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The Dickens Fellowship of Melbourne Website

Details of our past meetings.

Fri 10 Feb 2012 'Dickens Birthday Weekend'

Friday 10th February 2.00pm Trinity College Library, Melbourne University. Tour of the Dickens Collection

Saturday 11th February Dickens Bicentenary Dinner: 6.30 for 7.00pm at University House, University of Melbourne. Guest Speaker Dr. Barry Jones AO (Ticketed event)

Sunday 12th February 2.00pm at the English Speaking Union: Characters from Dickens. Presented by the Theatre of the Winged Unicorn



Wed 14 Dec 2011 'Christmas Party'
Readings, Music, Supper & more

Sun 11 Dec 2011 'Lunch with Lillian'  Presented By Professor Lillian Nayder
Professor Lillian Nayder, who is professor of English at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, USA, has written a biography of Catherine Dickens, called "The Other Dickens, a Life Of Catherine Hogarth". Professor Nayder will be visiting Melbourne in December and we have arranged a barbeque lunch on Sunday December 11th to welcome her. After lunch, she will talk to us about the biography, the challenges she faced in reconstructing Mrs Dickens' life and the discoveries that helped her to meet these challenges. Andrew Gemmell and Lyndsey Burton have very generously offered their homes as the venue for this event. We do urge our members to put the date in their diaries, as it should be a very interesting and enjoyable occasion.

Wed 16 Nov 2011 'Petticoats & Waistcoats'  Presented By Elna Estcourt


Wed 19 Oct 2011 'Dickens on both sides of the footlights'  Presented By John Leonard


Wed 21 Sep 2011 'Readings from American Literature'  Presented By David Chandler (Co-ordinator)
This is also the night of our AGM & Elections.

Sat 20 Aug 2011 ''  Presented By Adelphi Players
Details to follow

Wed 17 Aug 2011 'President's Night'  Presented By Brian Ruck
Whatever treat our president decides to engage for us.

Wed 20 Jul 2011 'Three Eminent Victorians'  Presented By Margaret Leonard (Co-ordinator)


Wed 15 Jun 2011 'Dickens and America'  Presented By Andrew Gemmell & Lyndsey Burton
The joys and disappointments of Dickens's two visits to the USA

Wed 18 May 2011 'Katie'  Presented By Lucinda Hawksley
A Special Meeting at which Lucinda Hawksley, Dickens's great great great granddaughter, will speak about her researches into the life of Dickens's daughter Katie. Lucinda Hawksley is an art historian and author of "Lizzie Siddal: The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel", and of "Katie, the Life and Loves of Dickens's Artist Daughter" "

Wed 06 Apr 2011 'Money & Murder'  Presented By Dr Alan Dilnot
Money & murder in Martin Chuzzlewit

Wed 16 Mar 2011 'Introduction to Martin Chuzzlewit'  Presented By Elisabeth Neales
Elisabeth will give us an introduction to the characters, situations and plotlines of this year's featured book.

Sun 27 Feb 2011 'Martin Chuzzlewit'  Presented By Julian Clarke
Members & their guests only presentation of the BBC adaption, starring Paul Schofield. Should you wish to attend but are not a member, please contact the society by email.

Fri 11 Feb 2011 'Dickens & Midwifery'  Presented By Dr Sonia Allen
Annual birthday dinner, with guest speaker Dr Sonia Allen. This meeting is not a normal monthly meeting & tickets must be bought in advance.

Wed 08 Dec 2010 'Christmas Party'


Wed 17 Nov 2010 'Dickens' Minor Characters'  Presented By Elisabeth Neales


Wed 20 Oct 2010 'Hearing the Chimes'  Presented By Dr Alan Dilnot
An insight into The Chimes.

Wed 15 Sep 2010 'AGM & New Members' Night'
Annual General Meeting followed by readings chosen & read by members who have joined during the last 2 or 3 years.

Wed 18 Aug 2010 'President's Night'  Presented By Brian Ruck
Whatever fancy takes our illustrious president.

Wed 21 Jul 2010 'Another Twist on Oliver'  Presented By Julian Clarke
So you think you know the story of 'Oliver Twist'?

Wed 16 Jun 2010 'Naughty Boys and Nasty Boys'  Presented By Eileen Nelson
An amusing & insightful talk about he different levels of misbehaviour by Dickens' young males.

Wed 19 May 2010 'Food, Glorious Food'  Presented By Margaret Leonard
An insight to food in the 19th Century (no recipes or food supplied).

Wed 21 Apr 2010 'Poor Laws'  Presented By Andrew Gemmell & Lindsey Burton
An overview of the Poor Laws and their relation to the Workhouse and Oliver Twist.

Wed 17 Mar 2010 'Introduction To Oliver Twist'  Presented By Elisabeth Neales
An introduction to the story and characters in 'Oliver Twist'.

Wed 31 Dec 1969 ''


Wed 31 Dec 1969 ''





(c) Melbourne Dickens Fellowship. 2010