Long-term Echuca Horticultural Society member Shirley Durrant cuts the club’s 147th anniversary cake.
It might have passed largely unnoticed in the twin towns, but earlier this month the Echuca Horticultural Society turned the 147th anniversary page on a singularly remarkable story.
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On September 18 way back in 1879 what is now the longest continuous horticultural society in Victoria declared itself open for business.
But only to men. Women were not invited.
Although time and war would soon change that — World War I, the Great Depression, and then World War II shook up everything, including the little horticultural society in little Echuca. The women, it seemed, were finally needed to keep the show on the road.
Current president Sherril Francis said the group’s aim had always been to foster a love of all things plants, creating a dedicated space for local gardeners to share and learn.
Although she can’t quite hide the delicious irony behind its 65-strong membership, which includes 61 women.
And it seems these enthusiastic green thumbs still face their peacetime challenges.
Regular meetings at 2pm on the second Wednesday of every month are held in the Moama Recreation Reserve clubrooms, which caught fire last Saturday during the Murray League grand finals.
This has left Sherril and her club members hoping the damage will be repaired before the October meeting.
One of the beautiful orchids on display at the anniversary lunch.
“Our current membership includes the affiliated Floral Art Group, but yes, we are predominantly women, although a few men have joined,” Sherril said.
“We have workshops, speakers, open garden visits, show ’n’ tell displays and a trading table, with many plants at low prices grown by our members.
“Some of us also volunteer at the Moama Botanic Gardens on Monday mornings and anyone is welcome to join both the society and the volunteers.
“Our big project at the moment is trying to get the railway beautification plan going with volunteers as part of the society’s community involvement.
“Past community jobs have seen us hold a plant sale raising money for the hospital rebuild, donating plants grown by members to the flood victims and they were distributed throughout Echuca, Moama, Barmah, Rochester and other districts.”
Sherril said the club had an active social media presence at echucahorticulturalsociety.com and on Facebook, which continually updates with beautiful photos of local gardens.
“If you enjoy gardening, we would love to welcome you, and you could share some happy times with like-minded people all about plants,” Sherril said.
“At our last pre-fire meeting when we celebrated our 147th birthday, we enjoyed a special cake (which Sherril made), which was cut by long-term member Shirley Durrant.”
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