A Tribute to William Bruce James (Jim) Lowden


The following is the text of an address by Dr Frank Hurley, foundation President of MIV Inc., to the MIV 10th Anniversary dinner at The Leveson, North Melbourne, 25 June 2008
When I am haranguing politicians and bureaucrats in pursuit of funding grants for the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, I tell them that Mechanics’ Institutes are “quintessential community”.

Community defined means “with one will”. In his classic analysis of how the common will to act is formed, the early sociologist Tonnies identified the general sources: ties of blood (or family), place (living proximity), occupation and belief.

I have never met a person so deeply committed to human community as William Bruce James Lowden - MIV’s ’Jim’.

I will not dwell on family, occupation and belief apart from noting:

  • Jim’s pride in and love of his immediate family and Lowden clan.
  • My ignorance of Jim’s beliefs but constant amazement at his knowledge of clergy and churches past and present in north-east Victoria.
  • Jim’s deep involvement in the community of the land and rural life,in the world of the book and of tracing and telling history – his occupations in life.

    It is the in community bonded by place that we celebrate Jim tonight.

    His community work in his beloved Kilmore district was prodigious:

  • In the 1970s and 80s he established a pony club for district children on his Kilmore farm.
  • He rescued a moribund Kilmore Agricultural Society.
  • He was the driving force in organising many Kilmore festivals.
  • He ran the Kilmore West Highland Games for 20 years.
  • He rallied people to save district heritage buildings: Whitborough Cottage, the old courthouse, the Butter factory, the gaol.
  • His remarkable feat in single-handedly bringing the Images of the Book of Kells Exhibition to Kilmore – the only place outside Canberra it was exhibited and which attracted thousands of visitors to Kilmore.
    There is a common thread in all this: Jim’s enormous interest in people, his respect and admiration for their achievements, especially where those achievements bespeak pioneering, self-help endeavours of a community to provide access to social, recreational and educational facilities and activities and to preserve their antecedent and local culture.

    MIs are one of the most tangible legacies of those endeavours. They are woven into the very fabric and identity of community.

    It is small wonder that Jim became such a champion of his own Kilmore MI and then of MIs everywhere. Jim is always to be found on the side of defenders and promoters of these legacies, a doughty and passionate fighter.

    But he is also as much a creator and teacher in this defence and promotion. The three Mechanics’ Institutes conferences 1998, 2000, 2004 were built on the back of Jim’s energy and determined pursuit – at considerable personal expenditure of time and resources – of the best informed speakers from around the world.

    The MIV Newsletters he initiated and produced three and more times a year for 5-6 year are all full of warmth, information and helpful suggestions to those of us in our communities across the State - indeed across the world.

    Jim is a contributor to community deserving of recognition at State and national level. He is a quintessential community man.

    We cannot confer a wider accolade, however much deserved but, tonight, Jim, this dinner is primarily for and about you. You are among people who admire and revere you for your work through MIV. We thank you, we salute you and we pay tribute to you.

    (Frank then presented to Jim a framed MIV certificate of tribute and appreciation for a decade of inspiration and achievement.)

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