COFFS Harbour Garden Club (CHGC) celebrated its Jubilee with lunch at Coffs Surf Club and a donation to the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
Almost 40 Garden Club members from Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga attended the 75th birthday milestone, along with Coffs City Mayor Nikki Williams, Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh and Garden Clubs of Australia NSW Zone coordinator for the Mid North Coast, Malcolm McKinlay.
A highlight of the event was a presentation by Newsletter Editor Carolan Buckmaster of “For the Love of a Garden – The History of the Coffs Harbour Garden Club 1950-2005” by Betty Newton and Jack Lawson, which includes information from member Pat Roser.
Founded in 1950 as the Coffs Harbour Horticultural Society, the club took on its present name in 1979.
Always with a mission to be ready to support the beautification of Coffs Harbour, it began donating money in 1980 for the planting of Cuban palms in Hardacre Street, at the entrance to the Botanic Garden. A total of $1160 was donated and the project was completed in 1984.
In 1986 the group affiliated with Garden Clubs of Australia and the North Coast Judges panel.
In 1987 the meeting venue was changed to the function room at the Botanic Garden, where they still meet today. The Spring Garden Competition also became a main event on the club’s calendar.
In 1992 the club became the first to donate to the Coffs Creek pathway, giving the project $1400.
The beautification of Coffs Airport airside garden has been an ongoing civic pride since 1997 when the club took over its care.
In September 2003, to mark Garden Clubs of Australia Biennial Convention, CHGC held a BBQ for 250 people in the Botanic Garden, followed by several days of events culminating with a Farewell Dinner with the Mayor and Town Crier in the C.ex auditorium.
The financial success of the convention and a grant of $3000 from the NSW Regional Garden Grants, allowed the club to set up the Horticultural Therapy Garden Program at The Botanic Garden in 2005. This enables residents in Aged Care Homes to enjoy gardening using special tools and raised beds.
Also in 2005 the club hosted the floral art and gardening extravaganza “Coffs in Bloom” supported by the City of Coffs Harbour. It began hosting and attending garden club zone days promoting the motto “Friendship through Gardens” at Nambucca, Woolgoolga, Bowraville and South West Rocks. These activities continue to this day.
CHGC has contributed many dollars to the Botanic Garden to enhance the site including The Garden Directory Notice Board, two ponds for the old Glass House, outside lighting of the pergola tables for the Function Room and garden seats.
In celebrating its Jubilee, the club presented a donation of $5000 to the Friends of Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden to upgrade the front pond area to include a Frog Habitat with plants recommended by club member Mary Davis.
President Esther Koreny said it was an honour and a privilege to host the Coffs Harbour Garden Club Jubilee.
“Everyone enjoyed our history unfolding on the screen,” she told News Of The Area.
Testament to the garden clubs’ mission of friendship through gardening Ms Koreny said, “We moved from Melbourne just before COVID [and] knew no one in Coffs beside our son’s young family.
“I made 40 friends the moment I joined the CHGC.”
Mr McKinlay has 35 clubs in his zone, and he reported to the group that he senses change emerging.
“The word is getting out about how good gardening is, the sense of community people feel through gardening… today is testament to that.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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