Local flower show making comeback after cyclone cancellation

AFTER last year’s event was cancelled due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, organisers of the Coorabell Hall Flower Show are hoping for better weather for this weekend’s return.

Coorabell Hall president Lissa Coote said last year was a “disaster”.

“It wiped out all of the dahlias so we had to cancel because there were no flowers,” she said.

“The whole weekend it bucketed down. It still felt as though we had it though because we organised everything but it didn’t happen – we cancelled it at the last minute.”

This year, much of the hall will be filled with dahlias grown by award-winning Coorabell growers Bruce and Steve Wedd, with orchids and roses among the other varieties on display.

“Some local growers have taken over their family’s cattle farms to grow flowers,” Coote said.

The Coorabell Hall Flower Show began in 1959, organised by the Ladies Auxiliary to raise funds to line and paint the hall, and ran until 2009. Coote and fellow volunteer Adele Smout revived the event four years ago.

 

Visitors will be able to buy fresh flower crowns made by volunteers for $10 for adults and $5 for children, who can also have their faces painted.

Bangalow CWA will run a cake stall, alongside a coffee cart and chai from Kamal Singh.

Wood-fired pizza from Gunter’s Flammkuchen will also be available, along with a sausage sizzle run by the Bangalow Lions Club, while hall volunteers will operate the bar. Ice-creams will also be on offer.

The weekend program includes a pollinator talk and bee sanctuary walk at 3pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday, as well as flower art displays and a raffle. Prizes include a $250 voucher for Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens at Montecollum.

Dancers from Byron Bay Hula – Mana Aloha Troupe will perform at 3pm on Sunday ahead of the closing flower sale at 4pm.

“Hawaiians love wearing flower crowns and Lilith Rocha and her troupe wear beautiful floral dresses when they dance,” Coote said.

Coorabell Hall Flower Show is on from 12pm to 4pm Saturday 14 March and 10am to 4pm Sunday 15 March. Entry is free, but donations are welcome.

For more information, visit coorabellhall.net