Fascinating talks back at Institute

SEASON three of the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute’s 2023 Twilight Talks is about to commence and explore a variety of diverse themes.

The series will run each Wednesday at 5.30pm from 23 August to 13 September, and coordinator and historian Dr Phil Roberts said he expects the speakers will entertain attendees.

“We have a really interesting set of talks planned, each with two speakers,” he said.

“The first will feature Dr Ann Jones, who people may recognise from the ABC. She is into bird calls and will discuss an A to Z of Australian sounds.

“The other speaker is Andrew Wallace who has put together Ballarat Historical Society’s book, 90 Golden Years, and will have Kevin Williams helping him with photos.

“The book has come up very well, so this is a chance for people to have a look at what they’ve produced.”

The talk on Wednesday 30 August will have the theme of newswriting in the 19th century, with presentations from scholar Dr Josie Vine on goldfields journalism in the 1850s, and Chrissy Stancliffe on journalist Tom Bury, who wrote with the pseudonym of Tom Touchstone.

Inventiveness is the topic of Wednesday 6 September with local author Geoff McArthur in to discuss the historic Muller family and his book, Look for the Red Umbrella, and Beaufort’s Liza Robinson in to talk about Cyril Callister, the food scientist behind Vegemite.

The final session of Twilight Talks for the season will be on Wednesday 13 September, with Graeme Quick and Ian Pym respectively discussing 19th century Ballarat personalities William Cross Yuille and Thomas Bath.

Anyone is welcome to attend the Twilight Talks, which cost $8 for BMI Members and $12 for non-members, and Dr Roberts said those who go along will learn something new.

“Many people come along already knowing a lot about Ballarat, but they are often surprised by the things they find out throughout the talks,” he said.

“A lot of people say, ‘I wish I’d known about that,’ so our challenge is to get the word out to people.

“Nearly every person that comes along really enjoys them and compliments them.”

Visit the BMI website for tickets.