A blooming good time... Arrowtown show celebrates its centenary
It’s 100 years since Arrowtown’s best blooms first took centre stage at what was originally the Arrow Horticultural and Industrial Society Flower Show, funded by a group of enthusiastic local gardeners.
This Friday, 22 September, the current Horticultural Society will mark the anniversary with its annual Spring Flower Show in the Athenaeum Hall.
Judges admire their way around hundreds of entries, not only beautifully scented spring flowers, but home baking, preserves, crafts, and this year ‘fancy work’ like crocheted lace and cotton doilies. Creators of everything from embroidered table or tray cloths to beaded headbands, cushions and handbags will all be vying for first place too.
“We’re encouraging people to enter what would’ve featured in the show 100 years ago, including baking that was around then like ginger gems and Churchill Slice,” president Jean Britton says.
Originally two shows were held – one spring, one summer, until about 2000, Britton says. A Lakes District Museum Lake Wakatip Mail newspaper clipping, dated 19 February, 1924, says the first summer show was opened by ‘Mayor Bruce’ and the society’s first president ‘Mr S. George’ took top honours for his vegetables. ‘Mrs George’ won Best Cut Flowers, while ‘Mrs Blathwayt’ and ‘Mrs Hanton’ cleaned up too.
While the industrial name has been dropped, that originally covered handcrafts, baking and embroidery.
Committee member Wendy Clarke says the show was based on the post World War I model, encouraging people to grow and garden in a rural area and show off their produce. Children have always been involved and this year Clarke’s expecting strong entries from schoolchildren and adults once entries open on 21 September.
“We had so many entries last year we had to put up extra tables,” she says. “It’s definitely a local institution and very much a generational event.” The hall supper room is always full of entries from preschool and primary schoolkids. Classes for older children, include photography, baking and handcrafts.
A special new Centennial Cup is being added to this year’s line-up. Overall, ‘1920s’ will be the theme and an invite-only, catered celebratory lunch will be held on 23 September for all those who’ve been involved with the Flower Show over the years. Local NZ celebrity chef Nadia Lim is guest speaker at the lunch, and if she attends the show, even she will have some stiff competition in the baking section.
At $5 a head for afternoon tea – tea or coffee and two to three tasty slices of homemade baking, or sandwiches - this committee has turned a blind eye on inflation. Despite this the committee still raises enough money to donate its proceeds to local charities with whitebait and farm fresh eggs among this year’s raffle prizes.
And, Glenorchy’s 101st Flower Show will be held on 30 September.
Arrowtown Horticultural Society Spring Flower Show
Friday, 22 September, 1-5pm
Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall
Admission: $3 adults, children free
