The Tauranga Lyceum Club was founded in 1937 “to provide a forum for women interested in social, public, scientific affairs” and is “a non-political and non-religious group”. It continues today with an ongoing range of activities and events. Diane Hume-Green tells ARTbop about the Lyceum Club and one of its events.
At the end of 2014 I had a lovely afternoon with my mother and a family friend. We attended the Tauranga Lyceum Art Group Exhibition and Garden Ramble. The event was a fundraiser for the Group with a raffle prize of an original painting by Shirley Barry.
In the beautiful setting of River Oaks Drive at Bethlehem we walked the long avenue up to a French inspired home set in a lovely restful garden with places to sit and wander around. Large shade trees, vegetable garden, a lovely green garden with splashes of white. silver and paler greens.
Through to hedge to Margaret Asbury’s lovely home. Her garden is one of an artist with beautiful roses and elegant planting. She has two terraces that can be used according to the need for sun or shade. I love going to artist’s homes as they always have lovely decorating touches in their homes and gardens. The exhibition was held in her studio and showed the large repertoire of the Art Group. New Zealand and overseas travel scenes, still life paintings of fruit and flowers, lovely landscapes and animal paintings.
The afternoon tea was superb. Fabulous range of delicious finger food, coffee, tea , glorious weather and great conversation with a lovely group of ladies.
The Lyceum Club is situated in First Avenue in Tauranga, next to Alimento. You can join annually and there is a large range of events held there weekly. Members can choose from Painting, Music, Books, Bridge, Mah Jong and more. Other groups also hire the Club as it is so well situated and has a full kitchen and dining room, huge lounge and stage.
The New Zealand Room Tauranga City Library holds a collection of Lyceum Club Minute Books. There is also a Bay of Plenty Times article “Club of the Week”, by Jo-Marie Baker, 20 May 2011.
Diane Hume-Green
Diane, a totally Tauranga resident, is a regular ARTbop contributor through Scene Around Town. Diane has contributed numerous pieces on a wide variety of topics of Tauranga and other places and events of interest around New Zealand.
