Celebrating 64 years of blossoms and blooms

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Mangawhai’s Library Hall overflowed with brilliant colour and sweet perfume on November 11 as Mangawhai Women’s Institute (MWI) kicked off their 64th annual Floral and Craft Show. A myriad of flower arrangements, singular blossoms and craft creations were on display including artworks by local children and kindy groups.

In acknowledging Show secretaries and organisers Trish Black and Jill Aitchison for their hard work and dedication, MWI president Marie Fitt says, in her 29 years of membership, 2016’s affair was ‘one of the best we’ve ever had’.

“Very proud of the day and how it all came together,” she says. “Sadly, so many shows have stopped now, they used to be in every small country town.”

Fitt also thanked the shows ‘first time ever’ sponsors Kaye and Stewart McElwain from Ray White real estate and Mangawhai Memo editor Ngaire Jonas for her ‘valuable advertising’.

The event attracted a large number of contestants who produced a vast range of floral designs adding to the show’s success.

“Every nine out of ten years it seems we have a storm before the show,” secretary Black says. “We were very lucky this year.”

1: Large numbers of visitors flowed through the hall to take in the colour and hues of blooms and art.

2: Children’s colourful artwork was the perfect backdrop for an array of stunning blossoms.

3: Jill Aitchison, Marie Fitt and Trish Black read out the judge’s results for prize giving, helped by event sponsors, Kaye and Stewart McElwain from Ray White real estate.

4: Rewarded for their time and talent, school children show off their award-winning art.

5: Artwork by children from early childhood centre, Before Six, reflected their recent study about Fairy Terns.

6: “Very lucky this year to have such a large variety of flowers,” show Secretary Trish Black says.

7 & 8: The show highlighted the variety of talent and creative ideas that stir in the imagination of the contestants.

WORDS/PHOTOS/Julia Wade

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