On a sunny but cold winter day 60 members and visitors attended the August Lakes Entrance Garden Club meeting which included the 2024 annual general meeting.
All committee positions were filled and the club looks forward to another enjoyable year.
Show bench judge in August was member Arja Toivanen and she gave a lively commentary on her show bench choices.
In the three bulbus flowers section first from Shirley Bardwell showed the brightness of flowers to the black vase. Shirley mentioned the miniature daffodil has three flower heads on the one stem – most unusual. Second from Dearne Albert was chosen as Arja liked the variety of different colours – yellow, purple and orange.
Arja loves wattles and first in the native acacia section had dreamy foliage with light lemon coloured flowers – very appealing – from Joy Davenport.
A cut of acacia pycnantha with red stems and gold flowers caught the judge’s eye and was second from Ann Bambridge.
It was great to see Yrjo Torkkola enter for the first time on the show bench in the beginners luck section (encouraged by Arja). Yrjo’s entry was an amazing and very unusual scadoxus puniceus, the paintbrush lily, exhibited well in an unusual vase that complements the unusual flower.
The winner of the floral art section was Dearne Albert who took her inspiration for her dramatic ‘free form’ exhibit from the speaker at the Sale Floral Art Luncheon. Equal seconds went to Sheryl MacCubbin with her burgundy orchids and Shirley Bardwell with a picture of spring, daffodils and jonquils.
Janice Kelly was first in the photography section with a beautiful, huge pink rhododendron bush and second was Sheryl MacCubbin with a photo of the Lakes Entrance area – overlooking the Aqua Park on the Esplanade.
What a ‘hit you in the eye’ was the potted plant section this month. Janice Kelly was first with a stunner cyclamen, the flowers standing up well above the foliage. Second was Dearne Albert with dendrobium ‘Rosy Cheeks’.
And once again the container of flowers section was difficult to judge. First and best exhibit of the day was such a sympathetic arrangement of colours, just beautiful from Janice Kelly. Second overflowing from the black container in all shades of pink was from Shirley Bardwell.
Guest speaker in August was Glen Hodges, partner in Hibbert and Hodges Lawyers Lakes Entrance. Glenn began his career in private practice for a major Melbourne law firm more than 30 years ago. Glenn and his family relocated from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance in 2007.
Powers of attorney are often misunderstood – all adults should have this important document. They are most often needed because of accidents – best to put an enduring power of attorney in place before the need arises.
There are two types of powers of attorney – financial and medical. Financial attorney can do varied financial things on your behalf. Medical attorney can give directions with regard to medical decisions affecting you.
The attorney is a person who can make a decision for you – when you cannot. Powers of attorney do not need to be updated.
A valid will is important for all adults, as it makes sure your wishes are respected after your death. The executor is there to carry out wishes of the will maker.
You can appoint more than one executor. If there is family conflict – appoint outside the family. You must make provision for spouse and children – it does not need to be equal. If you do divide unequally – you must give a reason. To make a claim (object) against a will you must be an eligible person and you must have grounds to object.
When the will maker is alive – no one is entitled to have copy of the will – without their approval. In Victoria there is no registry of wills so it is important that your executors know where your will is held and what your wishes are. Wills should be checked every five years even if do not need to change anything.
It was a very interesting and informative talk.
The next Lakes Entrance Garden Club meeting is Monday, September 16, 1.30pm at the Mechanics Hall, (near the library) Mechanics Street, Lakes Entrance.
