From the five trophies contested in the 1957 Keep Whakatane District Beautiful Annual Garden Competition, to over 40 entrants competing for 20-plus trophies at this year’s awards, there is plenty of ongoing support from garden lovers across the district.

The annual prizegiving was held at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall reception lounge recently, with Deputy Mayor Julie Jukes presenting trophies, certificates and prizes to the winners.

Afterwards, attendees enjoyed a light supper and viewed photos of their fellow competitors’ gardens.

Committee chair Andrew Iles praised the high standard of entries, with many entrants competing for the first time.

Committee member Raewyn Thompson spent many hours cleaning and polishing trophies as well as creating 25 orchid posies to accompany each winner’s trophy.

Mr Iles also thanked committee member and Taneātua Lion John Hall for assisting in setting up and clearing the room after the event.

Results:
Best Overall Garden (Whakatāne Garden Supplies trophy): Joan and Roger Peck

Best Town Garden (Bunnings trophy): Rachel and Grant Hughes

Highly commended: Joan and Roger Peck, Lyn Hickey, John and Gail Anderson.

Supreme Town Garden (Leonie and Dan Burr trophy):  Rachel and Grant Hughes.

Best Rural Garden (Riverslea Mitre 10 trophy): Kelly and Gill McArtie .

Supreme Rural Garden (Leonie and Dan Burr trophy): Kelly and Gill McArtie

Most Imaginative/Photogenic Garden (Commerce St Garden Centre trophy): John and Gail Anderson

Highly commended: Joy Horsburgh.

Strictly Potty Best Garden Containers (Dianne Yeoman trophy): Luke Ruiterman.

Alfresso courtyard patio garden (Poppy’s Café trophy): Rachel & Grant Hughes.

Highly commended: Trident High School; Joan and Roger Peck.

First-time entrant – Rural (Keep Whakatane Beautiful trophy):  Steve and Nicola Cheer.

First-time entrant – Town (Keep Whakatāne Beautiful trophy): Susan Clements.

Highly commended: Garaway Pre-School.

Most Quirky Garden (Keep Whakatāne Beautiful trophy): Wayne Hern.

Highly commended: Scott Saunders, Stewart Sutton.

Best Shop Window (Raewyn Thompson Tray): Sweet Stems.

Highly commended: Heavens for Scent, Bouquet Floral.

Best Pre-school Garden (Little Orchard Preschool trophy):  Apanui Kindergarten.

Highly commended: Garaway Preschool, Seedlings Preschool, Coastlands Preschool.

Best Junior Garden (Clerrie Collier trophy): Lilly and Ari Greer.

Best High School Garden (Ground Zero Café trophy): Trident High School.

Best Primary School Garden (Judy Turner trophy): St Joseph’s School.

Garden of a Retired Couple (Carter Holt trophy):  John and Gail Anderson.

Highly commended: Noeline Herberley, Stewart Sutton, Joy Horsburgh.

Garden of a Working Couple (Little Orchard trophy): Bevan George and Kelly Littlewood.

Highly commended: Steve and Nicola Cheer, Peter and Anna Stoove.

Best Use of New Zealand Natives (Mayors Trophy):  Bevan George and Kelly Littlewood.

Highly commended: Peter and Anna Stoove, Trident High School.

Best Garden at a Business (Mary Shapley Retirement trophy): Mary Shapley Retirement Village.

Highly commended: Sweet Stems.

Best Garden of a Solo Person (Peter Needham Painters trophy):  Moewai Roberts.

Highly commended: Lyn Hickey, Scott Saunders.

New Garden Under two years (Susan Wills memorial trophy): Graham and Linda Wood.

Highly commended: Susan Clements.

Best Vegetable and Edible Garden (Willowbank Shield): Luke Ruiterman.

Highly commended: Bevan George & Kelly Littlewood, Emma Bell.

Best Garden Viewed from the Road (Eves Real Estate trophy): Peter and Anna Stoove.

Highly commended: Graham and Linda Wood.

Best Street (Mayors Trophy): Ocean View Road, Coastlands.