NZBA Demonstrator Tony Bywater

AREA: Canterbury
CLUB: Christchurch Bonsai Society
PHONE: 021 437 7509
EMAIL: tonyandjude1@outlook.com
FEES: In general I am happy to cover costs only for club activities. Open to discussion on returns and costs for other types of activities.

TEACHING / DEMONSTRATING PREFERENCES:

While the traditional styling demonstration has its place, I generally use a combination of presentation and demonstration on specific topics. I’m happy to conduct tree critiques and workshops. I have a lot of experience with beginners’ classes but also work with more developed material and helping others with design and re-design of established trees, and with collection development.

SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST:

I tend to favour deciduous trees but work with a wide range of species and styles. I like group plantings, rock plantings and landscapes, especially with a Chinese influence. I’m keen to develop my skills and knowledge further with NZ natives.

BACKGROUND:

I have 40 years’ experience in University teaching in agricultural science and management and in adult/professional education.  Started Bonsai in the mid 1970s and joined the Christchurch Bonsai Soc. shortly thereafter.  Have served as President and Vice President, chair of organising committees for the 2009, 2015 national conventions and 2018 50th anniversary mini-convention and have taught one or two beginner’s classes every year since the early 1990s.  A member of the NZBA committee since the 2015 convention.

To a large extent, self-taught in Bonsai but have learned a lot from workshops/ training sessions with Ben Oki, Tony Bebb, Craig Cousins, John Hanby, Nobuyuki Kajiwara, Salvatore Liporace, Lee Wilson, Robert Stevens, Peter Warren and Will Baddeley.