Colour and craft at Flower Show

The annual Mangawhai Women’s Institute (WI) Floral and Craft Show was a big success this year with a hall full of fragrant flowers, paintings, photography, handicrafts, home baking and children’s artwork. 

Dorothy Gardner, one of the many long-time participants in the show, has been a member of the WI for 54 years and lived in Mangawhai for 60 years. “This year we received the most entries we’ve ever had. We had to print more entry forms and almost ran out of space. It’s been a marvelous day,” said Dot who contributed a vase of roses, daisies, and pansies in the Craig Bowl section as well as entering jam, marmalade, chutney and Christmas cake in the cooking section. She won “a couple of firsts and a couple of seconds in the cut flower section.”

Kris Malcolm from Harvest cafe was the judge of the food section. “The standout for me was the lavender jelly. It was amazing, no crystals, no air bubbles, just clear and beautiful. All the jams were of a very high standard, I was quite impressed.”

Jo Roberts, judge of the children’s artworks said "it is always a pleasure to see entries from the young people. I was particularly impressed with 'Dino" in the wood section - very creative!” While Malcolm Roberts judge of the photography commented that “there were a large number of entries in the photography section this year, many very thoughtfully composed. It wan’t easy to select a winner!” 

This year the winner of the WDF Trophy was Jill Parsons and the Davis Tray was awarded to Margaret Schutt.