 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/war-grieving-doctors-perspective/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-war-grieving-doctors.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250318T005938Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T013240Z UID:62939-1744225200-1744228800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Ali Lowe & Vanessa McCausland 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/ali-lowe-vanessa-mccausland/ 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/promo-ali-vanessa.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250409T203000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250210T232508Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T074539Z UID:61891-1744225200-1744230600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Calm Amidst Chaos: How to Deal with Difficult People 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-apr-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/square-promo4-final.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250410T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250410T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173214 CREATED:20250212T020827Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T052500Z UID:61956-1744313400-1744318800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Red Rocket 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-red-rocket/ 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-red-rocket-2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250415T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250415T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250106T033654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T230249Z UID:60933-1744725600-1744729200@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-jan-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 BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T183000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20241219T044531Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113132Z UID:60832-1744824600-1744828200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Medals and Memorabilia 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/medals-and-memorabilia/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-medals-memoribilia.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250416T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250210T232526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T234242Z UID:61892-1744830000-1744833600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Find Your Flow: A Buddhist Guide to an Effortless Life 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-apr-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo3.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250422T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250513T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250113T045602Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T015148Z UID:61150-1745330400-1747148400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Australian Heritage Festival 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-aust-heritage-fest/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage 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:20250423T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250423T183000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20241219T044445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113134Z UID:60830-1745429400-1745433000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: Feeling the Battlefield Spirits 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/stories-of-the-somme/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/square-promo-individuals-spirits.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250423T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250423T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250211T000334Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T234710Z UID:61899-1745434800-1745438400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Find Your Flow: A Buddhist Guide to an Effortless Life 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-23-apr-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo3.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250425T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250425T203000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250120T002601Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T003154Z UID:61331-1745609400-1745613000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Australian Heritage Festival\, This Tour is now Fully Booked 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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-ahf-1/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_908662326866361-e1708918930337.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250425T213000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250425T223000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250120T004138Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T003145Z UID:61339-1745616600-1745620200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour\, Australian Heritage Festival\, Tour 2 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/minervas-secrets-night-tours-ahf-2/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Night Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/received_265285705882698-e1708919200874.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250426T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250426T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250417T051337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T052656Z UID:64617-1745690400-1745697600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Beyond Limits | An Evening with Mick Marshall 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/mick-marshall/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Film,Talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/square-promo-mick-marshall.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250427T160000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250427T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20241129T225635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T162923Z UID:60381-1745769600-1745784000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ash Grunwald at the BMI 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/ash-grunwald/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ash-sq-promo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250429T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250429T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250218T012450Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T045401Z UID:62175-1745949600-1745955000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Shelley Burr 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/shelley-burr/ 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/2025/02/square-promo-shelley-burr.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T183000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250108T020658Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T113126Z UID:60981-1746034200-1746037800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2025\, Season 2\, Special Event | The Life of Walter Withers 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/twilight-talks-life-of-walter-withers/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Members,Talk,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo-david-rathgen-final.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250430T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250211T001230Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T235148Z UID:61901-1746039600-1746043200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Find Your Flow: A Buddhist Guide to an Effortless Life 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-30-apr-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo3.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250501T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250501T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20241204T012140Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T031044Z UID:60465-1746122400-1746129600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Natasha Lester 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/natasha-lester/ LOCATION:VIC CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Author Talk,Fundraiser,Important Dates,Library,Victorian Seniors Festival ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sq-promo-natasha-lester-1-may.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250504T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250504T160000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250403T014922Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250408T003645Z UID:64247-1746367200-1746374400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:E A Gleeson\, Book Launch - The Deepest Thing: A Poetic Memoir 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/anne-gleeson/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/square-promo-anne-gleeson-v2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250507T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250507T193000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250401T040022Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T010026Z UID:64144-1746640800-1746646200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Mimi Kwa 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/mimi-kwa/ 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/2025/04/square-promo-mimi-kwa-v2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250507T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250507T200000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250211T002737Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250331T235229Z UID:61903-1746644400-1746648000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kadampa Meditation Series | Find Your Flow: A Buddhist Guide to an Effortless Life 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-7-may-25/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:kadampa ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/square-promo3.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Kadampa Meditation":MAILTO:info@kadampa.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250508T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250508T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250212T023140Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250321T062716Z UID:61967-1746732600-1746738000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Bicycle Thieves (Ladri di Biciclette) 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-bicycle-thieves/ 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-bfs2.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T190000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250415T035815Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T041147Z UID:64500-1746813600-1746817200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Seedpod Ballarat 2025 | Gemma Cavoli - 'Oubliette' | Artist in Residence 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/seedpod-oubliette/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Artist in Residence,Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oubliette-sq-promo-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Punctum":MAILTO:hq@punctum.com.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250509T210000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250318T025201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T042710Z UID:62953-1746819000-1746824400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Amazing Lucas Girls by acclaimed playwright Cate Whittaker 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/the-amazing-lucas-girls/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Hs-LG-hero320-promo-square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Lost Voices":MAILTO:lostvoicesnsw.au@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T150000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250415T235811Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T041141Z UID:64553-1746885600-1746889200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Seedpod Ballarat 2025 | Gemma Cavoli - 'Oubliette' | Artist in Residence 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/seedpod-oubliette-session-2/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Artist in Residence,Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/oubliette-sq-promo-v2.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Punctum":MAILTO:hq@punctum.com.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T143000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20250510T160000 DTSTAMP:20260408T173215 CREATED:20250320T034846Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T042629Z UID:63030-1746887400-1746892800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Amazing Lucas Girls by acclaimed playwright Cate Whittaker - Session 2 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/the-amazing-lucas-girls-2/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Australian Heritage Festival,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-Hs-LG-hero320-promo-square.webp ORGANIZER;CN="Lost Voices":MAILTO:lostvoicesnsw.au@gmail.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR