Oruru Garden Club wraps up year with festive lunch at Taipa Bay Resort

Oruru Garden club member Lynn Hill cutting her famous cream cheese Christmas cake as the Garden Club closed off the year.

For over 65 years, the tight-knit Oruru Garden Club has met monthly to share gardening tips, cuttings, and camaraderie.

At their recent Christmas meeting, they proved yet again why this little club is still going strong.

With nine members present, club president Lynne McDonald said their Christmas lunch was the perfect end to the year for the Doubtless Bay group.

“Everyone enjoyed their lunch at Taipa Bay Resort. After we had discussed several items on the agenda, it was time to enjoy a shared lunch consisting of a great assortment of goodies, sitting out under the umbrellas on the deck. The highlight was Lynn Hill’s Christmas cake which she kindly makes for us each year.”

McDonald said back in the day there were many garden clubs, especially in rural areas as it was a great place to find company.

“Our club is 66 years old, and I am relatively new compared to others who have been here since the 1980s.”

“We meet at each other’s places and help each other with different ideas, take cuttings from each other’s gardens and just share in conversations.”

She said their next meeting will be in February and encouraged others to join the club.

“We are always looking for new members, not a lot of people are keen to join, especially younger people and I don’t know why. I would encourage people to join, it gives you something to look forward to each month, it can become a highlight.”

The group closed off the year with a Christmas lunch and Christmas themed table.

“As it was our Christmas Lunch there was no competition, only a decorative section which was a Christmas themed table decoration. There were only two entries in this, both receiving five points. Helen Winter was again our auctioneer, with potted plants, and vegetables up for grabs. Our raffle winner was Rosalie Hills, she received a lovely poinsettia and chocolates,” McDonald said.

“Julie Captain was our birthday recipient this month, she received some lovely orchid-scented drawer liners. Lynley is still to collect her gift from October, but was away. Lynne McDonald won the lucky mug, and May Cross the lucky cup. They both received a cute reindeer pot with a Fittonia in it, and chocolates.”

The next meeting, in February, will be hosted in Taipa View. Anyone who may be interested in coming to join us at our small club, would be welcome to visit us, phone Lynne 09 4087837 or 027 4082145.