Australian Rose Award for Mary Frick
Mary’s first elected role was as Minute Secretary to the Council. Following the resignation of the Secretary in February 2004, Mary offered to undertake these duties until the following July 2004 Annual General Meeting when she was elected, and remained in this role until 2009. Throughout this period Mary attended all official Society activities and was part of the organising Committee for the National Rose Society’s AGM in 2004, held in Adelaide. She was a delegate for South Australia to four NRSA AGM’s. Mary was elected to the role of Vice-President of RSSA in 2009; a role which included liaison with our branches. This was a role that was diligently undertaken by Mary, providing a vital link between the branch and State Council. Service to RSSA Council spanned a total of 12 years.
In 2005, Mary formed part of the organising Committee for the 2008 “Rose Adelaide”. This committee was formed by Council to coordinate the planning and organisation of a World Federation of Rose Society’s Regional Convention which was to be the major activity of the RSSA’s centenary celebrations. Mary recommended to this committee that a book detailing the history of RSSA be produced and offered to act as Editor. As the Society’s early records had been destroyed, the onerous task of countless hours of research was undertaken mainly at the State’s Mortlock Library by Mary. Following months of searching, her success in locating the 1908 article calling the inaugural meeting of the Society, enthused Mary to continue her endeavours to locate other articles that would form the basis for the first chapters of the book.
Mary, together with a small editorial team, enthusiastically collated the material over the next 12 months into the successful publication “The Rose Society of SA Inc. 1908-2008”. The book was nominated for a WFRS Literary Award in 2009, and although unsuccessful received many accolades from around the world.
As part of her involvement with the workings of this committee, Mary compiled the minutes of the meetings held during the 4 year operation, undertook the production of the 350 registrants’ attendance tickets as well as sourcing photographs of Past President’s for use in the Society’s Centenary Banner. Mary’s commitment to this memorable event helped ensure its outstanding success.
Mary assumed an unofficial role as Rose Ambassador in the Barossa Valley, initially as joint convenor of the Barossa Rose and Flower Show and also via Friends of the Lyndoch Hill Rose Garden. A meeting was convened in 2012 which resulted in the formation of the RSSA sub-branch “Roses in the Heartland”. Mary has held the position of President from that meeting until relinquishing the role this year. The Branch has been exemplary in efforts to promote the rose within the large portion of the state which forms their catchment. Mary has led the group with great skill during this important establishment period. Mary has organised at her own home a number of pruning demonstrations, workshops on showing roses and general culture and her home has been until very recently the distribution point for Neutrog products for Society members in the Barossa Valley region.
Mary was awarded Life Membership of the RSSA in 2012.
In 2010 Mary undertook the demanding role of Secretary of the National Rose Society of Australia, a position she held for 6 years. A large part of Mary’s workload in this role was to act as an intermediary for communications between the WFRS and the state members of the NRSA. During this period Mary attended WFRS Triennial Conventions and Regional Conventions. In 2015 Mary was appointed as Australasia representative to the “Friends of the Federation” committee of the WFRS and has since that time organised social events enjoyed by WFRS “Friends”. Mary co-hosted a coach group of Australian and International Rosarians on a pre-conference tour of Italy and France immediately prior to the 2015 WFRS Convention in Lyon.
Mary has dabbled with rose breeding with great success. Her Lacy Parasol (Floribunda) and Angels View (Mini Flora) have achieved great show-bench success in South Australia and beyond, others are awaiting release.
Source: Rose Society of South Australia