Garden Club pays respect at Gunnedah Anzac service

April was a busy month for the Gunnedah Garden Club. Members were non-stop between the Quirindi Garden Club Friendship Day, the Gunnedah Show, Easter, Anzac Day and school holidays, so a smaller group met for the monthly meeting.

A group of 14 members enjoyed their day of friendship with the Quirindi Garden Club along with other garden lovers from Narrabri, Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Werris Creek, Dungowen and Scone. There were two guest speakers. An indigenous lady from Wallenbah, gave an interesting talk about her life on the farm where she lives and is bottling bush herbs. She also has accommodation for visitors. The second speaker was a young man who has his Masters in Exercise Philosophy and spoke about exercising by gardening.

After lunch, members had the opportunity to see four open gardens with one behind the Who’d a Thought it Lookout. Once a blank rocky canvas, now lovely lawns and shrubs, with magnificent views.

Garden club members not only volunteered at the Gunnedah Show but were also successful with their entries. Congratulations to Julia Withers, who once again came home with ribbons galore for her entries and floral artistry. Shirley Palmer’s golden dried arrangement won first prize in the “All in a Basket” section.

This year, the club laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on Anzac Day. Julia Withers made wreaths for both the Day View Club and Garden Club, which were laid by Trish Conway and President Joan Harwood.

At the April meeting, Pam Shaw was the hostess and brought a beautiful bunch of roses, which was displayed on the executive table.

Results of the Flower Competition were: Sue Walker’s white orchid won first prize, Trish Conway’s white rose came second, with Ellen Mitchell’s red lily and Ann Penrose’s long-stemmed pink rose a tie for third place. Spinach and radishes were entered in the vegetable competition.

After the meeting, several members visited Mel Thilbault’s property and had lunch in her beautiful garden setting. Joan thanked Mel and presented her with a pot plant.

Shirley Palmer’s ‘All in a Basket’.

Anzac Day Wreaths laid by Trish Conway and Joan Harwood.

President Joan Harwood thanks Mel Thilbault.