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Twilight Talks – Dancers on the Sea by Gabrielle Samson

Ballarat Mechanics Institute

117-119 Sturt Street,
Ballarat Central VIC 3350

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  • Wed 26 Feb

5:30pm–6:30pm

$9 - $13

$9 per person Ballarat Mechanics Institute Members
$13 per person, general admission

This prices include gst. Booking fees apply.

Twilight Talks have been held at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute since 2001, providing a great opportunity to hear some fantastic speakers and meet up with friends over drinks.

Participants arrive at the Humffray Room from 5:00pm for drinks and conversation, followed by a 30 to 40 minute talk commencing at 5:30pm.

Gabrielle, a writer of fiction and memoir, has won national prizes for her short stories and has co-written a radio play produced by the ABC. She has lived and worked in education and community development in Australia, Indonesia, PNG, Vanuatu and Timor Leste.

Dancers on the Sea. This story tells of a woman’s life on Atauro Island, learning its history and culture as she worked with the community to improve living conditions through education.

During the period of East Timor’s occupation by an Indonesian military regime which was challenged by a fierce resistance movement, Gabrielle – an Australian woman working at an Indonesian university – was asked by a Timorese village leader to help establish a kindergarten for his community.

Dancers on the Sea is Gabrielle’s experience through six of those years as the little country of East Timor struggled for, and achieved, its independence and became Timor-Leste.

The BMI appreciates the support received from the Community Bank Buninyong for the staging of Twilight Talks

Content: The Ballaarat Mechanics Institute

Accessibility Information

  • Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
  • Caters for people who use a wheelchair.

Please note: The accessibility information above is provided by the business operator. For more information, please contact the business directly.

Visitor Information Centre
Ballarat Town Hall

225 Sturt Street
Ballarat VIC 3350

Acknowledgement of Country

Across Victoria’s Midwest, we acknowledge that we travel across the ancient landscapes of many First Peoples communities. These lands have been nurtured and cared for over tens of thousands of years and we respect the work of Traditional Custodians for their ongoing care and protection.

We recognise the past injustices against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country. As our knowledge grows, we hope that we can learn from their resilience and creativity that has guided them for over 60,000 years. As we invite people to visit and explore Victoria’s Midwest, we ask that alongside us, you also grow to respect the stories, living culture and connection to Country of the Ancestors and Elders of our First Peoples.


©️ 2025 Visit Ballarat. This initiative is funded by the City of Ballarat and Tourism Midwest Victoria.