The wind up of the Ashburton Horticultural Society has resulted in a $3000 donation to help the environment.
There are also four historical trophies in need of a home.
The society, which for more than 60 years helped promote beautification of Ashburton township through popular garden competitions, could trace its founding history back to 1891. However dwindling membership has forced it to close.
Society secretary/treasurer Noella Talbot said the wind up last month saw a final tally of $3013.27 made available, which members decided would go towards an Advance Ashburton Community Foundation fund to enhance the environment.
She said most items owned by the society had found homes, but there were still four trophies, including three from the district’s annual garden competition, available for collection by family members of their donors.
‘‘We still have the A.J. Millichamp Memorial Trophy 1954 and three old trophies from the garden competition; the T.W. McKee Memorial Trophy 1964, Ester Andrews Memorial Salver 1982, and the Alison Trophy 1990,’’ she said.
‘‘We would like to re-unite these trophies with any family members.’’ Inquiries can be made to Noella directly on 308-3263.
Patron Graham Gunn said he was saddened by the closure of the 133-year-old society despite members’ best efforts.
‘‘There was just no way out. We gave it every possible shot as to what we could do to keep it going,’’ he said.
Graham, 85, joined the society in his early 20s. He was an apprentice with parks and reserves at Ashburton Borough Council, and colleague Ian Bonnish was also a member, and former society patron.
Despite being hesitant due to the age of members, Graham went along to meetings with his late mother, Rona.
‘‘It took quite a lot of adjusting, and of course they made a fuss of me,’’ he said.
‘‘I quite enjoyed it after a while. They had speakers on different topics,’’ he said.
‘‘I found it quite interesting and gradually got acclimatised to it.’’
Graham, also a member of the Ashburton Dahlia Circle and former Ashburton Fuchsia Group, worked around the grounds of the domain for 30 years.
He said the first garden competition was run in 1960.
The gardens then were picked for judging by nominations from society members and domain staff driving around town.
Records show the competition was so popular that by 1970 the A grade section had changed to premier grade.
Then in 2012 it was announced households could enter their own gardens for judging.
But, due to lack of entries by 2019, the competition changed again.
Society members drove around town and nominated gardens for a Merit Award Certificate, awarded to about 190 people in 2019 and 350 people in 2020.
However, at the annual general meeting on August 24, 2020, and with limited members, the decision was made to stop running the garden competition. Then last year the decision was made to wind up the society.
Noella said a final get together and afternoon tea was held in the Linton Lounge, at the Ashburton RSA on February 21.
‘‘We had 10 members attend this get together that was to inform members of progress on winding up the society.’’
It included the distribution of some of the society’s display items and several members took other trophies they had won in the past.
The Ashburton Dahlia Circle had taken vases and tablecloths, for which a thank you card was received, and the Ashburton Museum was to take minute books, old programmes and some trophies, she said.
‘‘As the current holders of these three Table Show trophies – Brian Glassey will keep the chrysanthemum trophy (most points overall), John Hoogweg will keep the A. J.L. Williams trophy (most points cut flowers) and John Johnston will keep the Lloyd Trophy (most points fruit and vegetables),’’ she said.
