DOLLS DRESSED IN HUNGARIAN FOLK COSTUMES, HUNGARIAN TEXTILES AND CERAMICS

Display by Bill Mathieson for his late wife, Zsuzsanna, who came to New Zealand from Budapest with her sister and parents in 1957 as refugees from the Russians.

After several jobs Zsuzsanna had a successful career in finance and public relations and obtained TESOL certification.

Zsuzsanna was a passionate Hungarian and was for many years the President of the Auckland Hungarian Club and representative of the World Federation of Hungarians.

Bill and Zsuzsanna bought an apartment in Budapest in a classical heritage building built around 1870, in a street colloquially known as little Broadway because of the number of live theatres in it and in nearby streets, including the magnificent State Opera House, with easy walk to the Danube and Parliament building.

For 15 years they spent 5 months a year living in Budapest enjoying the great cultural life of theatre, music, festivals, arts and crafts and architecture. Also travelling throughout Hungary and neighbouring countries which all ended with covid and Zsuzsanna's dementia.