May 2016 e Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute Newsletter e Mid-Year Series of Twilight features a bumper schedule packed with fascinating local and international history. Put these dates in your diary and bring some friends to make a night of it. Enjoy wine & cheese in the Humffray Room at 5pm before each talk. Entry is $6 for members, $10 for non-members. Talks to Light Up Winter A series of FREE workshops at the BMI will show participants how to start making their own oral history projects on capturing the history and stories that matter to them. Memory Atlas Workshops Every ursday in May (5th, 12th, 19th and 26th) Williamson Foyer, BMI 7pm- 8.30pm Contact Mick Trembath for bookings and further information: Email: [email protected]Mob: 0402359730 Proudly supported by e City Of Ballarat Twilight Talks Mid-Year Series 2016 Pam Baragwanath, co-author of the recently published book ‘ese Walls Speak Volumes: A History of the Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria’, will speak about the history of Victoria’s institutes. Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter, author of a chapter in ‘Under Minerva’s Gaze’, will discuss the relationship of our Institute to the founding of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Peter Zala, Deputy President of the Royal South Street Society, will outline the highlights of 125 years of South Street competitions. Dr Jessie Harman, Director of Partnerships and Commercial Engagements at Federation University, will speak about how Australian universities are changing Phil Roberts, author and Haymes family members will discuss the first 80 years of Haymes Paint. A panel of Haymes family members will answer questions about their company. Ross McMullin, author of the award-winning book ‘Pompey Elliott’, will talk about ‘Australia’s worst 24 hours: e Battle of Fromelles’ Bill Tyrer, a Cabin Steward of the Cunard luxury liners of a bygone era, will talk about his experiences. For more information go to ballaratmi.org.au/the-arts/twilight-talks 13 May 20 May 27 May 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 June Award winning author Ross McMullin will speak at the BMI on June 17 about the Battle of Fromelles, featuring Ballarat identity Pompey Elliott (inset) | Create your own personal memory map | | Become better at active listening and note taking | | Use smart phone technology to make video & audio interviews | | Create genuine and intimate video portraits of people | | Use social media to present interviews to a wider audience |
Transcript
May 2016
The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute Newsletter
The Mid-Year Series of Twilight features a bumper schedule packed with fascinating local and international history.
Put these dates in your diary and bring some friends to make a night of it. Enjoy wine & cheese in the Humffray Room at 5pm before each talk. Entry is $6 for members, $10 for non-members.
Talks to Light Up Winter
A series of FREE workshops at the BMI will show participants how to start making their own oral history projects on capturing the history and stories that matter to them.
Memory Atlas Workshops Every Thursday in May (5th, 12th, 19th and 26th)
Williamson Foyer, BMI7pm- 8.30pm
Contact Mick Trembath for bookings and further information:
Twilight Talks Mid-Year Series 2016Pam Baragwanath, co-author of the recently published book ‘These Walls Speak Volumes: A History of the Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria’, will speak about the history of Victoria’s institutes.
Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter, author of a chapter in ‘Under Minerva’s Gaze’, will discuss the relationship of our Institute to the founding of the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
Peter Zala, Deputy President of the Royal South Street Society, will outline the highlights of 125 years of South Street competitions.
Dr Jessie Harman, Director of Partnerships and Commercial Engagements at Federation University, will speak about how Australian universities are changing
Phil Roberts, author and Haymes family members will discuss the first 80 years of Haymes Paint. A panel of Haymes family members will answer questions about their company.
Ross McMullin, author of the award-winning book ‘Pompey Elliott’, will talk about ‘Australia’s worst 24 hours: The Battle of Fromelles’
Bill Tyrer, a Cabin Steward of the Cunard luxury liners of a bygone era, will talk about his experiences.
For more information go to ballaratmi.org.au/the-arts/twilight-talks
13 May
20 May
27 May
3 June
10 June
17 June
24 June
Award winning author Ross McMullin will speak at the BMI on June 17 about the Battle of Fromelles, featuring Ballarat identity Pompey Elliott (inset)
| Create your own personal memory map || Become better at active listening and note taking |
| Use smart phone technology to make video & audio interviews || Create genuine and intimate video portraits of people |
| Use social media to present interviews to a wider audience |
Budget time is upon us all, so too the Mechanics’ and
there is now a need to generate over $200,000 to maintain this Volunteer organisation which has been proudly servicing the Community since 1859. Yes, BMI is not run by the City of Ballarat! It’s run by our membership.Big welcome to Venue Manager David Dahlenburg who is taking over the great work of Ross Furness. Thank you Ross for bringing the Mechanics’ further down the track with hiring facilities to the many and varied players.David D has a background working with volunteers when he helped develop Voice FM of Ballarat. He has a strong computer and website background and as a musician understands audio, stage and screen. The Board believes his skills will further contribute to the advancement with the use of the hire spaces within the BMI.
Budget analysis indicates that more members are required. So please talk about the great experience at the BMI and bring a friend, family or a familiar face to join and swell the ranks. Members now need to grow. This will hold current membership fees steady including the use of the beautiful subscription library with welcoming Rosemary.The façade is progressing but again
the Board encourages all members to visit the shops now tucked away behind safety barriers: the boot maker Geoff, the specialty gift shop with Trudy and the Pot of Gold with Alex. Combined they need your support: they all assist keeping the membership fees down. Twilight Talks are back thanks to the background work of Phil Roberts as is reported in this newsletter, please support as the contributions help to finance the BMI. Lee Mills has upgraded the File Maker system, thanks from the Board. Danny Spooner and Prof. Western Bates have offered to team up and present a special cultural folk song and history story featuring the Charles Thatcher Ballarat songbook. Board member David Berry has offered to be the champion and bring the show to the Minerva stage. When the date is settled, mark this in the diary, as you are in for a treat from these two masters of their craft!
Graham Gooding
News from the President
Recommended Reads
Lost GirlsAngela Marsons
Two girls go missing, only one will return. The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake, one child will die.
Return of the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul Deborah Rodriguez
This is a sequel to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul, featuring the same loveable cast of characters. In a little coffee shop in war-torn Kabul, five different women unite for one important cause: to protect the women of Afghanistan.
Penguin Bloom Cameron Bloom
This is an extraordinary true story full of hope and courage, featuring Cameron Bloom’s exceptional photographs. A shocking accident leaves Cameron’s wife Sam paralysed and deeply depressed. Into their lives comes Penguin, an injured magpie chick abandoned after she fell from her nest.
New
Rel
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r Apr
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MYSTERYFool Me Once | Harlan CobenThe Steel Kiss | Jeffery Deaver
Pain Killer | J.J. FountainGone Again | James Grippando
The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea | Mark Douglas-Home
The Zig Zag Girl | Elly GriffithsFirst Response | Stephen Leather
Lost Girls | Angela MarsonsCoffin Road | Peter May
Devil’s Peak | Deon MeyerPrivate Paris | James Patterson/Mark Sullivan
The Shadow Hour | Kate Riordan Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul |
Deborah RodriquezThe Summer Before the War | Helen Simonson
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit | Jeanette Winterson
ROMANCEProperty of a Noblewoman | Danielle Steel
AUSTRALIANRed Dust Secrets | Barbara HannayIndigo Storm | Fleur McDonald
Daughter of Australia | Harmony Verna
SCANDANAVIANThin Ice | Quentin BatesOrdeal | John Lier Horst
The Ice Child | Camilla Lackberg
NON FICTIONFinding Eliza | Larissa Behrendt
Australian Midwives | Paula Heelan
DVDA Place to Call Home Series 3
Lygon St. Si Parla Italiano (Aus)Thursday May 12, 7:30pm in the Minerva Space.
Documentarians Swan and Pricolo tell the social history of Melbourne’s beloved Lygon St through one-on-one
interviews with the most prominent figures and irrepressible restaurateurs who have made it what it is today. Source: Hi Gloss.
Email Meg at [email protected] or telephone Carolyn on 5327 9585 for membership details.
Ballarat Film Society’s May Screening:
Mark Douglas-Home
Journalist turned author Mark Douglas-Home’s first novel The Sea Detective introduced a new kind of investigator to crime-fiction: an oceanographer called Cal McGill who tracks floating objects. Mark has been the editor of The Herald and Sunday Times Scotland and now lives in Edinburgh. Other titles by Mark include The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea and The Malice of Waves.
A Guide to BerlinGail Jones
A group of six international travellers, two Italians, two Japanese an American and an Australian, meet in empty apartments in Berlin to share stories & memories. Each is enthralled in some way to the work of Vladimir Nabokov.
Authorof the month
Bookof the month
“Talk about the great experience at the BMI and
bring a friend.”
Kate BrodrickPhillilpa HallJames BirksThomas JonesSuzanne Parker
With flowersin their hair...Congratulations to BMI curator and PhD. student Amy Tsilemanis, and Board member Wendy Graham who will represent the BMI in San Francisco at the World Mechanics’ Reinvention Conference in November of this year. Amy is to present a paper on BMI activities via Federation University, and Wendy will seek opportunities to hold the next World Conference here in Ballarat. GG
Heritage Weekendat the BMIHeritage Weekendat the BMI
Out & AboutWho’s been seen where?
The Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute will be bursting with energy for the Ballarat Heritage Weekend on May 7 & 8.Some of the activities on offer at the BMI include:
Go on a treasure hunt with the family. Treasure Hunt guides will be available from the National Trust stand in the Humffray Room. The Heritage Library will have a number of curious books on display and treasures for sale. All weekend
The Darnell Collection Fashion Parade featuring Catriona Rowntree (right) & Claudia Chan Shaw. 2pm, Saturday May 7
Chinese Lion Dance by the Chinese Cultural Society. 2:30pm, Saturday May 7
Vintage Fashion – In Conversation with Charlotte Smith & Candice DeVille ‘De-Mystifying Vintage’. 4pm, Saturday May 7
The Darnell Collection Fashion Parade – ‘Ignite Your Curiosity: 150 Years of Innovation’. 1pm & 2:30pm, Sunday May 8
Talks on the BMI, 15 min. duration, including screening of photographs from the recently acquired Max Harris collection. 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm both days
The Hall, The Ball, The Gown and The Music Fashion Parade and Show. 100 years of vintage gowns drawn from the significant collection of Dorothy Nicol.Minerva Room 5pm, Saturday May 7. Free event
Above: Danny and Judy looking fabulous in their aprons at Clunes Booktown. Thanks to all who helped out with our stall. We had a great weekend, talking to lots of people about the BMI. AT
Above: On the last Friday in April we farewelled our tireless venue manager Ross Furness with a morning tea. Ross is pictured here with President Graham Gooding and Secretary Phil Roberts.
