Happy New Year 2023

It should be an excellent year for the Garden Club this year. There are bottoms poised over seats for Office Bearers and thankfully some members have raised their hands to take on these roles. All that needs to happen now is for them to be officially voted in so they can get seated and start to plan for the coming year. This will happen at the 18 February 2023 Special General Meeting.

There is a lot to think on before that meeting as there is a myriad of activities that make our club work and function efficiently. It is always a pleasure if there are plenty of people actively involved in the various committees and functions of the club. More information can be seen below: 

Afternoon tea committee – we seem to have a passel of eager cooks so have no trouble filling this committee.

Airside Gardening crew – last year saw some newbies join this crew which was wonderful, however three regular workers have relocated interstate so there is a need for more members to participate. This activity is one that CHGC (Coffs Harbour Garden Club) are very proud of. Coffs airside gardens are a real treasure with nothing quite like it anywhere else within NSW or indeed elsewhere in Australia. Such a warm and wonderful welcome for visitors (and locals) when they step off aircraft to be greeted by this lush subtropical oasis.

Meeting Room Set Up – many hands does make light work of this. It does take some effort to set up the tables for the competition table, trade table and afternoon tea as well as the placement of chairs for the meeting. It involves just getting to the meeting room 45 minutes ahead of the meeting to set up. Of course the break down after the meeting is the responsibility of everyone who attends the meeting.

Bunnings BBQ Coordinator (and helpers) Margaret Crawley has already put her name forward to take over the role from Simon Young who did a sterling job for a number of years before his relocation to Tassie. Margaret will be looking for folk to assist her if a BBQ is held during the year.

Competition Table Judge and Stewards we have been exceedingly fortunate to have a GCA qualified judge doing this task for a number of years. Margaret Franks is just so knowledgeable and this segment of the meeting is ever popular. There is a need for Stewards who will assist Margaret during judging, but will also help with the set up of the table before and the breakdown after meetings.

Newsletter Editor this is an important element of our club where members are informed of activities and events within the club. This role has been ably undertaken by Robyne Moulds over the last while but she would like to pass this on to someone else. Please consult Robyne if you’d like to know more about producing a newsletter.

Program Committee these people (in conjunction with Woolgoolga Garden Club) organise outings throughout the year. If you’d like to know more about this role please talk to Sue Young who can assist.

Publicity Officer this is a very important role within the club. This person needs to promote the activities and events to the general public so more Coffs folk can hear about the club. Also if there is a Spring Garden Competition liaise with local media to promote the competition and give notice of winners etc.

Welfare Officer – this person just ‘keeps their finger on the pulse’ of what is happening in members’ lives. Sometimes, there is a need for assistance with transport or perhaps a cheering hospital visit. 

Coffs Harbour Show Steward the Show is being held 13 – 15 October 2023 and CHGC have traditionally sourced the judge and provided stewards for the garden and home produce part of the show. Margaret Crawley is the Vice President of the Show Society and she can be contacted if you’d like more information.

Spring Garden Competition Committee – this is a biggy. The garden competition has run in Coffs for 31 years and it was abandoned during the second round of COVID and hasn’t been recommenced. This committee organises the actual running the competition – decides on categories etc and actual logistics of running a competition. More information can be obtained about this committee from either Maria or Geoff Bell.

Gardener’s Diary/Member Contribution at meetings. This is where you (as members) can contribute with garden related information at meetings. 

Raffle seller/Attendance Book sell raffle tickets at the meeting room door and remind folk to sign the attendance book (for insurance purposes) at our monthly meeting.

Guest Speaker Organiser this person organises speakers for our monthly meetings. Usually someone who can talk/present something horticultural or a garden related topic at meetings.

Raffle Prize Purchaser – the Executive will advise how much $$ spend on raffle prizes. Sometimes members contribute with prizes as well.

Trading Table Organiser sets up the table and collect the money for the Treasurer at the conclusion of the meeting. It is the responsibility for all members to contribute to the table. Funds from the Trading Table and the Raffle go directly to the subsidy for the Christmas Party.

Website Administrator this is the vital information arm of the club. The website was established by Maria Bell however, she has relocated to Ballarat and would like someone to take this role on.