Taranaki Lesbian Library Hours & Umua Gatherings – TLN Newsletter (1998)

Organisation / Publication: Taranaki Lesbian Network (TLN)

Date: 1998

Location: New Plymouth & Umua, Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand

1️⃣ Taranaki Lesbian Library – Public Hours & Address

This page lists the library’s physical location and opening hours, which is gold for historical record:

• Location: Lemon Street, New Plymouth

• Opening Hours: Wednesdays, 7:30–8:30pm

• Shows the library operating as a regular, accessible community resource in a central New Plymouth location during the late 1990s.
  

2️⃣ Umua Meeting – January Gathering

A reminder notice inviting all lesbians to attend a meeting at Umua:

• Date: Sunday 11 January

• Time: Around 11am

• Purpose: Community meeting

• Contact: Fiona (phone number provided in the original)

• Shows grassroots organising, with personal contact details and informal coordination.

  
  

3️⃣ “Lesbians on the Land” – Umua ’98 Gathering

Details for the 1998 land-based gathering:

• Event: Umua ’98 – Lesbians on the Land

• Dates: 10–13 April

• Who: All lesbians (female born) welcome (note: reflects language and framing of the time)

• Info: Contact TLN for details

• This is a key record of rural lesbian land gatherings, which were important spaces for connection, healing, and political organising.

  
  

4️⃣ Community Culture & Creativity

The page also includes:

• A hand-drawn illustration of a woman in profile

• A crossword puzzle with Across/Down clues

• This reflects how TLN newsletters weren’t just notices — they were social, creative community publications, helping people feel connected and seen.