Shelley Egberts fondly remembers Saturdays being spent as a young child with her father exploring the art of bonsai.
They would explore nurseries to buy materials and come home to create their own bonsai while looking at bonsai books from the family bookshelf.
Now Shelley is Geelong Bonsai Club secretary and the club is holding its Bonsai Show on November 12 and 13.
“In 2018 or 2019 a friend of mine mentioned he was joining the local bonsai club,” Shelley said.
“Remembering the fond memories of my childhood, I decided to nervously go along and see what was involved.
“The club welcomed me with open arms. I have since enjoyed years of workshops, demonstrations, mentoring while growing in my bonsai journey, fully supported by and amazing group of highly skilled and talented enthusiasts, whom I now consider close friends.
“I’m so grateful to have become part of this club and would encourage others to come along to the GBCI monthly meetings and join our little community.”
Not only will the show feature a superbly curated display of bonsai, visitors will be able to learn how to shape and style a bonsai in real time demonstrations with members who will be working on their own trees and meet and talk with some of Geelong’s bonsai experts.
There will be demonstrations showing the best methods for shaping and repotting the plants. If you are keen to try your hand at your own bonsai journey or need to stock up on supplies, there will be a sales room where you can purchase everything you require.
While these tiny trees give the impression that they would be simple to look after, they take many years cultivating and shaping, and the Geelong Bonsai Club itself has grown and evolved in a similar manner.
Five individuals came together in 1979 to begin a bonsai club and it now boasts a committed and passionate community of about 70 members ranging from children to almost 90 years old.
The show will be an opportunity to talk with experienced bonsai club members and see a wide range of styles and species. Trees will range from newly developed trees through to close to 100 years old.
The Geelong Bonsai Club show is at Geelong Masonic Centre, Belmont on November 12 and 13 from 9am to 5.30pm.
