Connection through celebration

Elmstock Tea 

Donated by Michael Elliott 

Michael Elliott is the owner of Elmstock Tea, a company that has been operating for more than 30 years in Australia. It has a rich tradition of involvement in the tea industry spanning five generations. 

Elmstock specialises in premium quality teas and herbal infusions sourced from the world's major tea growing regions. It has branches and representatives in all states of Australia, in Sri Lanka and New York. 

Elmstock is a family-owned business which distributes its teas to speciality gourmet shops and quality restaurants and cafes.

Friends and Colleagues 

Donated by Christine Martin

While working with my State Library colleagues in the Arts and Humanities team of the State Reference Library, I was part of a lovely tradition that I'd like to share. As we celebrated each of our birthdays during that year, we all contributed a small amount of money for the birthday girl and one of the staff bought a teacup and saucer as her present. 

As the year went by, everyone received a unique teacup in traditional styles: yellows, pinks, greens, gilded and decorated. Mine is predominantly blue. Every time I use it, I think of my friends in Arts and Humanities, the fun and friendship and the great team spirit. We had a wonderful tea party on the River Terrace one morning before the library opened with all of our dainty teacups. Thanks girls! 

Tea parties around Queensland 

Donated by Glynne Strange 

State Library and several other Queensland public libraries have hosted special Tea & Me events and displays to celebrate our love of tea. 

From Goondiwindi with their colourful display to Yeppoon and Rockhampton with their ‘Timeless Tea cups’ and ‘Tea Lives’ events, to painting a ‘cuppa’ in Gladstone and sharing ‘Tea Stories’ in Gympie, tea lovers across the state were able to share their stories over a freshly brewed pot. 

This cup was donated by Glynn Strange at an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea held at State Library on 24 May 2011. 

These morning teas are held all over the country to raise money towards the Cancer Council's work in research, prevention and support for those people affected by cancer and what better way is there to kick off a celebration of tea stories than by having a cuppa to help those in need. 

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea 

Donated by Adrianne Katmadas 

State Library and several other Queensland public libraries have hosted special Tea & Me events and displays to celebrate our love of tea. 

From Goondiwindi with their colourful display to Yeppoon and Rockhampton with their ‘Timeless Tea cups’ and ‘Tea Lives’ events, to painting a ‘cuppa’ in Gladstone and sharing ‘Tea Stories’ in Gympie, tea lovers across the state were able to share their stories over a freshly brewed pot. 

This cup was donated by Adrianne Katmadas at an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea held at State Library on 24 May 2011. 

These morning teas are held all over the country to raise money towards the Cancer Council's work in research, prevention and support for those people affected by cancer and what better way is there to kick off a celebration of tea stories than by having a cuppa to help those in need. 

Blossoms 

Donated by Ron Baum 

“I must have my cuppa before I can paint.” 

This was the universal cry as friends of my wife Glennyce, or rather ‘Glen’ as she was more well-known, gathered for another morning of porcelain painting.  

Painting on porcelain was an art that had captured Glen and had absorbed her for over 40 years. An ardent advocate of this art form, she gave generously of her considerable knowledge to those who aspired to master its intricacies. She was not only an accomplished artist herself but also a teacher and an exhibitor. 

Glen had exhibited at various events including many years at the Brisbane Ekka – this set is one of her winning exhibits at the 2007 Ekka and is a fine example of her work. Whilst her love affair with porcelain art began in our Singapore days with the "soft look" technique, she embraced other techniques as well. Here in this case, the border treatment is reminiscent of the classic as is the chartreuse colour but there is also the soft look hint in the treatment of the blossoms. 

2007 was Glen's most successful Ekka, topped by the award of the Blue Grand Champion Rosette. Sadly, lung cancer claimed her some months later, the day after her seventy-second birthday. I and my daughters like to think that she is still painting away in God’s studio.