Garden Club hosts inspirational speaker

Narrabri Garden Club held its monthly meeting at the Scout Hall in Wukawa Street on March 8.

Twenty-eight members attended, enjoyed a delicious morning tea and settled in to listen to our International Women’s Day guest Cr. Cathy Redding.

Cathy had attended the International Women’s Day breakfast, and said she was totally inspired by the amazing women who shared their stories.

Cathy was born and raised in the Narrabri Shire and apart from a few years spent in Sydney, where she met her husband, has lived in various parts of the shire ever since.

Cathy spoke about her life and career, most of it spent in a predominately male environment.

She has run her own business for the past 21 years, and entered local government 13 years ago.

She is currently in her fourth term on Narrabri Shire Council, and the ratio of men to women has not improved in that time.

Cathy would like to see more women, especially younger women, become involved.

They bring a different perspective to the table she said.

You have to be committed, believe in your decisions, and need to listen to both sides and asked members to please encourage younger women to step forward.

Cathy also noted that family support is essential to women in any business career.

Cathy has thoroughly enjoyed her journey through local government, and has now taken a step back and re-evaluated her life, with plans to spend more time with family.

She continues to run her business with the help of family, and is still involved in local government.

Carolynne Tomlinson brought in a large citrus fruit that she has growing in her garden, but wasn’t sure what it was.

Lyn Guest identified it as a pomelo, the largest of the citrus family, and similar to a grapefruit.

It was shaped like a pear, and everyone was amazed at how large it was.

At our next meeting on April 19 a (week later than usual) we are excited to be hosting Robyn Bible from the Australian Geranium Society.

Robyn grows many rare and beautiful Geraniums and Pelargoniums, and knows everything there is to know about getting them to thrive, knowledge she is more than happy to pass on to us home gardeners.

Members of the public are most welcome to come along and avail themselves of Robyn’s expertise. (See classified advertisement).

For those of us who enjoy floral art, the Narrabri Show commences on Friday, May 5.

Schedules are now available, so start planning your arrangements.

I was pleased to hear from one of our childcare facilities, who is planning to get the children involved.

They are always excited to see their arrangements on the bench.

If everyone brings just one thing to the show, whether it be an arrangement, a flower or a pot plant, we have a beautiful horticultural display for the public to enjoy.

Hope to see you all at our next meeting at the Scout Hall.

Don’t forget the change of date to April 19.