General News
13 November, 2025
Full bloom
THE Mortlake Rose Show was in full bloom over the weekend.
Mortlake Rose Show committee member Pam Walmsley said the event had proven a success this year despite ongoing drought conditions, in addition to recent storms, resulting in fewer entries.
“It’s been great,” she said.
“Everything has been interesting and refreshing.
“The pleasing thing is we had three completely new people who had travelled quite a distance to come and be part of the show.
“We’ve had some quite nice surprises.”
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the display covering the stage at Soldier’s Memorial Hall.
The display this year deviated from an emphasis on flowers and instead showed appreciation for the dedicated fundraising efforts of some of the town’s littlest learners.
The Mortlake Kindergarten community earlier this year raised $8210 for Need for Feed Australia’s drought relief efforts through a creative fundraising appeal.
Hay bale tokens, which could be purchased at local stores, were created to ‘fill’ the trailer of an artistic truck erected on fencing at the Officer Street roundabout in Mortlake.
As part of this year’s display at the Rose Show, the truck used during the fundraiser was placed on the stage alongside a wide range of farming, educational and floral themed items.
Mortlake Garden Club president Dianne Robertson said the club wanted to showcase the amazing achievement of the kindergarten and show solidarity with farmers through the display.
“We borrowed the truck itself from the kinder so we could promote them,” she said.
“The children at the kinder made all the little bees which are scattered around the display.
“The theme was Thanking a Farmer because we just wouldn’t survive without farmers.
“We wanted to promote the farmers and celebrate all they do.”
Mrs Robertson said the club members had worked hard to put the display together and showcase the town.
“It makes it special to reflect on something our community did,” she said.
“We normally pick a theme but this year, seeing the truck look so amazing on the fencing, it inspired us.
“We reached out to the kindergarten and said we wanted to thank them for what they had accomplished during the year.”
Ms Walmsley said the display had been appreciated in showcasing the best of the Mortlake community.
“It reminds people we’re part of a big farming community,” she said.
“This isn’t just a township, it’s a big surrounding farming community which is doing it tough.
“It was the perfect theme.”
The winners of this year’s awards were:
E.C Greenrod Perpetual Tray – Heather Rowe;
Elizabeth Brookes Memorial Trophy – Wes Robertson;
St James Cup – Georgie Price;
Most successful exhibitor – Jodie Wells-Slowgrove;
Moyne Shire Trophy – Heidi Smith;
Mortlake Garden Club Prize – Nola Brewer;
Griffin Cup – Heather Rowe;
Edna Spokes Memorial Trophy – Geraldine Golsworthy;
Dorothy Allen Memorial Trophy – Marilyn Richardson, and
Nettie Draffen Memorial Prize – Marilyn Richardson.
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