Sheree Gare’s winning Best Exhibition Bloom
Rose growers are a passionate and inventive lot.
Despite recent efforts by the weather gods to upend their 2025 season, rose enthusiasts turned on a spectacular display of blooms at the annual Te Awamutu Rose Show.
Diana Jones with Murray Downs, who received the trophy on behalf of Waipā District Council’s win in the Highest Overall Novice Classes. Photo: Tess Smith
There were over 290 exhibitors in all, just a smidge below last year. Society president Diana Jones reckoned that was pretty good given the bouts of torrid weather and the fact the show was held slightly earlier than usual. She was particularly tickled this year when her great-grandson Arlo Magee took out two awards – Best Member of the Public Exhibitor Children, and Overall Best Member of the Public Exhibitor.
“That was really exciting … a new generation of growers,” she said. “And he’s only three!”
The show was staged at Te Awamutu’s Sports and Recreation Club.
Ōhaupō’s Sheree Gare, who won seven awards, pictured with her winning miniature rose ‘Forshaw’, named after her mother. Photo: Viv Posselt
Te Awamutu Information Centre’s Harriet Dixon with her winning entry and president Diana Jones. Photo: Tess Smith
Te Awamutu Rose Society president Diana Jones with winning great-grandson Arlo Magee, 3, and his sister Octavia. Photo: Tess Smith
Among the winners was Sheree Gare from Ōhaupō, who won seven awards in all. Growing roses to perfection is in her blood. Her parents were award-winning growers; her mum Violet Forshaw, who now lives in Whangarei, has given her name to an exquisite miniature rose that this year won Sheree the Best Small Stem Champion Award (Miniature Type – or MT) – ‘Forshaw’.
Sheree seems to have a natural flair for tending things. When it’s not the blooms in her garden she’s caring for, it’s the patients she looks after as a nurse at Waikato Hospital. She came to the Waikato as a student nurse in her teens, and in 1985 built a home with her husband in Ōhaupō.
Matamata’s Trish Wilcox receiving her Champion of Champions (L) and Best Fully Open Bloom awards from Te Awamutu Rose Society president Diana Jones. Photo: Tess Smith
“That first Christmas, my mum gave me 10 miniature roses and dad gave me six older, bigger roses. That started my passion. My first show was in 1986, and I’ve been involved ever since,” she said, adding that the tiny perfection of miniature roses fills a special spot in her heart. Of her 650 plus roses, only around 280 are the larger variety.
Sheree’s seven 2025 awards were Champion of Champions (Miniature Type), Best Exhibition Bloom (MT), Best Small Stem (MT), Best Vase of Roses (MT), Highest Overall Points of Show (MT); Best Small Stem (Large), and Highest Overall Points of Show.
Rose Society president Diana Jones with Lisa Fisher, who won Best Pedestal Arrangement. Photo: Tess Smith
This arrangement won Best Vase of Roses (L) for Eileen Wilcox. Photo: Viv Posselt
This floral Halloween mask was crafted by Hadassah Jones. Photo: Viv Posselt
Little Arlo Magee’s ‘Raspberry Ice’ rose won in two categories. Photo: Viv Posselt
Te Awamutu Information Centre’s Harriet Dixon won Best Member of the Public Exhibitor Adult, for this rose. Photo: Viv Posselt
Matamata’s Trish Wilcox won Champion of Champions (L) and Best Fully Open Bloom (L); Irene Taylor won Best Exhibition Bloom (L); Eileen Wilcox won Best Decorative Bloom (L) and Best Vase of Roses (L); Elinor Jackson won Best Exhibition Bloom or Stem Novice (L); Janet Pike won Best Decorative Bloom (MT); Jan Lusty won Best Fully Open Bloom (MT); Waipā District Council won Highest Overall Novice Classes; Lisa Fisher won Best Pedestal Arrangement; Harriet Dixon from Te Awamutu Information Centre won Best Member of the Public Exhibitor Adult; and Arlo Magee won Best Member of the Public Exhibitor Children, and Overall Best Member of the Public Exhibitor.
The Favourite Perfumed Rose was ‘Perfume Kiss’ from Amore Roses, entered by Linnie Jones.
Sheree Gare’s winning Best Exhibition Bloom (MT). Photo: Viv Posselt
