October 30, 2018
Three-time grand champions Heather and Neville McNalty had a surprise for Yarraman residents who gathered at the Memorial Hall recently to congratulate the winners of the 2018 Colours of Yarraman gardening competition.
Heather and Neville, from ‘The Palms’ near Cooyar, announced this would be their final year in the competition as they were moving to Toowoomba and starting a new garden.
A lot of hard work has gone into their award-winning garden over the years.
“The first plant went in 45 years ago,” Heather said.
She hopes to be carrying on the gardening tradition in Toowoomba.
“A lot of my stuff is going with me!”
As well as plenty of hard work, Heather believes the secret to the couple’s success has been spring water and, of course, manure.
The awards ceremony topped off the Colours of Yarraman week-long community celebration which was organised by the Yarraman Progress Association.
For the second year in a row, rains coincided with the main events planned during the week, which prompted festival organiser Joe Stimpson to joke that he was going to hire himself out next year to local farmers as a drought-breaker.
Competition judge Robert Campbell, from the Toowoomba Regional Council, concurred: “I wish you’d hold Colours of Yarraman all year round because it seems to bring the rain!”
The awards evening included hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner prepared by Glenn Keen, from the Farmhouse Coffee Lounge, plus entertainment by the Yarraman P-9 State School band.
As the guests enjoyed dinner and the live music, judges made their final determinations about the entries in the mini-garden, basket of vegies and bouquet competitions.
Entries in these competitions filled the Memorial Hall, making a colourful display for visitors to peruse.
Anne Woodrow, from sponsors Bendigo Bank, congratulated all the entrants in the gardening competition, especially for their resilience after a year of “trying weather conditions”.
Mr Campbell, who has been judging the competition for three years, said the quality of the gardens in the competition had been amazing.
“I thought they’d be suffering much more than they were,” he said.
He said while judging the entries he had looked for healthy and vigorous plants, the absence of pests and diseases, the garden design and use of space, the range of plants, good maintenance, “water wise” practices, and the “wow factor”.
Related articles:
- Here’s To Yarraman’s Big Week (2018)
- Garden Festival Draws The Rain (2017)
- Yarraman Enjoys Colourful Week (2016)
- Burst Of Colour Hits Yarraman (2014)
- Big Crowd For Short Show (2014)
- Yarraman Turns Out For Spring (2013)
- Colourful Time At Yarraman (2012)
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2018 Colours of Yarraman Garden Competition Winners
- Grand Champion and Homestead Garden – Heather and Neville McNalty
- Homestead Garden – encouragement – Todd and Sandra Currell
- Reserve Champion and Australian Native – Ray and Glenda Postle
- Australian Native – runner-up – Yarraman & District Historical Society (Heritage House)
- Australian Native – encouragement – Graham and Kay Lancaster
- Community Organisation – Yarraman Kindergarten
- Community Organisation – runner-up – Yarraman Bowls Club
- Town Garden – Russ and Kay Ezzy
- Town Garden – runner-up – Graham and Kay Lancaster
- Front Garden – Kay Basile
- Front Garden – runner-up – Russ and Kay Ezzy
- Front Garden – encouragement – Joe Luttgens
- Vegetable Garden – Joe Luttgens
- Vegetable Garden – runner-up – Russ and Kay Ezzy
- Vegetable Garden – encouragement – Yarraman Kindergarten
- Novice Garden – Greg Stimpson
- Commercial Window Display – “Midnight Creations” by Kay Ezzy and Judy Lax
- Commercial Window Display – runner-up – Bendigo Bank
- Commercial Window Display – encouragement – Yarraman IGA
- Best Decorated Pot (Kindergarten & Under) – Zoe Heit
- Best Decorated Pot (6-11 Years) – Emily Wyvill
- Best Decorated Pot (11-16 Years) – Alivia Courtney
- Best Decorated Pot (Adult) – Russ and Kay Ezzy
- Best Mini Garden (Junior) – Skyla Payne
- Best Mini Garden (Adult) – Jo Collette
- Best Basket of Vegetables – Russ and Kay Ezzy
- Best Floral Arrangement (Fresh) – Lea and Ivan Enchelmaier
- Best Floral Arrangement (Dried) – Lea and Ivan Enchelmaier
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Jazz On The Platform Winners
- Best Dressed Woman – Glenda Stimpson
- Best Dressed Man – Tim Wyvill
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Some of the entries in the Mini-Garden, Vegies and Bouquet competitions:
