Wadestown Wilton Horticultural Society
President’s Annual Report 2015 – 16
2015 was another successful year for the Wadestown Wilton Horticultural Society. We had many interesting speakers addressing our meetings on a variety of interesting topics. The meetings, as always, were followed by supper and a chance to meet our guest speaker, mingle and informally discuss gardening (and other) topics. Many thanks to our guest speakers who all spent a considerable time preparing for their presentation. Thanks also to the committee members for organising supper after the meetings. In addition to the evening meetings in the Saint Luke’s Centre we also had interesting visits to the Nairn Street Colonial Cottage Garden and the Wellington Botanic Garden Nursery. Our final meeting for the 2015 year was the Christmas Supper with a quiz set by Bethney McLennan. Thanks to Bethney who, as in the past, had researched some very interesting and unusual topics to stretch our general gardening knowledge!
In 2016 we will be moving some of the winter meetings to afternoons to make it easier for more of our members to attend.
Our annual excursion in November was a very enjoyable bus trip to Days Bay and Eastbourne to visit some beautifully presented gardens. It was very interesting to see the different styles of gardens and also to see that there are some very steep gardens in areas other than Wadestown! Thanks to Mary and Gwyne for their organisation and the lovely lunch.
Our three annual shows – Camellia and Spring Flower Show, Rose Show and Summer Show – were well supported with good quality entries. The entry categories of the Rose Show were clarified so that entrants were able to have a better idea of the sections in which their blooms should be entered. The entry categories of the “Vegetable” section of the Summer Show had a major overhaul, making for fairer and easier judging.
There will be a similar revisiting of the entry categories in the Camellia, Rhododendron and Magnolia Show.
The local schools continue to support us with many entries in the sand saucer and art sections of the Summer Show.. The children’s art section, this year, was broken into three subsections Years 1 – 4 (competing for the WWHS Junior Art Trophy) and a Years 5 – 6 section and a Year 7 – 8 section (with the winners of the two sections competing to share the Gordon Dalley Tray). This change takes into account the developmental differences of the age groups and make for fairer judging.
Our thanks go to the judges of all sections of our annual shows, who do what can be a very difficult job.
In an effort to gain more support and interest in our shows, and to promote our society generally, we have put a lot of time and energy into promoting the Rose Show and Summer Show to the local community through a wide distribution of posters throughout the community prior to the event, a sign outside the Saint Luke’s Centre to let people know the show was open and later turning some of the winning children’s art from the Summer Show into cards.
We have also changed the timing of the Rose Show and the Camellia, Rhododendron and Magnolia Show from an evening to a Saturday to make it more easily accessible for interested people to attend.
These actions have contributed to considerably more interest in the shows and raised the profile of the Wadestown Wilton Horticultural Society throughout the community.
Thanks to Rosanne and Julius Fearney who have taken a lead role in the publicity.
Another valuable promotion of the society is our website, www.wwhortsoc.nz. Thanks to Bethney, who has begun writing a regular, topical column for the website. Also thanks to Peter Milne for all of the time he puts into maintaining the website.
Our stall at the Wadestown Village Fair (this year on a flat site!) was, once again, a big success, making considerably more than it has during the past few years. Not only is it good to get the profit, but also the stall, once again, advertises our presence within the community. Plans are already underway to begin potting up cuttings etc. for sale in the stall next year. Thanks to the members (and/or their families) who provided items for sale or set up, staffed or packed up the stall.
I would like to thank all committee members for their hard work during the year, providing background support for the society. A special thank you must go to our treasurer, Colleen Pilgrim, for taking care of the financial side and also to our secretary, Rosanne Robertson, for all that she has done to promote our society and keep it running smoothly. Unfortunately, Rosanne is resigning as secretary and Gail is resigning from the committee – they will both be very sorely missed.
Thank you, all, for your support of our society
Graeme Schofield
April 2016