NOVEMBER MEETING

The November meeting was the last for 2018 and was very well attended providing an opportunity to socialise before the long holidays at the end of the year. As has been our practice in the past, members also donated toys and money to the children's charity Cottage by the Sea. Members were also invited to donate ikebana vases they no longer use for sale at the meeting at a fixed price of $20.00. 

The theme for the meeting was to make a New Year arrangement. 

Our demonstrator was Rachael Lok from the Shogetsudo Koryu School. 

Below are arrangements made at the meeting by other Chapter members.

Lyn Wong.

Josephine Tan

Annie Connrick

Judy Hajdu

Beverley Webster

Helen Marriott

Marcia Lamrock

Lee Johnstone

Betty Karanikolopoulos

Toula Karanikolopoulos

Emily Karanikolopoulos

Lara Telford

Sally Wilkinson

On the 14th October the 'Sakura Picnic Day' event was held outdoors at the Cherry Grove in Banksia Park in the suburb of Bulleen. Click on the link to learn about the interesting history of the Cherry Grove. (https://pickmyproject.vic.gov.au/rounds/pick-my-project/ideas/banksia-park-cherry-grove) 

Three members of the Melbourne Chapter gave an ikebana demonstration, Jennie Stuart, Chieko Yazaki and Rachael Lok.

At the October meeting a demonstration of ikebana using mizuhiki was given. The photo of Toula Karanikolopoulos' ikebana was blurred and could not be published. Below is a photo of her arrangement provided by Toula. 

OCTOBER MEETING

Forty members and four guests attended attended the meeting which had the theme, Japanese Day. The guest presenter was Mr. Sato, the Managing Director of the Australian subsidiary of the tea company, Ito En. Mr Sato who gave a Power Point presentation on Chado, the 'Way of Tea' and a demonstration of the preparation of Macha.  

His talk encompassed the history of Chado and how the four elements: Wa, - harmony, Kei - respect, Sei - purity and Jaku - tranquility all come into play within the ceremony.

Our co-patron Mrs. Yoko Matsunaga, wife of the Consul General of Japan, was also present and participated in the demonstration as the 'guest' at the tea ceremony. She explained the finer points of accepting the tea as a guest. For example, taking your rings off so as not to damage the beautiful tea bowl. Mr.Sato’s talk was really interesting and every member given a cup of the Matcha to finish.

Members were then treated to an ikebana demonstration by Lyn Wong, Toula Karanikolopoulos, Lee Johnstone and Elizabeth Angell, in which mizuhiki was used. (Unfortunately only three of the photographs were clear enough to be included.)

Lyn Wong.

Lee Johnstone.

Elizabeth Angell.

Below are photos of some of the arrangements made by members on the day.

Beverley Webster

Christopher James

Anne Conrick

Josephine 

Reiko Ito

Rachel

Helen Marriott

Akemi Suzuki

Nicole MacDonald

Emily Karanikolopoulos

Betty Karanikolopoulos

Kim Ng

Eugenia Chudacek

SEPTEMBER MEETING

At the September meeting our guest speaker was Wayne Crothers, the Senior Curator of Asian Art at the National Gallery of Victoria. Wayne gave an engaging and informative presentation of developments in contemporary arts in Japan. His illustrated lecture was enjoyed by the 33 members who attended the meeting.

A demonstration on the theme of contemporary ikebana was given by Akemi Suzuki who created a sculptural work using 'unconventional materials' only.

Below are works created by some of the members on the theme of 'contemporary Ikebana'.

Philip Keon

Aiko Nakada

Anne Conrick

Betty Karanikolopoulos

Chieko Yazaki

Elizabeth Angell

Felicia Huang

Josephine Tan

Kim Ng

Lee Johnstone

Lyn Wong

Margaret Leung

Rachael Lok

Toula Karanikolopoulos