HOW IT BEGAN
A bonsai demonstration in 1965 by the late Peter McLay of Christchurch New Zealand, kindled
an interest in bonsai. Then because bonsai pots at that time were almost unprocurable, pottery
lessons were taken at the Risingholme Community Craft Centre in Christchurch and later with the
Canterbury Potters Association first in The Arts Centre and later in Memorial Avenue, at the
Association's new rooms in the Avice Hill Arts & Craft Centre.
Annual sale days at the Avice Hill Centre with the Canterbury Potters Association saw Alan and
Beverley Van selling their pottery (including a few bonsai pots) and displaying one or two of
their bonsai. So much interest was shown in the bonsai that the Director of the Craft Centre
invited them to run a course on growing bonsai. The first six weeks course started in the third
term of 1992 with six people. At the conclusion of the course the suggestion was made that
informal meetings be held on bonsai culture. As more people completed their classes and joined
the group it was decided a committee would be needed to organise the activities of the expanding
group. And so the club came into being in 1993. Alan and Beverley continue to run their classes
which have seen many people introduced to the fascination of bonsai growing.
CLUB ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS
Community Arts Expo held at the Horticultural Centre, 1995
Exotic Plant Shows 1995-1996
Christchurch Blossom Festivals, 1995 & 1996
Christchurch "Festival of Flowers", every year since 1995.
Hosts of the South Island Bonsai Conference 1996 and National Bonsai Conference in 2003
Bonsai display at "THE BIG DAY IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS" every year since 1999
Various public displays to promote the awareness of bonsai to the public.
Besides the regular monthly club nights, there are various field trips, weekend workshops and occasional visits to other bonsai clubs.
Annual conferences are held within New Zealand which club members are encouraged to attend. The club library has an extensive collection of bonsai and bonsai-related books which may be borrowed for one month at a time by financial members of the club. This collection is being continually added to.
The first newsletter was issued in 1994, and held its first public Annual Bonsai Competition in 1997.
Since its beginning, the club membership has leveled off at a comfortable 35+ with the majority of members coming from the classes.
TUITION
Besides the experienced members within the club, Avon has been fortunate over the years to have had some excellent teachers, among them being Craig Coussins (UK), Susumu Nakamura (Japan), Dorothy Koreshoff (Australia), Reiner Goebel (Canada), and Val Allen (Australia). Also teachers from within New Zealand include, Bob Langholm (Auckland), Joy Morton (Dunedin), Dianne Miller (Hamilton) and Jan Burrows (Takaka).