A Touch of Gold

On 15th April 1959, Dorothy Edwards purchased a copy of the Australian Womens Weekly.

 

In it there was a page about an exhibition which has been staged by Mr Norman Sparnon, who had recently returned from 13 years spent in Japan studying ikebana.  The exhibition was held at David Jones, Sydney.  Dorothy wrote to Norman Sparnon, c/o David Jones who fortunately passed the letter on to him.  Norman contacted Dorothy, and from them on, ikebana flourished in Lismore.

 

Dorothy founded the Lismore Chapter, No 32, Ikebana International, and the Charter was granted to the founding members on 22nd March 1960.

 

In 1961, Norman Sparnon started visiting Lismore four times a year for a week at a time, giving lessons of Sogetsu ikebana. He continued teaching the Lismore women for about 25years.

On 22nd March 2010, Dorothy showed this page about the Exhibition from the Womens Weekly to a group of 285 women and men, who had gathered at the Lismore Workers Club to attend the Exhibition and Demonstration of Sogetsu Ikebana.

Ikebana members from Sydney, Melbourne, Bundaberg and Gold Coast staged arrangements at the Exhibition, as well as the local members.

Sensiko Yosh Umemura, from Sydney, gave an outstanding demonstration of Sogetsu ikebana.

He did 7 arrangements, which were handed down from the stage to be displayed on tables on the auditorium floor, and then constructed a large handing arrangement of branches, weeping willow, and flowers, bounded by constructions of white and red bamboo.  Lights of various colours were flashed on the finale creation, as music was played.

Comments from the visitors were, ‘What a wonderful day’, ‘a fantastic demonstration’, ‘an amazing day’, ‘Fabulous 50th Anniversary party’.

Wonderful 50th Birthday Celebrations, it was very special for me to part of it.

The organization, presentation and demonstration were a great credit to Lismore Ikebana.

Friendship Through Flowers

Ikebana International Lismore Chapter No.32 Inc