THE sun is setting on the Pretty Sally Gardening Club after 43 years of bringing green thumbs together.
The group met for a formal farewell lunch last week to reminisce around three carefully collated photo albums made by one of their founding members, June Ryan.
The clubs vision was formed in 1979 when a small group of students participated in an adult learning program facilitated by the Kilmore Education Group.
The rest is history; they enjoyed each other’s company so much so that they started one of Mitchell Shire’s first social gardening clubs.
Their lively social calendar featured guest speakers, and their meetings were held in a suitable public space or at a members residence.
Across four decades the members enjoyed metropolitan, rural, and regional excursions to a variety of gardens, and typically, the club socialised and celebrated significant occasions together, especially Melbourne Cup Day.
Founding member Phil Clancy said the groups success possibly lies in the agreement that there would be no flower shows or garden competition’s between the members although ‘we will foster support for other groups that wish to conduct them.’
The altruistic nature of its members was highlighted when they rejuvenated pockets of flora habitat around Mitchell Shire including Hudson Park, Apex Park and along Lancefield Road, opposite the Kilmore Cemetery to beautify the towns entrance.
Notably they supported local Blaze Aid founders, Kevin, and Rhonda Butler by cooking meals for their volunteers assisting farmers to restore fences on their properties after the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.
Around disaster recovery and mental health, the club has collaborated with the Sunday Creek Dry Creek Landcare group to donate plants and cuttings to residents whose gardens were destroyed in the fires as a way to help them re-establish a budget friendly place of peace and sanctuary.
Their community contributions didn’t stop there—they raised funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Kilmore Show which ceased in 2019 and they also gave away free plants on occasions at Hudson’s Park.
It is safe to say that the club’s members have enriched each other’s life’s by sharing all their passions with each other as their members cross pollinate between other community networks including Protect Our Farms, the Kilmore Men’s Shed and the Kilmore Art Society.
Moving with the times, the club recognised that younger members were needed to support the club, and they created a social media presence on Facebook in April 2023.
The community page features gardening hacks and important updates to their events calendar; however, it will all be deactivated around September 7.
President Glenys Crome said the club had difficulty around recruiting.
“Sadly, we could not find anyone to take on the Committee positions,” she said.
“Young ones do not seem to be interested in joining clubs, possibly because of work commitments.
“We have made many friendships over the years and we will continue to meet as a friendship group.”
Treasurer, Rose Saunders echoed Ms Crome’s sentiment.
“There’s still lots of ways for us to be connected,” she said.
“There are records to be sorted and our photo albums will be donated to the Kilmore Historical Society.”
Once their bank account has been closed, the clubs remaining monetary assets will be donated to Pyalong Community House to be distributed between farmers doing it tough.
Already their electrical equipment including a projector with a screen and a DVD player has been donated to the Kilmore Community Centre to help them deliver their healthy food program to young people.
Founding member, Madeleine Laming will be collating a digital photo album featuring the clubs cherished moments together.
Visit the Facebook page and to download any photos or information for future use, visit facebook.com/share/g/17ELAgSdDp/
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