# A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | October 2026

Source: https://ballaratmi.org.au/from-the-chair-october-2026/

A Busy October

**I wonder whether you will all agree when you make your way through the pages of this newsletter that October is shaping up to be a very busy and exciting month at the BMI.**

Fundraising Events | Book Sale, Vintage Fashion Parade & Errard Hall Open Garden

Firstly though, thank you to all who came along to our recent **Book Sale on September 5th & 6th,** this was a very successful fund raiser for the BMI Library resulting in a profit of almost $1,200 and many precious and pre-loved books finding new homes which is great news.

**Thanks especially to Rosemary and the volunteers for all the work in the lead up and on the weekend.**

Speaking of pre-loved, the same Sunday saw the now annual **BMI Vintage Shop Fashion Parade** take place in the Minerva Room.

Around 70 guests enjoyed a beautiful sit down afternoon tea supplied by **Malcolm Roberts and his generous volunteers Jill Oliver and Kathryn Amor,** as they were entertained by the BMI models parading across the stage and down the runway dressed in a great variety of outfits from the vintage shop.

Thanks to **Gary Hunt** for volunteering to manage the bar for the thirsty crowd. Of course this event is a fundraiser for the BMI and relies not only on ticket sales but also on the silent auction.

Thanks so much to **Patron Phil Roberts** for arranging this yet again, with almost all of the treasures being snapped up on the day. This event has now been a fixture for 4 years and was the concept of **Geraldine Roberts** who as many of you know, is the face and the force behind the Vintage Shop. Geraldine and her team of helpers and models successfully delivered once again and the BMI says a huge thank you for raising around $5000 for the Insitute, with sales continuing on the back of this event.

If you haven’t visited the new shop front next to The Ballarat Imaginarium, please stop to admire the window and have a look inside the new spacious store.

![Errard Hall Open Garden and Devonshire Tea Ballarat event](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/humanitix-errard-hall.webp)

**Once again Board Member Malcolm Roberts is generously hosting an Open Garden on November 14th and 15th** with proceeds going to the BMI, details below. For those of you who have been along previously, I am sure you will be looking forward once again, to viewing this stunning garden and property and enjoying a cuppa and Devonshire Tea. If you haven’t attended in the past “do yourself a favour” and put some time aside to call in, bring a friend and stop to smell the roses!

[Find out More](https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/open-garden-fundraiser-2026/)

[Get Tickets](https://events.humanitix.com/errard-hall-open-garden-devonshire-tea-bmi-26)

Annual General Meeting

![Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute Annual General Meeting promotional banner](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/agm-humanitix-1024x512.webp)

Before we examine October, I would like to remind Members that the AGM for the BMI is happening on September 28th at 5.00pm in the Humffray Room. Members are asked to RSVP to the meeting via the link below, or in-person at the BMI Library by Friday 25 September.

More information is available at the link below.

[RSVP here](https://events.humanitix.com/bmi-agm-2026)

[More information](https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/agm-bmi-26/)

Twilight Talks

**The current season of Twilight Talks is off to a great start with a large crowd gathering in the Minerva Space on September 16th to learn about nursing at the Base Hospital over the last 170 years right through to current developments.**

At the next talk on September 30, we will hear from Writer Anne Connor and Poet Anne Gleeson as they explore *Ideas of Love and Loss,* followed by Doug Bradbury discussing *The Importance of Ballarat East.* The series then flows through October, November and finishes on December 2nd with a fascinating variety of topics being presented. Please read on for the details, thanks again to **Patron Phil Roberts and all our speakers** for contributing to this well loved lecture series.

![Two women featured in Twilight Talks 2026 event promotion](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/square-promo-tt-ideas-of-love-and-loss.jpg)

![Elderly man reading Ballarat history book in home study](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/square-promo-tt-doug-bradby.jpg)

![Ross McMullin author of The Light on the Hill book](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/square-promo-tt-ross-mcmullin.jpg)

![Woman smiling softly in burgundy jumper for Twilight Talks 2026](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-tt-language-of-your-body.png)

![Smiling older man in formal attire at Twilight Talks event](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-tt-legacy.png)

[More Twilight Talks](https://ballaratmi.org.au/talks/)

[Get Tickets](https://events.humanitix.com/host/bmiballarat)

Author Talks

Rosemary’s Author Talks continue to attract many members and visitors, with well known authors Sally Mackinnon, Michael Robotham and Monica McInerney coming this month with large audiences expected. Get your tickets soon!

![Sally Mackinnon author of Styled book event poster](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sp-promo-talks-sally-mackinnon.jpg)

![Michael Robotham author event promoting Tell Me Something True](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sp-promo-talks-michael-robotham.jpg)

![Monica McInerney author event promoting When Sullivan Met Lola](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sp-promo-talks-monica-mcinerney-v2.jpg)

![Kerri Rogan author event promoting Witchy Sister book](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sp-promo-talks-kerri-rogan-v2-1.webp)

![Richard Glover author event promoting How to Ruin a Child](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sp-promo-talks-richard-glover.webp)

[More author talks](https://ballaratmi.org.au/talks/)

More Events

As if all that activity isn’t enough to digest I am here to tell you there’s more!! The variety of events is highlighted with several performances as a part of the **Melbourne Fringe Festival: Fringe Encore Ballarat**, a concert featuring the fabulous **Royal Australian Navy Wind Band** celebrating their 125th Anniversay as they raise money for the RSL and BMI, **Charlie Pickering & Friends** and we have comedy, drama with **Ballarat National Theatre,** live music with Matt **Arthur and The Lazybones – Telegraph Road: Dire Straits Legacy** and Magic with **Barry Govan for Halloween** and more!! We are thrilled to be hosting a truly diverse program in our Hertiage Listed venues and look forward to welcoming many first time visitors to the BMI as we seek to share this Ballarat treasure and icon with more of the commmunity.

![Melbourne Fringe Festival official black and white logo](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/idmKp29vOj_logos-1-1024x1024.webp)

**Fringe Encore Ballarat | 22 – 24 October**

![Asian female singer holding gold microphone in traditional attire](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sq-promo-event-yellow-fever.webp)

**Yellow Fever: An Original Musical Cabaret, 5.30pm**

[Get Tickets](https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/yellow-fever-an-original-musical-cabaret)

![Surprised man emerging from giant splashing glass of milk](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/little-squirt-e1789787361329.webp)

**Little Squirt: A One Man Musical Cabaret About Sperm Donation, 7pm**

[Get Tickets](https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/little-squirt)

![Laughing man wrapped in yellow sleeping bag in desert](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dune-e1789787460121.webp)

**Dune But Worse: Obsessed, Inept, Unbothered, 8.30pm**

[Get Tickets](https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/dune-but-worse)

![Three theatrical performers in costume with props in dramatic pose](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/murder-village-e1789787526804.webp)

**Murder In the Market: A Murder Village Improvised Whodunnit, 8.30pm**

[Get Tickets](https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/murder-in-the-market-a-murder-village-improvised-whodunnit)

![Royal Australian Navy Band performing with clarinets on stage](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sq-promo-events-cerberus.png)

[Live Music](https://ballaratmi.org.au/live-music/)

![Charlie Pickering comedy show promotional poster by Crimson Goat](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sq-promo-events-charlie-pickering.webp)

[Live Comedy](https://ballaratmi.org.au/live-comedy/)

![Ballarat National Theatre Dead Man's Cell Phone promotional poster](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sq-promo-events-dead-mans-cell-phone.webp)

[Live Theatre](https://ballaratmi.org.au/live-theatre/)

[Get Tickets](https://events.humanitix.com/bnt-dead-mans-cell-phone)

[Get Tickets](https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1532838)

![Barry Govan magician promotional poster with cards and dove](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/sq-promo-events-barry-govan.png)

Liam and his Event Crew will be having a very busy October. We were thrilled to learn that one of Liam’s Techinical Crew, **Chee Wei Tay** has received a major Singapore music honour.

**Chee Wei Tay is a Creative Director and Composer** in his spare time. Congratualations Chee Wei.

![Man speaking at podium during Compass Awards Presentation ceremony](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/awards_tay-chee-wei-photo-sharon-jing-yi-3.webp)

Ballarat-based Creative Director and composer Chee Wei Tay has received a 29th COMPASS Award in Singapore, taking out Top Local Instrumental Contemporary for his composition for *Now Is Not The Time*, a major immersive exhibition created to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Singapore’s founding **Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.**

[29th Compass award](https://ballaratmi.org.au/award-for-bmi-event-technical-crew-member-tay-chee-wei/)

New Website

Our new website is coming along very nicely under the leadership of Board Member Leigh Ericksen and we thank him for all the work to date – watch this space.

Marketing | Strategic Partnership Grant

We will shortly be recruiting for a new member of our team to move ahead with the marketing work funded by the City of Ballarat through the recently awarded Strategic Partnership Grant. This work will be pivotal is assisting us to maximise the impact of the hard work currently done across all areas of the business by ensuring that more members of the wider community come to learn about the BMI and how they might become involved, attend an event or hire a space, use our Collection and Library or just come to visit, in turn assisting to ensure that the BMI remains a solid and sustainable beacon of community spirit for many years to come.

On that note I will sign off – there is much to learn below and thanks again to **Mark Potter** for compiling this ever growing resource every month!

**Paula Nicholson, President**

### Recent News

![Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty book cover with disco ball](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/libary-bow.big-little-truths-laine-liane-moriaty-240x300.webp)

##### [Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty](https://ballaratmi.org.au/rosemarys-book-of-the-week-big-little-truths-by-liane-moriarty/)

Big Little Truths Liane Moriarty Parenting teens is not for...

[Read More](https://ballaratmi.org.au/rosemarys-book-of-the-week-big-little-truths-by-liane-moriarty/)

05/10/2026

![Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod logo](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/sq-promo-events-rsss-300x300.webp)

##### [The Royal South Street Society | CountPro Showcase 2026](https://ballaratmi.org.au/the-royal-south-street-society-countpro-sohwcase-2026/)

CountPro Showcase 2026 Featuring outstanding performances from the 2026 RSSS...

[Read More](https://ballaratmi.org.au/the-royal-south-street-society-countpro-sohwcase-2026/)

03/10/2026

![Monica McInerney author photo with When Sullivan Met Lola book cover](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/libary-bow-monica-mcinerney-when-sullivan-met-lola-240x300.jpg)

##### [Rosemary’s Book of the Week | When Sullivan Met Lola by Monica McInerney](https://ballaratmi.org.au/rosemarys-book-of-the-week-when-sullivan-met-lola-by-monica-mcinerney/)

When Sullivan Met Lola Monica McInerney Don’t miss Monica who...

[Read More](https://ballaratmi.org.au/rosemarys-book-of-the-week-when-sullivan-met-lola-by-monica-mcinerney/)

28/09/2026

![Melbourne Fringe Festival logo over dim stage](https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sq-promo-events-melbourne-fringe-logo-300x300.webp)

##### [Fringe Encore Ballarat](https://ballaratmi.org.au/fringe-encore-ballarat/)

Fringe Encore Ballarat Fringe Encore: Ballarat Every great show deserves...

[Read More](https://ballaratmi.org.au/fringe-encore-ballarat/)

22/09/2026