One hundred years without a break for the Aorere Flower Show
Judges hard at work prior to the opening of the Aorere Flower and Produce Society’s spring show to the public. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh
Wet weather leading up the Aorere Flower and Produce Society’s spring show last Saturday neither dampened enthusiasm nor caused any reduction in bloom quality for the event, which attracted a good turnout.
It’s the 101st year for this twice-yearly show. The top prizes in each class are never more than the honour of a ribbon, but are nevertheless held in great esteem.
The inhabitants of the Aorere have always taken pride in what their valley’s fertile soil and warm climate can produce, which is why the Aorere Flower and Produce Society was formed back in 1908 to give local folk an opportunity to compare everything from cheeses to pickles, garden produce, handicrafts and, of course, flower blooms.
Says committee member Lois Benjamin: “Some of the past ones were huge affairs, even the schools up and down the valley would set aside time for all their students to put together a sand saucer arrangement. It became an integral part of growing up here. That’s why it remained such a strong tradition for so long. It’s not really like that anymore, but every so often we have a revival of interest, and that keeps us going.”
Lois did some digging before the show and found the show’s earliest newspaper reports for all to see. The Golden Bay Argus of 25 April 1908 reported as “thoroughly successful” the Aorere Flower and Produce Society autumn show on the previous Saturday at the Aorere Central Hall in Rockville. “It has superior exhibits to similar rural shows in Victoria (Australia) or even bigger shows currently being held near Nelson.”
Among the floral designs presented that year was that of a bungalow with little glass windows and curtains, all made by Mrs P Hawkins. It was also reported that Mr Dyer of Takaka sent some extra fine magnolia blooms, but unfortunately these arrived too late for judging. Messrs Falconer and Co presented a large cheese, which was cut up and laced with one pound’s worth of silver coins before being sold off.
The show today is not only about flowers and produce either; handicrafts, photography, children’s farm models and even decorated pet rocks now all have their competitors. Under the rules, however, “there is no first prize unless there are two exhibits and no second prize unless there are three exhibits in each class.”
Ann Lewis has been judging handcrafts at the Aorere Show for around 10 years. “It’s always a great day out for me and a good way to keep up with the Aorere Valley locals. The judging takes an immense amount of concentration, because you have to compare dissimilar items against each other.”
But by 2pm, Ann and the other seven judges have finished their task, and then it’s the public’s turn to admire the exhibits and sniff the blooms while little Johnny digs through the lucky dip barrel.
Gerard Hindmarsh
