Welcome to the Nepean Bonsai Society Inc.
The Nepean Bonsai Society Inc. was established in March 1972. Our patron is John Marsh, one of the founding members of Nepean Bonsai Society and a nationally respected Bonsai artist.
Our meetings are held monthly on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December). Various workshops and events are also run for members during the year.
History
The inaugural meeting of the Nepean District Bonsai Society was held on March 22nd 1972 at the Penrith Primary School. This meeting was as a result of a display in the old Penrith Plaza and an advertisement in the Penrith Press. The meeting elected a President – Mrs. Val Allen and a secretary/treasurer – Mrs. Dawn Sinclair. A committee was formed to include Mr. John Marsh, Mrs. Beryl Vine, Mrs. Monique Sinclair, Mr. Don Sinclair and Mr. Les Jones. It is interesting in reading the minutes of the first meeting to note that the format for the meetings to follow were set down. They are almost identical to those practiced today, with general business, raffles (at 20c per ticket), cuppa and a demonstration.
The first actual meeting as a club (the above meeting was to set up to arrange the details of meetings) took place in April, our AGM. Vita and Dot Koreshoff were invited to the April meeting.
An article appeared in the Penrith Press prior to the April meeting informing the general public that “This hobby also gives scope for gardening skill and artistic expression, yet it requires no great physical effort or large outlay of money or time” Following on, the press release invites members of the public to attend and to be instructed in the art of bonsai by various Bonsai Masters.
At the foundation meeting in April, Vita Koreshoff presented the club with its first club logo. Over the years this tree, just like all bonsai, has matured and changed. In 1986 it looked like a fig, and in 1997 it changed again to become the tree we have for our current logo.
In the early days, John and Val in particular would stage Bonsai Exhibitions at various locations to publicise the art of bonsai and to recruit new members for the club. Membership grew and special lecturers and demonstrators came to instruct. Perhaps one of the most memorable guest demonstrators was Mr. Tom Yamamoto, who whilst visiting Australia for a series of lectures was persuaded to demonstrate at Val’s home for members of the club.
Not only did the club grow, it also moved from the Primary School to a Nursery in Punt Road, Emu Plains. After some time it returned to Penrith, taking up residence in the Penrith Teachers Centre. From January 1998 the meetings moved to the North Penrith neighbourhood centre. In 2022, the club reolcated to the Nepean Mens Shed in Orchard Hills where it currently resides.
The club as a whole has also exhibited at many other venues such as – the annual Kurmond Public School Arts and Craft Fair, the Japanese Culture and Trade Exhibition, the Lewers Gallery, the opening of the new Civic Centre, the Hobby and Leisure Show to name some, but not all. Perhaps the greatest achievement in recent years was the hosting of the AABC National Seminar in 1992, our 20th Anniversary. This was one of the most successful national Seminars and certainly put Nepean Bonsai Society on the map.
As of 2023, the club has seen enormous growth in the past few years, as more people have taken up bonsai during the lockdowns and isolation of COVID.
Affiliations
Nepean Bonsai Society is affiliated with various bonsai organisations and groups across Australia.
The A.A.B.C. (Australian Associated Bonsai Clubs) is the national organisation that represents its member clubs in Australia. They provide an annual National Bonsai Convention, and club access to a register of National Demonstrators who provide workshops, demonstrations etc. More information can be found at https://bonsaiclubsaustralia.org.au/
B.C.I. (Bonsai Clubs International) is an International organisation based in the United States. Yearly conventions, bi-monthly magazines, and contact with different organisations around the world keep us up to date with developments in the international bonsai community. More information can be found at https://www.bonsai-bci.com/
The Bonsai Federation of Australia Northern is a NSW based bonsai organisation that organises various events across Sydney for its member clubs.
