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25.01.2022 Greetings to our new Facebook friend, Lyceum Club Cologne, and our independent overseas friends. Australian Silver Wattles are flowering in Australia now, a golden joyous display. Often used as an Australian National Flower.

25.01.2022 For those interested in knitting, history, and Fair Isle, this YouTube made by an island lady is very informative. George Waterston, mentioned frequently, began the Fair Isle Bird Observatroy in 1947 as Fair Isle is on the migration route of many migratory birds. The knitting patterns and traditions go back hundreds of years. Island knitting outfitted a 1902 Antarctic Expedition, led by William Bruce. Jumpers, hats, long and shorter stockings. Orders of 100 of this, 100 of that, even 50 tobacco pouches!

25.01.2022 Handcraft and Design Circle are looking at Table Settings at the moment. Thank you, Margaret for this post. While living in Zimbabwe I was fascinated by the attractive range of fabrics utilising African motifs - usually very colourful.This padded tea cosy is an example of two fabrics, clearly utilising the animal pattern for the giraffe. I love the way black fringing is used for the mane, eyelashes and the tuft of the tail. There is a matching tray cloth with a plain blue bo...rder and backing. I also have another set in the shape and pattern of a guinea fowl and another with leopard spots. Sadly these days we tend to use tea bags instead of leaf tea in a teapot so these have never been used. (Memo, arent we having a plastic-free July, and being encouraged to use leaf tea instead of tea bags?) I hope you are all keeping well and being creative. See more

24.01.2022 Lyceum Writers Circle In July we welcomed Dr Judy Gregory, author, editor, ghost writer, mentor, and lecturer, who enthused us with her conversation about ups and downs of writing, editing and publishing. This month the Lyceum Writers enjoyed their third Zoom meeting, which is proving a good temporary option in lieu of meeting at the club. It is known that social confinements and limitations are conducive to creativity and productivity. Proof being that in just five months ...the fledgling Lyceum Writers circle has transcribed May Patens (Founder & first President) diaries 1908-1936 and her 1903 travel journal. In addition, we have rewritten her book of poems dating from 1884 and are currently processing May Patens sixty plus works of fiction Other projects occupying us include compiling a memoir of the Covid-19 pandemic, its effects on the Club with members' personal reflections, poems, coping activities etc. Of interest is that one Lyceum Club member is contributing to the WHO project on collecting details of public health and social measures used by each country as the pandemic progressed, see information at this link https://www.who.int/emergenci//novel-coronavirus-2019/phsm Hoping we can meet at the Club in September when a Lyceum member will facilitate discussion about writing historical fiction. In October another member will be facilitating a workshop on writing personal stories. The Lyceum Writers Circle is open to all members regardless of their perceived or actual writing abilities. Thank you, Deborah, for this post. See more

24.01.2022 This Friday Poem on RN is by a poet new to me. Poetry Circle May enjoy the 2 minute listen. https://www.abc.net.au//friday-poem:-dr-renee-pet/12605124

24.01.2022 A friend was in Kakadu National Park and gave permission to share these detailed photographs of ancient art, although (guess which!) one is from more recent times. Thank you. They may be of interest to our Lyceum friends in other countries, or those considering a holiday up north.

23.01.2022 Travel Circle appreciated a really interesting presentation on Siberia, a trip undertaken in August 2019. Siberia has long been the destination for those not wanted in Moscow, for many centuries. Early prisoners had to walk all the way from Moscow to eg Irkutsk, what an undertaking! Siberia means Sleeping Land, but today in post-Soviet times, locals are trying to build up a tourism industry. 3 spp of humans co-existed there at one time, Homo sapiens, Neanderthal and Denizoven Man. Very few present had been anywhere near Siberia. Aija really brought her visit right into our presence, leaving us with lots of history and Geography questions, plus some literature ones. Thank you, Aija, for a fascinating presentation.

23.01.2022 Our Evening Circle met in our Rooms recently to share a glass of wine and some Portuguese food brought in in individual boxes.This was followed by the Portuguese film Tabu and discussion. We enjoyed meeting again after the lockdown.

20.01.2022 Handcraft and Design Circle are looking at Dinner Table Settings this month - unfortunately virtually for the moment. This Minton china has been hand-painted with wildflowers and associated insects. In the late 19th C these were in use for the dessert course of dinner. The item on the right is a shallow bowl on a low pedestal, to hold the fruit. 12 plates and 3 bowls, all different paintings, make up this lovely set.

20.01.2022 Lyceum Writers’ Circle is our thriving most recently formed Circle. Thank you, Deborah, for this post.

18.01.2022 Someone sent a contribution for Handcraft and Design Circle on serviette rings. Remember them? The only different things we have to add to the serviette rings for a dinner setting are the silver set given to Ians grandparents on their wedding day, with the initials of each on one of them. They have lovely designs and are in a little box. The other serviette rings I have included must have been very popular as gifts at Queensland weddings around 1945 I think. Wooden sets ...of various items of Queensland Mulga were given as wedding presents and these were given to my parents, plus egg cups, a lovely desk set of ink well and a ruler with many inlaid Queensland timbers. These still have the Queensland Mulga label with the correct botanical name attached underneath. We are also in possession of some duplicate pieces from Ian's parents now so I am fairly sure everyone must have been given them in 1945! Did anyone elses family receive these too? See more

18.01.2022 As Lyceum Club Brisbane is not yet back to big gatherings, Evening Circles June event will be a virtual dinner. A few Portuguese recipes are suggested here. It is hoped there can be some link ups, and some photographs shared. Meantime, search out and experiment with some recipes from Portugal!

18.01.2022 As holidays seem very likely to be in Australia in the foreseeable future, here is a Travel Circle contribution from Judy and Erica. Thank you, both, for this. I found your article on Cape Bridgwater very interesting. I havent been there, but I became aware of it when I was preparing my travel talk on Kangaroo Island and the Limestone Coast (some years back now). We did some walking along the cliffs near Southend along the Limestone Coast. There are the same formations of Solution Pipes, but not nearly as well preserved - only really the bases still there. Im attaching two photos of the pipes. When I was doing my talk, I also dug up an excerpt from Charles Darwins journal with his impressions of Cape Bridgwater.

17.01.2022 As we are being regularly encouraged to holiday in Australia at the moment, Judys post here is very timely. Thank you, Judy. TRAVEL ITEM for Lyceum Club Facebook page Judy Schubert ARNHEM LAND & KAKADU NATIONAL PARK In 2017 my husband and I travelled with Outback Spirit to Arnhem Land, from east to west. This is the only tour company with permission to travel right through the heart of this vast, unspoilt, sacred and mystical region region, the result of extensive consul...tation with, and support of, the Northern Land Council and Traditional Owners. This afforded us access to, and involvement with Indigenous communities, their over 60,000 year old traditions, bush tucker, dancing, rock art, world renowned art centres, and craft, immersed in absolutely stunning and varied landscapes. We visited Nhulunbuy (Gove) and Yirrkala, Murwangi and Arafura Swamp, Ramingining, Maningrida, Mt Borradaile and nearby famous rock art sites in the Escarpment, Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), 7 Spirit Bay (in Outback Spirits own amazing retreat), the old Victorian Settlement at Port Essington, Circa 1838, Coburg Marine Park and on to Darwin. Travel included buses, smaller 4WD vehicles, flights and boats and other water craft for swamp, river and wetlands cruises, barramundi fishing, and many walks where we also studied history, wild and awe-inspiring nature and rock art up close, enjoyed traditional dancing with Yolgnu people on the beach at Yirrkala, and bush tucker and medicinal plants via talks with Indigenous Rangers and community members throughout the tour. Chatter and the click of cameras filled the air with a sense of amazement and appreciation. From Darwin we joined a 4 day tour of some areas of Kakadu National Park, with Mary River Wilderness Retreat. Included were Ubirr and Nourlangie famous rock art sites, Yellow River and the Mary River by bus and boat plus numerous superb walks. We again enjoyed more stunning wildlife and scenery, wonderful art and craft centres including the Babbarra Womens Centre, bush tucker, etc. Finally, we spent a couple of days exploring the delights of Darwin by ourselves. With a geological history of over 600 million years, an Indigenous Cultural history of over 40, 000 years, a huge and varied bird population, other amazing wildlife and scenery, we couldnt fail to be overwhelmed by this trip. Visiting soon after huge floods, still affecting the landscape, we were privileged to see more from the air than we would normally have done, which gave us a wider perspective and appreciation of this vast and incredible land. Once seen, and experienced up close and personal, never forgotten! See more

17.01.2022 Looking for another photograph, I came across these photographs of beautiful items in Crathes Castle in Scotland which might be of interest to our Handicrafts and Design Circle. Exquisite painted ceiling beams.

16.01.2022 Ludwig Von Beethovens 250th birthday was recently celebrated by Lyceums Music Circle with a video workshop by the late Brisbane conductor and educator Richard Gill. Using a piano and orchestral excerpts, Gill highlighted aspects of two of Beethovens Symphonies, the Fifth and the Seventh that were so innovative they changed the way music was written thereafter. Classical Period music is about form and planning, at which Beethoven was brilliant, and he extended the idea of w...hat form can do. For example, after the most famous opening bars of all serious music, the first four notes of the Fifth Symphony, he used a whole bar of silence. This so startled the 1808 premiere audience that some were offended. The Seventh Symphony Allegretto movement, a funeral march, was likened by Gill to a serious musical version of Ravels Bolero in that Beethoven took a musical fragment and built on it incessantly, delicately. When it builds to a shocking clash, the audience declared it unnatural and Carl Maria Von Weber even declared that Beethoven should be committed. Beethoven was, in fact, a highly original and organised thinker who constantly edited his work, left nothing to chance and who influenced the harmonies and rhythms of subsequent composers. Polish Canadian Pianist, Jan Lisiecki, continued the program with a video performance of the Second and Fifth Concertos challenging The Academy of St Martin in the Field for dominance at the Berlin Konzerthaus. Members discussed the playfulness of the early composition compared with the Symphonies and thanked the convenor for the instructive and enjoyable concert. An informal and socially distanced lunch concluded Beethovens celebration.

14.01.2022 Another recommendation for readers!

14.01.2022 This year because of Covid19 restrictions, the Evening Circle replaced the annual Winter Dine In Night with a Virtual Dine In Night Dinner. This was very successful with members alone, with their partners or a few friends, donned evening dress to dine. Portuguese, Italian, Australian food was enjoyed. Thank you, Marion, for this post.

14.01.2022 Evening Circle was attended by a record number keen to get back together. These are the teams For and Against in the Debate,Is Barbie a good role model? A lot of fun and laughter enjoyed by all.The No team won by acclamation.

13.01.2022 Travel Circle:- Dreaming of travelling again one day? Much-traveled-Marion contributed this to whet your appetites! She has presented at Travel Circle several times about various canal boat adventures. Thank you, Marion Portia Jones 559km Voyage on the Diana from Gothenburg to Stockholm on the Göta Canal. The journey consisted of four very different voyages in one: the Göta River, numerous large and small lakes with the canal connecting the lakes, and lastly the fjords and...Continue reading

13.01.2022 As Poetry Circle had Clive James scheduled for our June study, I thought our wider Lyceum Facebook Friends might like to read one of Clives poems. I chose it as it is easy to share with you - many of his poems are much longer - but I also do like it. Which are your favourites?

13.01.2022 This 95 year old is worth listening to.

13.01.2022 The Art Circle visited the Exhibition featuring the collection of gifts of Catherine and Margaret Mittelhauser currently on show at the Queensland Art Gallery.

13.01.2022 Is this a Travel Post? Or a post about a Lyceum member? A combination! I travelled to DAguilar Range National Park for a QNC outing. Leader Judy had had a text from Botanist Elwyn. She continues her QNC membership- joined in 1968. 40 years ago Elwyn discovered a massive rainforest vine, Piper hederaceum, formerly Piper novae-hollandiae, growing over a Strangling Fig and beside a Cockspur tree in the area of our walk. This inspired Elwyn to complete her PhD on huge rainfor...est vines, and follow a Rainforest botany career. Could we check and see if it still was in situ, mud map provided. It added an extra interest, and we investigated many Strangler Figs in the approximate area, but sadly could not verify a specific one. But here are a few photographs of some encounters. Elwyn is well, and, entering her 10th decade, is preparing for publication another scientific rainforest paper! Congratulations, Elwyn! Some amazing and talented women have been Lyceum members, just look around! See more

12.01.2022 Short of reading ideas? Here are more! https://www.slq.qld.gov.au//q/courier-mail-peoples-choice

11.01.2022 Monday Book Circle enjoyed catching up following five months of absence from the Club rooms. We also enjoyed discussing "The Remains of the Day". JULY MONDAY BOOK REPORT THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro. The story is told in the first person by Stevens, the ageing butler of Darlington Hall. Most of the story is a reflection back by Stevens on life in a great household wh...ilst on a motoring trip to the West Counties of England. It is only at the end of the story that Stevens realizes the virtues of looking forward to the rest of his life(hence the title), and that he might be enabled, with practice to improve on his style of bantering, encouraged by his current American employer who had also encouraged him to undertake the motoring trip. The character of Stevens, particularly his aim to meet the qualities of a top-class butler; the English class system between the wars; the rise of anti-Semitism and fascism; womens place in society are all themes in the novel. The character of Miss Kenton, the house-keeper, attempts at every turn to make a human response to the culture at Darlington Hall. Miss Kenton has genuine affection for Stevens which deep-down he reciprocates. However, Stevens wooden, unemotional personality intervenes. Today, Stevens would be described as being on the spectrum. The novelist is a great describer of character, not only of Stevens but several of the other characters whom he encounters. The novel is subtley written, an interesting and enjoyable read. Thank you, Helen, for this post.

10.01.2022 As Lyceum Brisbane has not yet recommenced gatherings (though plan to soon ), i thought Facebook people may enjoy hearing of updated progress from the Lao Embroidery village we learned about in February:- Sabaidee from Womens Business.. Our colleague, Women's Business man on the spot in northern Laos, Chanthy Sisombuth and his wife, Oan Phoumeesith with their children, two-and-a-half-year old son, Banjo and daughter Zara, who is six months old, outside Oan's parent's hom...Continue reading

10.01.2022 The Lyceum Writers circle have completed transcribing Miss May Paten's diaries 1908 -1920 and now starting on the remaining years 1921-1935. The character of May Paten is evident in her diligent diary writing, which the Lyceum Writers are privileged to have been given by her nephew. The diaries provide a unique chronology of not only May Paten's life but also a tells the story of early life in Brisbane and the effects of WWI on the community. We have learnt that May... Paten was a gentle caring person with an activist spirit as evident in her membership of QWEL and other women's movements. Fundamentally, May Paten was a writer although she struggled to get published. According to her nephew, May Paten's writing ambitions attracted her to join the original Lyceum Club in London that was founded by female writers. The Lyceum Writers plan to prepare a monogram about May Paten that will be part of the Club's library history collection, and will honour the Found President, another remarkable women of the Lyceum Club, Brisbane. Thank you to the Convenor of Lyceum Writers, Deborah, for this post. See more

10.01.2022 Where were you when the sun rose on the new millennium? Margaret contributed this Travel piece, thank you. MATAPOS AND THE NEW MILLENIUM I was on top of "World's View" in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Matapos Hills, south western Zimbabwe, to see the sun rise. Unfortunately it was cloudy! This was the site of Cecil Rhodes' grave - a beautiful spot with magnificent views - where he requested to to be buried although he died in Cape Province, South Africa. The grave i...s covered with a simple bronze panel and remains despite agitation to exhume his body as he was regarded by some African people as a racist. Matatop is an area of 3100 square kilometres 35 Km south of Bulawayo and includes a national park of 424 square kilometres, communal land and some small commercial farms. Within the national park is a game park where white rhinos were reintroduced. Many different animals and birds can be seen: giraffe, sable antelope, black and white rhino. zebra, impala, wildebeest, warthogs, baboons, vervet monkeys and it is home to the greater number of leopards in the country, though I only saw one. There are many reptiles, birds and a diverse flora. Formed two billion years ago and made up of granite whaleback dwalas, interestingly weathered Kopjes, (hills,) and the river valleys, the scenery is stunning. I envied my husband whose office window on the research station where he worked looked out across the rocky Matapos hills. The name matobo or matopo is derived from the Venda language and means stones. Matopos has as many as 3,000 site of rock art in overhangs and caves dating back 13,000 years and archaeologists have found evidence of life of a Stone Age foraging society followed by agricultural societies. The paintings, by the San (bushmen) people show many animals, hunting scenes and battles in a range of pigments. The rocks are seen as a seat of creator god Mwari and ancestral spirits and is still a living tradition. The Ndebele travel to Matopos to propitiate ancestral and other spirits to ensure good health, rain and success in enterprises. However, elementary education, Christian missions and partial urbanisation have weakened these beliefs but magic and witchcraft continue. One isolated and unusual feature are grain bins, found in the back of isolated caves and sheltered from the elements. The walls are fashioned from clay from termite mounds reinforced with sticks or reeds. They have a square opening at the front that could be closed with a grass or reed mat to keep out vermin and were used to store maize, sorghum or millet. The surviving bins probably date back only to the Matabele Rebellion in 1896. See more

10.01.2022 Lyceum members joined with 5W (Women Welcome Women world Wide) members to enjoy a wonderful day of delicious food, a marvellous display of hats but most of all, good cheer and being able to participate in a very friendly environment. It was such a success that it was decided to hold a Melbourne Cup Luncheon each year. Thank you, Marion, for this post & for organising the day.

09.01.2022 How many of you follow Michael Leunigs Facebook Page?

09.01.2022 Handcraft and Design Circle is going virtual, sharing items of interest for the Dining Table. Thank you, Yvonne, for this post This serviette ring which Ive always loved has been in our family for many years. Im not sure where it original came from but having to take a photo of it forced me to check and find out some of its history (Thank heavens for Google).Unfortunately it is not the easiest to photograph. It is an American Meriden EP horse & cart napkin ring dating bac...k to about 1885 The second photo shows a couple of wine glasses. The one on the right is a cut glass crystal inherited from my grandmother. The green stemmed glass on the left is a traditional German wine glass - a Roemer glass. The mark on the side indicates that it takes .2l. If you are interested the link below shows more about the history of the glass https://germangirlinamerica.com/romer-glass-green-stemmed-/. Our glasses are plain and lack the gold rim and etching that some of the older glasses have. Ours were purchased in Germany in the 1970s.

09.01.2022 Here is another aspect of Clive James, which may bring back memories to some of you - enjoy reliving your childhood!

08.01.2022 A recommendation for Queensland Art Gallery, thank you Lydia. Lyceum members will be delighted to know that the new exhibition at Queensland Art Gallery : Two Sisters: A Singular Vision recognizes the very generous contributions made to Queensland Art Gallery by Margaret Mittelheuser AM (1931-2013) and Cathryn Mittelheuser AM. Both sisters have also made major contributions to the Lyceum Club, with Cathryn previously serving as President, International Vice-President Sout...hern Hemisphere, IALC, Australia President, AALC, and now a Life Member. Queensland Art Gallery is particularly grateful for the support the Mittleheuser sisters provided to encourage and enhance many parts of their collection, especially their collection of works of female indigenous artists. I strongly recommend that you attend this exhibition which will be open until 31st January. Consistent with COVID-19 safety restrictions you will need to make an individual free timed entry booking to attend the exhibition. To do so please go to the QAGOMA website, (qagoma.qld.gov.au) and follow the directions for a timed entry booking for Queensland Art Gallery. I have booked myself in and would love to see you at the exhibition if you are able to attend then. For those reluctant to catch public transport, there is paid parking available at the Queensland Art Gallery. One of the more well known female indigenous artists benefitting from the support of the Mittelheuser sisters was Mavis Ngallametta. Her exhibition: Show Me the Way to go Home is also still showing and is located next to the Two Sisters Exhibition. If you havent seen it yet it is also well worth a visit.

08.01.2022 AUGUST MONDAY BOOK REPORT Exactly: How precision Engineers created the Modern World by Simon Winchester was a fascinating history of technology so much part of society from the Industrial Revolution to the Space Age and present day. Simon Winchester constantly addresses and examines the application of precision and accuracy to each technological, electronic and digital device which he has chosen to discuss. He presents the fine but indisputable distinction between accur...acy being just right and precision with exactness and accuracy with the inventions through time. It is clear to the reader that precision is vital for safe function. The Harrison clocks, carried by Captain Cook; the mirror on the Hubble Telescope and the drill holes on the QANTAS A380 jet engine are three cases in point. Simon Winchester, as always, writes in an understandable style so that scientific and technological detail is explained clearly. The reader forms a clear image of the devices and subject matter. The detail in the book is enormous, never dry or boring to a reader interested in the technology which has aided humankind through the centuries. The book is of particular interest to those interested in scientific matters and instruments. The boring of cannon; the Watt Steam Engine; the development of locks, screws and lathes onto satellites; GPS and Seiko watches, to name a few devices, reveals the broad range covered by the author. Thank you, Helen, for this post. See more

07.01.2022 Monday Books for May read The Good Earth by Pearl Buck, a Pulitzer Prize novel. Naturally this tale of a pre-revolutionary, Chinese, peasant family is perfectly crafted as the author is a Pulitzer Prize winner. It is understandable the novel has been popular since 1930 when first published. The writing style (totally written in the third person) and subject matter give a fable quality to the story of Wang Lung, the central character, a peasant farmer who founds a dynasty... as he wisely farms his land, saves his silver, buys more land until he owns so much and as a consequence of his hard labour plus wise decision- making , becomes a wealthy land owner. In so doing, Wang Lung, the farmer, brings himself, his children and families out of the grinding poverty of rural China. The life-story of Wang Lungs family seemed to be part of the ag-old cycle in some rural families rising to wealth and comfort, living the life of the ruling class Lords . Wangs success was possible because of the good earth, the soil of his farms, the cycle of seasons, the harvesting and storing of grain, for sale, trade and an insulator against famine. As well, wealth enabled Wang Lung to educate his sons (not daughters), a proud achievement for him being an illiterate man. However, while this evolution to a better life was uplifting, I found the attitude to females, albeit well known, to be offensive. The referral to female children as slave if they had been sold as children to wealthy households such as the House of Hwang is an example in the story. Wang Lung married the slave O-lan from this household and the author weaves in the slave like nature of O-lan in the marriage. The thought that O-lan and Wang Lungs daughter could be sold when the family were living in dire poverty in the famine was abhorrent. However, we know that females were considered of lower value than sons in traditional Chinese society. Pearl Bucks skill as an author is revealed by the characterization of all the people in the tale. This makes the story colourful. Examples are Wang Lungs honesty, generosity and respect for his aged father plus the crafty, lazy uncle, aunt and nephew comes across clearly, revealing Wang as a decent man. Wangs shameful treatment of O-lan, taking her prized two pearls when he takes his mistress, Lotus, is moving. His wiliness in being very careful with his silver at times and in buying opium for his uncle and aunt to keep them from being trouble to himself is interesting. His compassion for his handicapped daughter, his poor fool, is moving, as is his care of O-lan as she was dying of cancer. Pearl Buck has given us a detailed, insightful, albeit melodramatic account of how life was lived in traditional China. Thank you, Helen, for this post. June: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles See more

06.01.2022 Thank you, Pamela, for this post from Poetry Circle. Do you remember the following verse from schooldays? Tiger, tiger, burning bright In the forests of the night,...Continue reading

05.01.2022 Friday Books September 2020 The Weekend by Charlotte Wood Although our Rooms have reopened some members are not happy about using public transport and so those of us who were able to met on the spacious veranda of Shirleys home. There were 6 of us present and we enjoyed having this opportunity to chat and catch up with our book discussion after more than six months. Those who had read the book thought it was well written and the characters strongly developed. The story c...oncerns three women friends who come together over a Christmas weekend to clear out the beach house of their recently deceased fourth friend before it goes up for sale. The deceased was the lynchpin of the friendship and those remaining wonder if the friendship can survive without her. In their younger years they have all been strong dominant women but those younger years now seem a distant memory and they are left to ponder and deal with the problems of growing older and of their own mortality. Despite their many differences the friendship does survive and hopefully the weekend has shown them that with patience and empathy seemingly fractured relationships can survive and even thrive. Thank you, Sheina, for this post. See more

05.01.2022 Professor Glenn King, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, addressed us recently, gaining a high approval rating for an outstandingly clear and comprehensive presentation. A biochemist and structural biologist, his expertise lies in translating venom-derived peptides into human drugs and bio insecticides. His lab maintains the most extensive collection of venoms in the world, which includes venoms from more than 700 species of venomous spiders, sc...orpions, centipedes and assassin bugs. His primary focus is on the development of drugs to treat three pervasive nervous system disorders: chronic pain, epilepsy and stroke. He also charted new territory in the field of agriculture by developing venom peptide as eco-friendly bioinsecticides. Vestaron Corporation, the company he founded, began selling these bee-safe bioinsecticides in the U.S. market in 2018. (Lyceum does not advertise - just promoting science here.) Mentorship is important to him, and he is enthusiastically committed to training the next generation of biological scientists. His passion for his subject was palpable. See more

04.01.2022 Now that the Lyceum Club has reopened members are enthusiastically invited to attend the new exhibition at Queensland Art Gallery : Two Sisters: A Singular Vision. This exhibition celebrates the very generous contributions made to Queensland Art Gallery by Margaret Mittelheuser AM (1931-2013) and Dr Cathryn Mittelheuser AM. Both sisters have also made major contributions to the Lyceum Club, with Cathryn previously serving as President, also as Vice President Southern Hemisp...here of IALC, International Association of Lyceum Clubs, and now a Life Member. Queensland Art Gallery is particularly grateful for the support the Mittleheuser sisters provided to encourage and enhance many parts of their collection, especially their collection of works of female indigenous artists. I strongly recommend that you attend this exhibition which will be open until 31st January. Attending the Official Opening, in the photographs are two past Vice Presidents Southern Hemisphere, IALC, one past President of AALC, Australian Association of Lyceum Clubs, four Presidents of Lyceum Club Brisbane, one Honorary Life Member, and one convenor of our Art Circle. Yes, some wear several hats! One of the more well known female indigenous artists benefitting from the support of the Mittelheuser sisters was Mavis Ngallametta. Her exhibition: Show Me the Way to go Home is also still showing and is located next to the Two Sisters Exhibition. If you havent seen it yet it is also well worth a visit. See more

04.01.2022 Handcrafts and Design people, another Dinner Setting post, thank you Margaret. These are antique silver betel leaf holders I bought in Thailand and they make attractive substitutes for napkin rings. The repose designs are floral with birds on the left and fish and crabs on the right. I have several other betel leaf holders but their shape is quite different so not as suitable for table settings. If you google betel leaf holders you will see the different shapes.

03.01.2022 Travel Circle enjoyed a presentation on South Georgia a while ago. Here is a comprehensive update to enjoy. http://www.bbc.com//20200720-an-abandoned-british-island-r

01.01.2022 For those of us who enjoy Poetry. I dont think I have a copy on my bookcase. Nor have I read this. https://theconversation.com/chaucers-great-poem-troilus-and