Published 22 May 2026
Escape the winter weather and hear from seasoned storytellers and experts sharing the lesser-known tales of Bunbury’s histories with our Winter Warmer program. Always different, always entertaining, all welcome.
The presenter for this session is Brendan Cook
Date: Sunday 26 July 2026
Time: 1.30pm - 3pm
Few lives contain as many layers — or as many contradictions — as that of Harold John Timperley. A Western Australian-born journalist who found himself at the centre of some of the twentieth century's most defining moments, Timperley reported on the horrors of the Sino-Japanese War, moved in the inner circles of China's most powerful figures, and produced work that continues to spark fierce historical debate to this day. Was he a courageous witness to atrocity, or a propagandist serving a foreign government? A champion of social justice, or an arrogant and boorish man? Join Brendan Cook as he navigates the remarkable, complex story of a man who sacrificed his career and personal happiness again and again for the causes he believed in.
Free entry, RSVPs are encouraged. Coffee & tea available.
Presenter Bio:
Brendan Cook lives in Perth, Western Australia, where he was born and raised. A tax advisor by profession, Brendan has had a lifelong passion for history and the human stories behind some of the world’s most significant events. Harold Timperley first crossed Brendan's radar while researching his debut book, To Their Credit: The Australian Army Pay Corps of the First World War (2021). A single line in Timperley's service record stopped Brendan in his tracks, a 1942 declaration that stated his property had been lost “due to enemy action in China”. One question followed: what was a man from Western Australia doing in China at that time? The answer became A Man of Exquisite Honour: The Life and Work of Harold John 'Tim' Timperley, Journalist, Propagandist, Diplomat, Pacifist.
About the Winter Warmer program:
The Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre presents Winter Warmers, a series of free talks and workshops celebrating local history, learning and storytelling every Sunday afternoon from June to August. Always different, always entertaining, all welcome.
Visit the museum website to see which topics are coming up.