General News
11 October, 2024
Garden competition entries open
The Central Goldfields Shire Garden Competition 2024 is back and locals are encouraged to participate.
Gardening can be dirty business when seeds of competition are sowed — and with a popular local contest ready to once again pluck the best garden from the lot, it won’t be surprising to see green fingers across the shire curl up into fists for the top title.
The Maryborough and District Garden Club is encouraging residents to enter their gardens for a chance to win in the Central Goldfields Shire Garden Competition 2024.
For nearly 40 years, the annual affair has provided locals with the opportunity to proudly showcase the lush and unique side of their properties.
And with eight different categories open to the public, this year will be no different.
Participants can enter their garden in a category best suited to them:
Best overall garden Maryborough
Best garden — unit, town house or flat
Best vegetable or fruit and veggie garden within shire
Best garden on rental premises
Best backyard garden
Best school or community garden within shire
Garden viewed from street
Best kept street — Central Goldfields Shire.
According to the garden club’s president Rick James, the competition is a great way to sit back and bear the fruits of your labour.
“It lets you and others appreciate the work that’s been put in,” he said.
“People are also encouraged to have their surrounds looking nice and tidy.
“It’s also a great way to socialise with other likeminded people.”
While there is no such thing as a perfect garden for Mr James, he said there are certain things the judging committee will keep an eye out for during the competition.
“A model garden is one that satisfies it’s keeper the most — it’s very subjective,” Mr James said.
“But generally, we want to see tidiness, the planning behind the structure of the garden, and perhaps also the variety you have in your space with flowers and trees.
“Every garden in essence has it’s own individual characteristics and that’s how we look at it.”
Entries for the competition are free and are open to residents from all parts of the Central Goldfields Shire.
Forms to enter the contest are available at ASQ, Carramar Nursery, Crameri’s Mitre 10, the Lions Club Book Shop and the Visitor Information Centre in Maryborough.
The deadline for country and rural towns outside of Maryborough is October 18 — for residents in Maryborough, the deadline in November 1.
For more information about the competition call the Maryborough and District Garden Club on 0458 284 927 or 0409 456 699.