Myrtle Rust attacks young, soft, actively growing leaves, shoots tips and young stems as well as fruits and flower parts of susceptible plants. First signs are tiny raised brown to grey spots.  Often they have red-purple haloes. Up to 14 days after infection the spots are a mass of distinctive yellow/orange spores.

All members of the myrtaceae plant family are potential hosts of the fungus. This family include Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Callistemon, Leptospermum and many other frequently used garden plants.

For more information on this problem and to help prevent the spread of the fungus go to the DPI site – click here.

Listed are the Conferences, Schools, Shows, Guided Walks etc, etc that are continually occurring.

Use the page to help you plan your weekend activities, to plan a trip for your club or to locate horticultural events that you might like to participate in.

It is there for your use. Tell others about it  The more it is used the more valuable it will become and the more comprehensive it will be.

If you have an event that is coming up let the Secretary at 133 Underbank Blvd Bacchus Marsh 3340 know of it.

“Good Gardening to All”

The details are available elsewhere on this site in the

RHSV MEMBERS  area.

All are welcome.

It is a wonderful thing to claim that you are well and truly a real

“BASKET CASE”.

We are aiming in some small way to help heal the memories of the events and to on return the areas to the wonderful environments that was there.

For information on what the RHSV is taking to assist in the recovering go to “RHSV NEWS” on this site

Hanging Basket Comp

Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria

Reg No A0007311A

THE GREAT VICTORIAN

HANGING BASKET COMPETITION

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

BECOME A BASKET CASE

ENTER THE GREAT VICTORIAN HANGING BASKET COMPETITION.

ALL ARE WELCOME

• IT IS FUN
• ALL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED
• YOU MEET OTHERS WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS
• YOU GET TWO TICKETS INTO THE FLOWERSHOW TO VIEW YOUR ENTRY

JOIN THE BIGGEST HANGING BASKET COMPETITION IN THE WORLD

APPLICATION FORM CONTACT THE SECRETARY FOR MORE INFO. AT secretary@rhsv.org.au

or on (03) 5367 6363

OR GO TO THE MEMBERS PAGE ON THIS SITE

The Morewell Centenary Rose Garden received the prestigious “Award of Garden Excellence” from the World Federation of Rose Societies Convention held in Vancouver in June 2009.

This is big by any standard. You are invited to share their moment when a plaque is unveiled in the garden on Monday 9th November.

If you cannot make this event the gardens will still be there to view.

It shows that Australian Gardeners are up there with the best.

Have Heart, have Pride and keep on Gardening.

Hanging Basket Comp 

Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria

Reg No A0007311A

 THE GREAT VICTORIAN

HANGING BASKET COMPETITION

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

BECOME A BASKET CASE

 ENTER THE GREAT VICTORIAN HANGING BASKET COMPETITION.

ALL ARE WELCOME

• IT IS FUN
• ALL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED
• YOU MEET OTHERS WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS
• YOU GET TWO TICKETS INTO THE FLOWERSHOW TO VIEW YOUR ENTRY

JOIN THE BIGGEST HANGING BASKET COMPETITION IN THE WORLD

APPLICATION FORM     CONTACT THE SECRETARY FOR MORE INFO. AT secretary@rhsv.org.au

or on (03) 5367 6363 
     

  OR GO TO THE MEMBERS PAGE ON THIS SITE      

HON SECRETARY RHSV. 133 Underbank Boulevard BACCHUS MARSH 3340

Ph/Fax 03 53676363 E-Mail  secretary@rhsv.org.au

RHSV – PRESIDENTS REPORT 2009

The year 2008-2009 has again been a significant one for the RHSV.

We reached our 160^th Birthday with a reverence for those who have so wonderfully supported the Royal in the past and with an ongoing expectation that the future will contain many challenges that will see it continue to develop and prosper.

The basic principles on which the Society was established on are still as relevant today as they were 160 years ago. The way of the Royal is towards the future, not the past.

There has been a significant advancement of the Royal amongst its membership and in the horticultural community in general. 

It is increasingly being recognized as the true voice of the amateur gardener.

Community Leadership

In response to the recent disasters the RHSV established a Horticultural Disaster Relief Fund to assist the affected areas to recover.  It was based primarily on the horticultural aspect of recovery as the other areas have been covered well by others.

This has developed into a national fund as we now have support from many interstate groups.  The “Garden Clubs of Australia” and its members have been particularly supportive of the fund and the RHSV greatly appreciates their support and input.

The fund will continue to operate for several years as it will take a long time for things to be initiated and finalized.  It is a big task to take on and only the RHSV could do it in Victoria.

In many ways this is what the RHSV is here for.

Membership

Individual membership has increased and this reflects the continuing value of the Royal to gardeners. Promotions and an enervated magazine has helped significantly.

Affiliate membership has also increased.  Many new groups have joined and groups who have let their affiliation drop have rejoined.  This can be traced back to improved communications and recognition by the various groups that the Royal does have something to offer. The magazine, the web site and just good old better communication through items such as the Secretary’s News Sheet, snail mail and

e-mail have brought us all closer together.

It is necessary for the RHSV to continue to expand the benefits that it can provide to its membership.

RHSV Regions

The Regional Groups are continuing to support their members and the RHSV.

A significant development has been the desire to develop more Regions and thus expand the benefits of the process as well as improving overall communications.  This can only benefit the RHSV in its activities.

It is a feature of our activities that we can only operate within the resources we have available. The RHSV gratefully appreciates the management activities of the Regional Committees as without them they would not operate. 

Interstate Members.

Though primarily a Victorian body the RHSV has many interstate members.

The value of our membership is expanding. The insurance scheme we facilitate is widely used by horticultural groups throughout Australia.

Recently, due to OH&S aspects the use of glass containers at shows has been disallowed in many areas.  The RHSV cones & vases are now being used throughout Australia as a very satisfactory, safe alternative to glass containers.  The Sydney Royal Agricultural Society is now using them.

Additionally our web site and magazine issues contain information on the interstate activities.

We are investigating ways that we can add more value to their membership.  Though not Victorian groups we value and welcome them.

Member Services

The value of services provided by the Royal to its members and affiliates has again been increased and improved.

The insurance scheme is a critical element in the service to its affiliates.  We have increased the maximum Public Liability claim to $20 mill.  This was necessary due to many requirements on our affiliated groups from hirers, etc.  This was done as economically as possible using our combined organizational mass.

We have investigated Personal Accident insurance and this can be made available if a group requires it.

The Web Site is now a critical element in our organization and we are continually developing it to provide information and services to all.  Many of our groups have their own web sites.  For a group to now have good contact with its potential membership base a web site is required.

The RHSV can organize an economic web site for its members as a service.

Through the web site the RHSV is developing more services.  The “What’s On” segment now has the best, most up to date listing of shows and gardening events. It is being widely used as a promotional tool by our groups

The “Speakers Data Base” has been established is now widely used by our members to organize speakers for their meetings. It is continually developing.

The medals, awards, show items etc are continuing to be popular.  We have awarded several John Pascoe Fawner medals this year and the SS McKay medals are extremely popular.  The Royal trophy, free to affiliates is increasingly becoming popular as a major trophy for shows.

The progression of the Magazine into color has been a resounding success.  Acceptance of the publication has been universally acclaimed.  It now has the potential to act as a driving force to promote the RHSV, raise our image and act as a credible means to have impact on horticulture.

The magazine is now known as the “ GARDENERS GAZETTE “  Like the publications of the Royal previously we are sure this will become a valued horticultural magazine that will give a very public “voice” to the Royal.

We are investigating further developments in the format that we are sure will set it up as a significant horticultural journal for many years to come.

Promotions

The RHSV is increasingly going out into the community for promotional activities.

The Royal has significant input into the ABC Spring Show at Caulfield and the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in the Exhibition Hall and Carlton Gardens. At both events the Royal is there to promote amateur horticulture and primarily its affiliates.  At the Melbourne Flower Show we had an internal display and the Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition. This year we had nearly 150 basket entries.  We also provided a major trophy at the Melbourne Flower Show and judged the entrants in the relevant sections. 

Through these events we have had great success in increasing the profile of the Society and increasing membership for the RHSV as well as the affiliated groups. 

It is the old adage. You have to be seen to be noticed

Annual Seminar

A feature of the 2008-9 year was the Annual Seminar in June 09.

The seminar was extended to an all day event where our 160^th Birthday was celebrated, but more importantly it was the first occasion for many years where the RHSV had a meeting of its many affiliates.  The good feelings and the desire to go forward and take on activities that came from the day has provided the impetus for the RHSV to continue to develop and expand its activities.  However to do this requires more support for the RHSV.  Thus the challenge.

Financial – Management Comment.

The RHSV is a non-profit organization. Consequently it is not a primary objective to make significant profit.  This year we have established the Horticultural Disaster Relief Fund with an initial donation of $10,000 and also have incurred additional costs for various activities, including MIFGS due to lack of industry support.

Despite this the RHSV is a strong financially.

As the Royal progresses and develops increasing demands will come on it financially.

The scope of the organization is continually being widened and to meet these demands is requiring significant expenditure.  It is obvious that as the Royal develops into new areas of horticulture it will expand beyond a simple garden club structure.

The financial management of the society is now computer based.  This requires skills to do this.  As the society develops more professional support will be required.

This will cause some uneasiness with those that recall recent events.  However to progress beyond a simple garden club and realize the potential that the Royal has will require this progression.  The Royal has been down this path several times.  We must learn from previous mistakes and develop a structure and organization that keeps us true to our aims and objectives without suffering the pitfalls of the past.  This perhaps is the main challenge facing us.

Industry Support

The RHSV has a very good relationship with many industry and non-government organisations.

This support has enabled us to participate at a such venues as the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show.  The sponsorship that such organisations can provide financially or in kind is essential for us to continue to deliver quality presentations. Without the Debco’s, Scotsburn Nurseries, Archur Baskets, Plants Plus, Neutrog, NGIV, the IMG organisation and the many others that support us we would find it difficult to manage some activities.

Support is not given lightly by industry and it does show that the RHSV does have a good standing within the industry.

To represent the amateur horticulturalist the RHSV must continue to develop its standing within the Horticultural community.

Committee

What Makes The World Go Around??

Committees of course.

The RHSV committee is lucky to have such a hard working, competent committee.

The diversity of the work required and the skills required of the committee is often so underrated.  The current Committee are managing a significant organization with minimal resources.  It is due to their skills, devotion, commitment and sometimes stubbornness that they achieve what is truly a great result.

Consequently I can only praise them for their hard work and hope that they continue to do so with all of the humor and camaraderie that they do it.

The Future.

Where to from here?

The RHSV IS at the start of an eventful path that WILL see it as the foremost Horticultural Organization in Australia.

Of this I am sure.  It will get there through the input of similar individuals that have enabled it to reach 160 years in existence.

However we need those individuals.

For the RHSV to develop beyond the current committee’s capability we need the support of more individuals and our affiliates.

Consequently we need to review, rationalize, develop what we do.

What A Dream, What an Aim, What a Journey.

Don Rickerby

RHSV – President 2009