Ladies donned colonial costumes for the annual Church of England Flower Show in 1968

Church of England Flower Show

The Church of England Flower Show held on Friday was financially successful and a large crowd filled the hall throughout the luncheon and afternoon. Following beneficial rains spring gardens are a picture and this was reflected in the beautiful display of flowers.

Apart from the very abundant number of entries in this section huge urns of flowers filled the stage and surrounds creating a lovely floral setting for the stalls and parade of historical gowns.

Chairman of the sesqui-centenary committee, Dr. H. Hodgson, declared the Flower Show open, and the Mayor, Ald. Adams congratulated the women who had worked to achieve the success of the Flower Show.

The parade of colonial gowns was well received and Mrs. Pearl Anderson, wearing gowns, belonging to the museum, which are 120 years old, was judged best historical gown. Stalls abundantly stocked with fine wares were well patronised. 

Working bee

The Port Macquarie Race Club Trust would like as many people as possible to roll-up to the third barbecue lunch and work meeting on the new racecourse. The day’s work will be fully organised and anyone who can handle a paint brush, saw, hammer, mattock, shovel, or trowel will be made welcome.

At two previous barbecue lunch working bees, a great deal of work was done, but Sunday’s is to be a special effort and all interested citizens in the town are asked to attend and assist this wonderful voluntary project. Sunday’s barbecue dinner has been made possible by Mr. Lance Anderson, John Halls and Tom Bryant.

Three very important constructions: the toilet block, horse stalls and wire enclosure, have to be completed in the next two weekends. Notices have been placed in all clubs and hotels in the town for persons to indicate that they will be attending catering purposes.

Anyone who requires transport is asked to say so on the notice sheet and arrangements will be made for them to be picked up.

Plantation threatened

A six to eight acre banana plantation came close to being destroyed by a bushfire near Kennedy Drive on Sunday afternoon. The fire, which took three hours to bring under control, came within 20 yards of the plantation.

The brigade was forced to use beaters to fight the fire, as there was no water supply to draw from. The plantation owners, Jack and Allan Kennedy, assisted the brigade to hold the blaze. It is thought the fire was started by a spark from a nearby area which was being burnt off. Aided by a breeze and tinder-dry brush, the blaze quickly grew into a serious fire.

The brigade was called at 3.30 p.m. and arrived to find the fire advancing rapidly on the plantation. The firemen could only use 60 gallons of water carried on the fire en gine, as their hoses could not reach the nearest dam. However, they were able to bring the fire under control by using the water sparingly and burning back where possible.

Fire Captain, Mr. Tom Gaul said the Kennedy brothers were fortunate to have only light winds that day.