Hello everybody, it is hard to believe we are writing the December edition of the BMI newsletter, but while the year seems to have dashed by, a lot has been achieved at the BMI, for you the Members and for the wider community.
Much of this activity has been internal, with Finance and HR audits almost complete led by the Finance Committee and the Board respectively, cyber security and IT upgrades generously led by volunteer Travis Charlton, website overview and on-going upgrades supported (pro-bono) by Travis Charlton, Ava Valpied, Leigh Erickson, BMI’s Cultural Development and Services Manager Mark Potter and Brandon Aranyosi from Smalldog.
Tidy Up
A general year long tidy up has been undertaken by all staff and various working b’s have seen a fresher looking BMI both inside and out, with some carpets having recently been cleaned as part of a recent grant.
Process & Procedure Developments
Venue Manager Liam Mudge has championed process and procedure developments in the Venue Hire and OH&S areas and developed new relationships increasing our venue hire rates, revenue and more importantly our visibility in the sector.
New Product Development – Venue Tours
New product development is underway including new tour offerings to schools and other interest groups taking shape thanks to Arts & Events Officer Katrina Hill. Our work on the National Child Safety Standard compliance area will see us be able to offer experiences to children and families going forward from early 2026.
Heritage Collection
New external relationships within the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector have been formed and real and ongoing partnerships have yielded positive results and opportunities thanks to Ellen Becker our Heritage Collection Curator.
The long term audit of the Heritage collection is almost complete, thanks to the Collections Volunteers; this project has been running for over 15 years and has resulted in the beautifully presented collection we see in the Heritage Reading Room. This room continues to thrill and intrigue visitors of all ages.
Author Talks | Membership Drive
Thanks to our Librarian Rosemary for all her work this year on the very successful Author Talks and now the Membership Drive. We have over 30 new Memberships due to our latest radio and print campaign, thanks also to Radio 3BA and Power FM for their support of our radio advertisement. Rosemary also continues to be our “front of house” and I know that you as Members appreciate the true customer service she provides as does any member of the public that wander in for a look!
Our Membership Special offer ends the first week of January so make sure you tell your friends.
Volunteer Work Force
We thank Marilyn Furness (volunteer co-ordinator) and all her volunteers for their continued commitment to our events, book sales, the library and other areas this year. The BMI simply would not exist in its current form without our volunteer work force. We have almost completed our National Volunteering Standards review with the BMI. Thanks also to Marilyn for the wonderful artwork she has produced for the Christmas Raffle and End of Year celebration.
Members & Volunteer Celebration
And of course there would be no BMI without you, the Members. You are the backbone of the Institute, as has always been the case, and as the Chair of the Board I thank you on behalf of the Board, for the privilege to lead this fine organisation, now over 166 years old.
As a token of our appreciation I would encourage you to attend our little Christmas celebration on the 8th December supported by The Little Ballarat Brass Band and The Ballarat Singers. Thanks to these two groups who continue to support us (not only at Christmas) every year with their talents and time.
Christmas Raffle
We also have our annual Christmas Raffle underway again, with over 30 prizes this year, you can purchase tickets via a visit to the library or they can be purchased on line. Prizes will be drawn on 17 December (results will be published in the first 2026 Newsletter).
Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. Rosemary will hold the tickets for collection at the Library Desk.
Errard Hall – Open Garden
I hope many of you were also able to enjoy the Open Garden fundraiser at Errard Hall in November’s, thanks again to Board Member and Chair of the Fundraising Committee Malcolm Roberts for opening his gorgeous garden for this event.
Executive Manager
As the year draws to a close, we have a very exciting announcement to make regarding the appointment of the new Executive Manager effective November 17th. Neville Ivey brings a wealth of experience to the role, with over two decades of executive and senior leadership experience across community, cultural, and sporting organisations. He is passionate about fostering connection, inclusivity, and lifelong learning, and believes that heritage and culture are vital to enriching modern life and will continue to champion the BMI in its role as a vibrant cultural hub for Ballarat. We warmly welcome him to the role and encourage you to say hello next time you are in.
On that note I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please note our closure dates listed below and on our website and have a safe and restful holiday season. Paula Nicholson
