History
of The Illawarra Camellia Society
In July 2008 Camellias Illawarra Inc will
be presenting its 56th annual consecutive Camellia Show. It
is anticipated that, as in previous years, this show will
satisfy the most fastidious seeker of colour and beauty in
nature. This show has come a long way since 1953 when the
decision was made to stage a small non competitive display
in the steel city of Wollongong. In that year Professor E.
G. Waterhouse, a name well known and respected in the Sydney
area for his avid interest in camellias, brought to Bega on
the south coast of N.S.W., numerous boxes of camellia blooms
from his own gardens, in order to stage a display of that
species in that town. Like a pebble tossed into a pool, ripples
of interest in the display readily pushed out into N.S.W.
and soon reached the attention of the President of Wollongong
Legacy. With the assistance of two sisters Alice and Wilga
Musgrave (who were like wise involved in the Legacy movement)
he examined the possibility of Legacy sponsoring a similar
display in Wollongong. Consequently in collaboration with
Professor Waterhouse and his wife, Alice and Wilga were instrumental
in staging a most successful display of camellias in this
city. The next year the show became competitive and for a
number of years local interests were bolstered with many blooms
being brought in from the renowned nursery operated by Professor
Waterhouse, ‘Camellia Grove’ (until recently located
at St Ives, Sydney). The impact of the annual show grew with
each passing year and after 5 successful years, it became,
and remains, a two day event.
In 1986 the show attracted 1000 blooms which
were scattered across 74 classes. The entries reached a peak
in 2001 when 2,429 blooms were exhibited. Due to adverse dry
weather conditions which have affected considerable portions
of Australia, as well as the loss of some competitors due
to ill health and death, the number of blooms entered into
our show has been slightly less over the past few years. However,
Camellias Illawarra Inc is hopeful that will an improvement
in weather conditions, again we will see numbers of blooms
equalling that of previous record years. We are fortunate
to have moving into our competitive ranks a number of younger
keen gardeners who in addition to the experience of “older
hands” will enable the club to offer the public a dazzling
display to the senses. From many quarters it has been said
that Illawarra presents the largest Camellia Show in Australia.
Complementing the Annual Show is the Reticulata Show which
over the third weekend in August will present to the public
the exotic Reticulata Camellia. While smaller than the annual
show, it nevertheless presents a worthwhile insight into the
Reticulata bloom which can grow to a size as large as a dinner
plate. 2008 will herald the 10th year Wollongong has seen
this annual display and all who take time out to visit Legacy
House, Market Street, Wollongong on this weekend will be well
rewarded.
Associated with the shows held by Camellias Illawarra, are
the shows in Sydney, Nowra, Berry and Hume where one will
find our members competing or judging. On Many occasions Camellia
Illawarra members have benched champion blooms. Basis to the
successful shows are the well attended monthly meetings where
from March to September competitive benching is held.
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