Feilding rosarian honoured with top award

Feilding rosarian Gay Martin has been honoured with the Frank Penn memorial award for service to a local rose society. The award, which is presented annually by the new Zealand rose Society, recognises outstanding service to one of the local rose societies around new Zealand. This is the first time in the 55-year history of the award that the recipient has been from the Feilding rose Society and Garden Club.

Gay has been a member of the club since 2001, although she has been a member of rose societies since 1972, while living in Ohakune and woodville. a past president of Feilding rose Society and Garden Club, Gay has served on the committee since 2002.

A consulting rosarian since 2023, Gay willingly shares her knowledge through writing cultural notes for the newsletter and taking part in public pruning demonstrations. Gay also leads the team of members who prune roses in people’s gardens, which is the main fundraiser for the group. “Gay’s enthusiasm and willingness to take on tasks and giving up of her own time to help others is to be greatly admired,” says Gina Christensen, immediate past president of Feilding rose Society and Garden Club.

Gay is a lover of miniature roses and enjoys being able to enter at our annual show where she has won many prizes. She is also a supporter of Rose Ranfurly in the lower North Island and a judge at the New Zealand rose Society trials in Palmerston north.

Hayden Foulds, New Zealand Rose Society