Organisers of the Te Awamutu Rose Society’s 60th anniversary spring rose show hope a new generation of enthusiasts will grow from this year’s 339 exhibitors.
Trying hard to balance her many trophies is Te Awamutu’s Jan Lusky – and there were more to come. Photo: Viv Posselt
The November 1-3 show at the Te Awamutu Rugby Sports and Recreation Club marked the anniversary by introducing two new classes to the event – First Time Exhibitor in the Members of the Public Awards, for adults and children up to age 16. An impressive 57 children entered the under-16 category in that new award, and 19 adults.
That was outstanding … we hope some of them will become regulars,” said Te Awamutu Rose Society president and show manager Diana Jones.
Hunter Hastie Jones, 5, being presented with his award by rose show steward Laurel Smith, watched on by Te Awamutu Rose Society president Diana Jones. Giving Hunter a helping hand was his Nana, Katrina Hastie. Photo: Viv Posselt
Te Awamutu’s Hunter Hastie Jones, 5, took first in the children’s section of the First Time Exhibitor awards, while Wilma Henwick took both first and second in the adult section.
Jan Lusty won an armful of trophies. In the large type roses division, she won the Champion of Champion, Best Exhibition Bloom, Best Decorative Bloom, Best Small Stem, and Best Vase of Roses. She also won the Best Large Stem in the MT (miniature) type roses division.
Sheree Gare, who was away judging another rose show at the time of the presentation, won Best Decorative Bloom, Best Fully Open Bloom, and Best Vase of Roses in the miniature roses division. She also won trophies for the Highest Overall Points of Show, and the Highest Overall Points for MT Roses. In the Members of the Public Awards, Gare also won the Premier MT Five Award, and the Rosetown MT Award.
Te Awamutu’s Wilma Hunwick pointing to the two blooms that won her both first and second place in the show’s First Time Exhibitor Public Awards (adult) section. Photo: Viv Posselt
Ōhaupō’s Janet Pike won the Champion of Champion title in the MT type roses, and the Best Small Stem in MT type roses, as well as Best Fully Open Bloom in the large roses category. Society president Diana Jones won the Best Exhibition Bloom in the MT category, and took the Rosetown Premier Five Award in the Members of Public Awards section.
Carol and Murray Hunter won the trophy for the Highest Overall Points for All Novice Classes, and Tom and Karen O’Hanlon won the Best Exhibition Bloom or Stem Novice for large type roses.
Five-year-old Hunter Hastie Jones was delighted with the colour-changing ‘Rose Nightlight’ he won for winning in the First Time Exhibitor Public Awards (children) section. Photo: Viv Posselt
Lisa Fisher won a trophy for the Diamond Jubilee Pedestal Arrangement.
Several other awards given included for Miniature Rose in a Porta Frame (Diana Jones), One Vase of Roses (Michael Budd), Vase of Large Type Roses and Vase of David Austin Roses (both Eileen Wilcox), Basket of Large Roses (Linelle Disher), and Six Large Rose Blooms in a Display Box (Linnie Jones).
The judging team of 10 was led by longtime national judge, Janet Pike.
The Favourite Perfumed Rose judged by the public was ‘Papa Meilland’ grown by Hadassah Jones.
Head judge and multiple award winner at the show was Ōhaupō’s Janet Pike, pictured here with Te Awamutu Rose Society president Diana Jones. Photo: Viv Posselt
The rose-covered 60th anniversary jubilee sign was put together by Lisa Fisher, aided by Rose Society treasurer Lorraine Flynn; the structure was made by the Te Awamutu Menzshed. The society was given permission to use roses from the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens for the display – they then filled in the gaps with blooms and green foliage donated by members. Photo: Viv Posselt
