WIRED The Quarterly Magazine of the Association of Australian Bonsai Clubs Ltd SUMMER 2009

In this Issue: • National Bonsai Collection Update • Suiseki Australia • Spring Bonsai Exhibitions • Upcoming Events • Visiting Tutor Profile • Club Spotlight Bonsai artist-Tree

Lee Wilson is the resident Bonsai Artist in this outstanding Bonsai experience that is awaiting any enthusiast to embrace with a variety of quality trees that is hard to find anywhere in the world. Pines are a speciality at Lee’s Nursery and he has an extensive range to choose from and prices to suit all budgets. Come and experience this outstanding establishment at: Forestway Garden Centre Corner Forestway and Crozier Road, Belrose, NSW 2085 Phone 02 9486 3099 Email - [email protected] Bonsai Magazine Index

Do you ever go through a Bonsai Magazine looking for a tree name, Artist, technique, etc but find it difficult to find them all? An Index of Issues for Bonsai Magazines Organised by keywords, will give you the information you need!!! Index of issues across: • Bonsai Today magazine from Issue 1 (1989) to Soft Cover Issues 118 (2008). $24.95 • Bonsai Focus magazine from Issue 1 (2006) to inc GST & p&h Issue 9 ( 2008). The 2009 Edition Now Available A great resource for Bonsai Clubs and their members, and individual Bonsai Artists. Contact: Angelo Mifsud 0421 615 627 or [email protected] From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome There is still plenty of time to register and plan your trip to the Convention in With the Spring exhibitions behind May 2010 even though the Early Bird us we now start the arduous task of registration date has passed. keeping our bonsai trees alive during what looks to be another hot Summer. Keep safe and well over the Holiday South Australia and most of the east Season and see you in 2010. coast have already had a taste of things Glenys Barnes, Editor to come. [email protected] Our Canberra members can have a well Remember this magazine is only as good as the earned rest after another busy time with information I can obtain and pass onto member clubs. Email any information to me at the above the Floriade Festival and all the extra address regarding upcoming events, exhibitions or visitors viewing the National Collection items of interest so it can be included in the coming (more details on pages 6 and 7). issues. Contents • President’s report 2 • Suiseki Australia Update 8 • Visiting Tutor profile 3 • Exhibitions and Events 9 • Secretary Report 5 • Club Profiles 10 • NBPCA Update 6 • 2010 Convention 12 Front cover image: Ulmus parvifolia, Chinese elm. Advertising Rates COLOUR ADVERTS full page REAR COVER Casual Rate $165 per issue COLOUR ADVERTS full page REAR COVER Min 2 issues $150 per issue COLOUR ADVERTS full page Min 2 issues $135 per issue MONO ADVERTS full page Min 2 issues $100 per issue MONO ADVERTS HALF page Casual $80 per issue Artwork elements and photographs to be supplied in a Hi Res format. Please contact the editor to confirm specifications or to discuss requirements. AABC Ltd – Association of Australian Bonsai Clubs Ltd ACN 115 230 861 President – Lee Wilson Treasurer – Ian Glew [email protected] [email protected] Vice President – Lindsay Bebb Convention Advisor – Kym James [email protected] [email protected] Secretary & Editor AABC Ltd – PO Box 513 Glenys Barnes Ascot Vale Vic 3032 www.aabcltd.org [email protected]

1 President’s Report

Another year has Salvatore Liporace, one of Europe’s gone! Where to I ask? leading bonsai specialists, is the main I have been playing demonstrator. He has studied in Japan, with my trees when I and travels the world doing what he can find the time, but does best. He certainly shouldn’t be I am not three weeks missed. Brenda has told me there are behind but three already over 170 registered bookings. years! Where does Don’t delay your registration for too time go. This means that I will never long. catch up. Anyone else in the same boat? From the Executive Committee of This year has been exciting for all of AABC Ltd, we wish you all a very us, with the very successful convention Merry Christmas and a Happy New in Brisbane, and I know that Brenda Year. Parker and her team are at it flat Lee Wilson, President chat to make 2010 as good, (and in her words better), than Brisbane. Coming Events:

• AABC Ltd - 2010 Convention Celebration of Bonsai 14 - 17 May 2010 Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney, NSW. www.illawarrabonsaisociety.org

• 84th Kokufu -Ten 9 - 17 February 2010 Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Ueno Park, Tokyo.

• BCI 2010 Tour 29 September - 12 October 2010 www.bonsai-bci.com

2 Visiting Tutor Program

Andrew’s Visiting Tutor Profile – unique ability Andrew Ward to communicate Since directing his horticultural pursuits with a broad into Bonsai in 1999, Andrew has become range of people. a regular participant in the Australian Andrew is bonsai scene. He is the editor of The particularly South Australian Bonsai Society Newsletter, adept at Group a regular presenter at SA Bonsai Society and Forest meetings and also gives active guidance Plantings, Saikei in monthly workshops to other bonsai and Rock/ enthusiasts. Andrew’s honesty, sense of Mallee Settings humour and attention to detail allows (although is able to work on other styles him to communicate easily with others and areas of Bonsai). and ensures that they are motivated by his contagious enthusiasm for all things bonsai. Andrew has travelled widely, including China in 2006 and has travelled to many His formative years of propagating plants Bonsai Nurseries, Exhibits and Private under the caring eye of his grandmother Collections throughout Australia as well as have influenced his ongoing participation attending Australian National Seminars. in a range of horticultural pursuits. Early years of work in retail gardening Andrew reads and researches widely in both combined with his background as a teacher, print and electronic media, participates in plus his wide reading and research on online discussions and networks extensively Bonsai and horticulture, have influenced throughout Australia with other Bonsai enthusiasts.

Each year a member club can select Level 1 registered demonstrators: a tutor from the Register of National Mick Balzary, Megumi Bennett, Glenis Demonstrators to come and be a Bebb, Lindsay Bebb, Tony Bebb, Grant guest demonstrator and/or hold Bowie, Chris Di Nola, Kym James, workshops at their club. The club Dorothy Koreshoff, Ian Lawson, John will receive some reimbursement Marsh, Ted Poynton, Janet Sabey, Brian of the tutor’s travelling expenses or Sampson, Carole Waller and Lee Wilson. fees. Level 2 registered demonstrators: Comprehensive information about Sue Brennan, Don Deluca, Ian Glew, the VTP, along with all the necessary Takeshi Hamano, Roger Hnatiuk, Roger forms, can be gained from the web- Lunt, Daniel Mueller, Derek Oakley, site: Brenda Parker, Sandra Quintal (NZ), www.aabcltd.org Richard Roberts, Arthur Robinson, Leigh Taafe and Andrew Ward.

3 BCI China Tour - September 2010 In conjunction with the 2010 BCI Convention Bonsai Clubs International Day 7 - 5 October 2010 is conducting a travelling Visiting Slender West Lake and the Pre- convention of 14 days Exhibition of BCI in the Bonsai Museum through China for bonsai and bonsai demonstration in Yangzhou. and stone enthusiasts, Metropark, Yangzhou. beginning 29 September Day 8 - 6 October 2010 2010. Arrive Beijing. Visiting Wangfujing and The tour cost is US$1,750 for the land Silk Streets. content only. Participants have to get Sariz International Hotel, Beijing. themselves to Guangzhou for the start Day 9 - 7 October 2010 of the tour and home from Beijing at Visiting the Temple of Heaven, Yonghe the end of the tour. Gong (Lama Temple) and the Xingwei Tour itinerary: Stone Culture Art Centre. Day 1 - 29 September 2010 Sariz International Hotel, Beijing Delegates arrive Guangzhou. Crowne Plaza Hotel, . Day 10 - 8 October 2010 Visiting the Forbidden City (Gugong), Day 2 - 30 September 2010 Tiananmen Gate, the Old Hutong and Visit Chenchun the World of Flower, Shichahai. Bonsai Garden and Stone Market; attend a Sariz International Hotel, Beijing. demonstration by Lingnan Bonsai. Day 11 - 9 October 2010 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foshan. Visiting the Great Wall (Badaling, cable car) Day 3 - 1 October 2010 and the Summer Palace. Arriving Tianjin. Visit the Foshan Ancestral Temple and Ruiwan Nanyuan Hotel, Tianjin Qing Hui Garden. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foshan. Day 12 - 10 October 2010 Attend the opening of the BCI Exhibition Day 4 - 2 October 2010 and Convention and visit Tianjin Baocheng Delegates arrive Nanjing. Attending the Group. Bonsai Exhibition and Rain Flower Stone Ruiwan Nanyuan Hotel, Tianjin. Exhibition. Day 13 - 11 October 2010 Holiday Inn, Nanjing Aqua City. BCI Exhibition and Convention. Day 5 - 3 October 2010 Ruiwan Nanyuan Hotel, Tianjin Visiting the Zhongshan Ling, the Xiaoling Day 14 - 12 October 2010 Tomb of the Ming Dynasty and the Delegates depart from Beijing. Nanjing Museum. Evening boat cruise on the Qinhuai River visiting Temple. Glenis Bebb, Executive Director BCI, Holiday Inn, Nanjing Aqua City. is handling the Australian section of the tour, and any person interested in Day 6 - 4 October 2010 Delegates arrive Yixing. Attending the participating is invited to contact her Opening Ceremony of Pot Exhibition and at: [email protected] visiting the Yixing Factory. Metropark, Yangzhou. 4 Secretary’s Report

Thank you to all the Club /Society Secretaries Property Insured - all bonsai trees and for your support and patience with me this Club equipment at exhibitions. year, as I took over the role of secretary from Angelo (Joe) Mifsud. Cover - all physical loss or damage Some items to bring to your attention: during travel to and from and whilst at exhibitions in Australia. Membership renewal All but one Club have renewed their Limit of any one claim - $10,000 membership to the Association and we Excess on all claims - $250 thank all the Clubs/Societies that have There is no limit on any one item as renewed for their continued support. previously advised. Membership Fees (New Zealand clubs are not covered by We all know that costs associated this Insurance Policy). with running a Club/Society have increased; for the first year in some Visiting Tutor Program Guidelines time the Association made a small loss. The VTP guidelines have been updated Membership fees to the Association and the latest edition is now available have not increased since its inception on the AABC Ltd website. in 1980 and the Executive has decided The Executive decided to bring back that membership fees will increase - the twelve month waiting period more information to follow. for Clubs/Societies who join the AABC Ltd Insurance Association, before they can access the The Insurance renewal notices were program. New Zealand Clubs/Societies posted out to club secretaries in are now placed in their own category September, with the Spring issue of and are eligible for reimbursement of WIRED. Payment was due by 30 travel expenses as per Group A. November. If you have sent in your Convention Competition payment and paper work can you please We have been unable to find check your bank statement to see if the another sponsor for the Convention cheque has cleared. There have been Competition and so it will lapse for the some problems recently with me not 2010 year. If you know of a company receiving payments. or individual who would like to sponsor Our latest insurance policy has arrived this competition, please contact any and a summary of the benefits are: member of the Executive. Glenys Barnes, Secretary

5 National Bonsai & Penjing Collection Report by Grant Bowie The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia has been open in Canberra, on its temporary site in Commonwealth Park, for one year now and we have just had our second Floriade experience.

After one full year on site we, the bonsai and the volunteers, have In 2008 we had approximately 38,800 experienced almost the full range of visitors to the collection over 23 days weather that Canberra can visit upon and in 2009 we had approximately us; from minus 6 degrees in the depths 45,300 visitors over 30 days. None of of winter, dust storms in spring and this would have been possible without 40+ degrees at the height of summer the help of almost 40 volunteers who for days in a row. We just don’t want to gave generously of their time to the experience the hail or snow. bonsai and the visiting public. Due to the very cold weather and rain during the last three weeks of Floriade, numbers overall at Floriade were down this year but our number of visitors were consistent with last year.

Bonsai enthusiasts from all over Australia have come to view the collection and have been impressed with the bonsai pavilion and the bonsai on display, and are keenly awaiting the 6 National Bonsai & Penjing Collection eventual move to our permanent home on the hill, which could be in about two years time. This spring at Floriade we had nine new bonsai on loan from Victoria including Ted Poynton’s iconic Angophora costata. Other new bonsai included ash, black pine, olive, English hawthorn, English elm, Atlantic cedar, saw leaf banksia and coastal banksia. International Arboretum and Gardens We were also very happy when Mary is proceeding apace and the planting of Wilkinson offered her Seiju elm for a the trees in the arboretum is expected to second year with us. be 80% complete within a year or two. Major works, including road upgrades, a large dam and terracing of the Central Valley, have all taken place on site. Grant Bowie, Curator Phone 02 6262 9219 or 0418 611 488 [email protected]

National Bonsai & Penjing Collection of Australia Commonwealth Park, Canberra Stage 88 We also now have our first bonsai Free parking, at Regatta Point from South Australia. This is a 50+ year old root over rock ash donated Opening hours by Janet Sabey. Janet bought this tree 10am till 3pm Daily over 40 years ago upon the birth of her Entry is Free daughter. Website: The planning for the building of our permanent home in the Canberra www.cbs.org.au/NBPCA/Index.htm

7 Suiseki Australia Update Report by Brenda Parker

This year we have graduated so far in creating daizas or stands for our stones. We have managed to slot in many day-long workshops almost every month and it is now becoming evident that we are producing quite professional looking stands. We have learnt to understand how to use the electrical and hand tools at our disposal on all different types of wood, including Sitting out in the mild sunshine was very hard, soft, local, and imported. We have relaxing and everyone was working hard also learnt to understand the importance and produced some great masterpieces. of meticulous sanding to give our stands We had some new recruits this year and a professional finish. The proportion of they were all amazed at the amount of work the stand compared to the stone is also an that was being produced – not only outside important aspect to the design of the daiza. but inside where the bonsai workshops were The next step was to learn how important being conducted. it is to know whether to stain, varnish or polish the timber to either highlight the We are very lucky to have the help of two stone together with highlighting the grain very wood-savvy men, George and John, in the timber. who have helped us to create daizas that we once thought to be an impossibility. At the recent Illawarra Bonsai Society To see the improvement this year alone bonsai and woodworking workshop in our members is very gratifying to say weekend at Stanwell Tops, the outside the least. Even the standard of stones has area of the complex was abuzz with been fantastic, with some beautiful stones woodworking tools churning out some that were hidden away in boxes from past incredible stuff. Bonsai stands and daizas overseas trips and local stone hunts now were being produced and to top it off the being shown. It has been an absolute weather was absolutely perfect. treasure trove of goodies. It is so satisfying to admire a stone that we once collected, or purchased, and then to see it adorned with a handmade daiza. It really is quite special. We, as members, thought a few years ago that it would be an impossibility to produce such amazing stands, but with perseverance and patience we have succeeded at mastering another medium - “beautiful luscious timber” Brenda Parker President Suiseki Australia (Sydney) www.suisekiaustralia.com 8 Exhibitions and Events

ACT: VIC: Canberra Bonsai Society Bendigo Bonsai Club 7th National Exhibition of Australian 3 – 5 April 2010 Plants as Bonsai Uniting Church Hall. 13 – 14 March 2010 Mornington Peninsula Bonsai Society Australian National Botanic Gardens, 3 - 4 April 2010 Canberra. Rosebud Secondary College. The Canberra Bonsai Society is hosting the above exhibition. There will be a bonsai demonstration on both days and as part of the Exhibition there will be a photographic section of Australian Native trees. Entries to the photographic section should be provided by email to the Secretary (address below), in jpeg format (700 k to 1.2 Mb file size). A catalogue of exhibition trees will be produced, including botanical and common name, age and a short story about each tree. The most popular exhibition tree and photographic entry will be decided by a vote of visitors attending the exhibition. For more information or details on how to register an entry for the exhibition contact the Secretary at: [email protected].

9 AABC Ltd Club Spotlight Tasmanian Club – Tasmanian Bonsai Society

The Society was formed in 1982 in Burnie in Members have the North West of Tasmania under the tutelage also had many of Daniel Fitzhenry from Queensland who had road trips over moved here. the years to For the first 3 years a quarterly collect native magazine was produced and sent Tasmanian trees, around Australia but eventually it some of which became too expensive to continue. make very good Membership of around 20 has Bonsai and to continually gone up and down during enjoy social our 27 years, but the last few years interaction has seen a core of 10 to 15 permanent with other members and their families. members with others floating through. The club holds regular displays throughout the year including a display at the local Cherry Blossom Festival at the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, just outside the city of Burnie. Our regular meetings are in the form of workshops held on the last Saturday afternoon of the month at a local nursery called Orchids ‘N’ More, situated at Sulphur Creek. This is a recent innovation from conducting the Over these years members have learnt usual night meetings. Members enjoy Bonsai from experienced tutors this atmosphere and the larger area. including life members, the late John As the Nursery is open to the public & Elvie Carey who visited many times it gives us the opportunity to show from Victoria and then moved to what we do and the chance to gain new Tasmania permanently until their recent members. passing. Many other demonstrators from mainland clubs have assisted over the years including Ron Andersen and John Holbrook. Members have also visited many other clubs and workshops with international demonstrators. This knowledge has helped many long time members to assist others over the years and increase the standard of trees.

10 AABC Ltd Club Spotlight New South Wales Club – Nepean Bonsai Society Inc Nepean Bonsai Society began like many other clubs of this period, with a small notice in the local newspaper in 1972. A handful of women and one man met to learn about Bonsai and Dorothy Koreshoff became their patron as she was for so many Clubs in Australia. Vita Koreshoff, Dorothy’s husband, drew the first logo and thus began a journey that continues today. The venues for the meeting have changed over the years and the current one has been the longest home of the In 1992, the Nepean Bonsai Society society. played host to the AABC Seminar on the banks of the Nepean River. Meetings were originally twice The proceeds earned from this a month, the busiest being the provided the Club with a custom Sunday meeting on the fourth built Trailer which houses all the Sunday. Now just once a Show Equipment and makes for month, our meetings provide a well oiled system on Show day the members and visitors with members knowing exactly scheduled demonstrations or where everything belongs. workshops, culminating at our AGM in April. It is then where we Many of our 30 plus members have draw from the AABC list of skilled celebrated over 20 years with the Club demonstrators and use the VTP to and a number have crashed through provide our most active meeting day the 30 year barrier, including the lone of the year. Our Annual Show is in founding male member, John Marsh. Autumn and has been held for many All these people are a credit to our club, years in Glenbrook, the entrance to the providing expertise and support to the Blue Mountains. growing novice members of the group. Two members are past Vice Presidents of the AABC and have served on the Club’s committee for as long as they have been members. We welcome visitors and new members every month. For more information contact our President, Kym James on 0432 797 366.

11 AABC Ltd 23rd National Convention 2010 - A Bonsai Celebration

The Illawarra Bonsai Grant Bowie, curator of the Society is the host club National Bonsai and Penjing for the AABC Ltd 23rd Collection of Australia, heads National Convention, the local bonsai talent, along A Bonsai Celebration, in with some of Illawarra Bonsai 2010, which will be held Society’s finest demonstrators at the Bankstown Sports Jamie Milner, Janet Selby, Club in Sydney. and Brian Wasson. The International guest demonstrator The Convention commences with a will be Salvatore Liporace from Welcome Cocktail Party on Friday 14 Italy. He is the founder of the Studio May while Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 Botanica in Milan, and many of his May are the main demonstration days. former pupils are now international There will also be a convention dinner bonsai artists in their own right. on the Saturday evening which will celebrate the 40th birthday of Illawarra Bonsai Society. The Convention will conclude with workshops on Monday 17 May, with Salvatore Liporace and Grant Bowie. • Full Registration $230 • Day Registration $135 For Convention information and forms visit: www.illawarrabonsaisociety.org

Important AABC Ltd Dates for your Diary: • Membership renewal – fees were due on 1 July 2009 Information was posted out to clubs in June 2009. • Insurance renewal – fees were due on 30 November 2009 Information was posted out to clubs in September 2009. • Magazine contribution deadline for the Autum issue - 1 February 2010

12 Spring Bonsai Exhibitions Bonsai Northwest and Bonsai Society of Victoria

Bonsai Northwest

All photographs on this page were taken by Ian Barnes, October 2009.

Bonsai Society of Victoria

If you have photos of your club’s recent exhibition please send them in. We welcome contributions. Editor. lindsay farr’s BONSAI FARM WORLD OF BONSAI DVDs

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