P.O. Box 155 CABOOLTURE Qld Australia 4510
Ph: (07) 5498 7757; Fax: (07) 5498 7973; Email hsq@hibiscus.org.au

Special Occasions 2002

On the Saturday, the first cheque was handed over to the Red Cross in the official announcement together with a heritage book containing a picture of the flower and a presentation certificate.

On the right, the H.S.Q. President, Gynith Whatmough, addresses the gathering as the official guests wait. They are, from left to right, Brian Billings, 16 years Director of Brunnings Garden Products P/L, Tony Pixley, Board member of the Australian Red Cross, and Colin and Bev Campbell, the Society Patrons.  On the left are Mrs Elizabeth Billings, other Red Cross people and some visitors.

The bloom display, together with complementary displays of associated products, was quite spectacular.  Brunnings had a full display of products to celebrate 150 years of production and were presented with Brunnings 150, an attractive yellow blooming plant named in honour of the occasion.  They also received a heritage book outlining the 150 year history of the Company with copies of catalogues and company photos of the early days in Melbourne. (See the Brunnings story summary)

The ornamental pools were of interest as was the floral art exhibit. The Red Cross had an informative display, too.  A beautiful seedling - Flower Girl x Herm Geller - was offered in the "Name the Seedling" competition. It was hybridised  by a NSW (Nowra)  member,
Michael Hutchison.  Interesting framed sandpaper art by Sharon Kennedy-Miles was displayed in the raffled items.  A full range of hibiscus plant varieties created enthusiastic attention.

From L. to R.: Wally Morgan, Richard Johnson, Greg Lindsay, Gynith Whatmough.  Richard as President of the International Hibiscus Society, an Internet based group, is a tourist from Tahiti visiting Australian Hibiscus shows and meeting as many of the IHS members as possible.  He enjoyed the Show and claimed it was the largest "meeting" of the IHS to date.