About The Association
Heritage Roses in Australia Inc. was formed in 1979 and is a fellowship of those whose aim is to advance the preservation, cultivation, distribution and study of old garden roses, roses no longer in general commercial cultivation, roses of historical importance, species roses and their hybrids. We maintain contact through our journal which is published four times a year. The journal is also received by members of similar societies throughout the world.
History
Miriam Wilkins and Carlo Cato enlisted Trevor Nottle in South Australia as a foundation member when they formed Heritage Roses (USA), and from there Trevor developed an informal network of Australians who were collecting old roses and seeking answers to questions about them. In 1978 Deane Ross helped with his old rose return-buyers list. A letter was eventually mailed to some 200 people, including a few in New Zealand, South Africa and USA, regarding interest in forming a ‘loose, informal association.’
Among the first people to respond were Diana Morgan, Susan St Leon (now Irvine), Esmond Jones, Heather and Roy Rumsey, Rose Marsh, Pat Toolan, Tommy Garnett, Barney Hutton, Neil Robertson, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Nancy Steen (NZ) and Bill Grant (USA). Within a year (1979) HRIAI had coordinators in all states except NT and ACT.
The organization was formed to bring together people who love and collect old roses, the roses of antiquity and the survivors from Australian colonial gardens. There was also interest in finding and rescuing Australian bred roses, for example those of Alister Clark, Frank Riethmuller and Mrs Fitzhardinge. The basic concept was to build informal, friendly networks for conservation of this part of our garden heritage; and by and large that starting point has remained the principal attraction for members.
Roses for Bush Fire Survivors
This project really began when my son heard the story on the radio of a lady from Marysville who had lost a garden with 100 year old roses - and told me I should do something about it! We now have 170 families who would like to replace their old fashioned roses. Realistically, we are most unlikely to have sufficient cuttings that are mature enough to fill all these orders to post out bare rooted this winter. Since mid December we have been explaining to new clients that cuttings will probably not be available until 2011. Propagation takes time and is not always successful! -but many new houses are suddenly springing up and It seems important to be able to get as many parcels together for this winter as we can. But those of you who will have stock ready in 2011 - we still really need you - so keep propagating! We have also offered roses for memorial gardens and there has not been any response to that yet.
There are a few reports of old roses on their own roots surviving. But many areas were bulldozed in clearing and there is nothing to come back. All survivors report that gardens and plants are not covered by insurance so it is a real struggle to buy replacement plants when you have lost everything. For those who still have a house, but whose gardens were destroyed there is no recompense - and there are many of them. The rose still has a strong emotional impact for people. We have requests for roses to plant where the pets were buried. A 15 year old girl whose 3 friends died wants to have a rose bed with a pink, white and a yellow rose - one for each of her friends. So often the requests are for roses that celebrated special events - like the birth of each child, weddings, birthdays etc. - or the memory of loved ones. For one lady receiving the rose offer was the first time she had really thought about her beloved garden as she struggled with the loss of her home and injury to herself and family. This project seems to be helping with loss in a way that cannot be met in other ways.
Only about 10 people came in with comprehensive lists of old roses, although many remembered 2 or 3 that came from parents/grandparents or friends gardens. Except for special circumstances we are limiting our offer to heritage/historic roses Our proposal is to send them a surprise package of 4/5 bare -rooted roses and although our original idea was to grow replacement roses we have had to change our thinking a little. Diana Fickling opened her garden last spring and generously donated the takings ($650) and we have since had several very generous donations.
These funds will be used to
1. Pay for budding the requested roses which are hard to propagate or sucker on their own roots.
2. Offer postage etc to some people who have propagated large numbers of roses for the appeal
3. Purchase bare rooted stock from local growers whose businesses have suffered through drought and fires -to boost our stocks to give away.
Regional co-ordinators have a list of specific requests and if any of you have roses available to post out this winter could you please let us know as we try to match roses with requests. We can then supply addresses to you. All old fashioned roses will be useful for the surprise packs. We now have an account with the Bendigo Bank and if anyone would like to make a donation, cheques should be made payable to 'Roses for Bushfire Survivors' and posted to: Jill Collins, 5 Thomas Close, Mount Eliza. Vic 3930.
Shirley Yates 03/5974 2129 Jill Collins 03/ 9775 4549
0423 364 698 0438 255 811
alanshirley@optusnet.com.au normancollins@bigpond.com