Community
4 June, 2026
The end of an era
THE members of the Mortlake Rose Show Committee have announced their collective retirement from running the historic event, which faces cancellation if a new committee cannot be found.
The members of the Mortlake Rose Show Committee last week announced they will be retiring from running the event into the future.
The Rose Show has been a mainstay on the Mortlake calendar for 127 years.
The St James Anglican Church had historically held the event until around five years ago, with the Mortlake Community Development Committee (MCDC) and the subcommittee, the Rose Show Committee, having taken the reigns in recent events.
In a statement, Rose Show Committee members Michelle Howat, Fiona Woodhams, Meredith Giles, Geraldine Golsworthy and Pam Walmsley cited personal circumstances and difficulty attracting volunteers as the catalyst for the decision.
“We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Mortlake community for the valuable support you have given to the Rose Show over many years,” the statement read.
“The efforts of all who take the time to enter their plants, often year after year, or help with any aspect of the show has been greatly appreciated and together is what has kept the show such an important part of the community calendar for so long.
“The Rose Show has been run annually for 127 years with all but the last five years being organised by St James Anglican Church and known as the St James Rose Show.
“Since 2021 a subcommittee of MCDC have continued to run the Rose Show with only minor changes to the long-established structure.
“However, with the increasing difficulties of sourcing the required helpers along with member’s personal circumstances and commitments, we feel it is time to call it a day – as the saying goes.”
Western District Newspapers attempted to contact the Mortlake Rose Show Committee for further information, but did not receive a response prior to publication.
It is understood members of the MCDC will assess options to keep the event going.
Those interested in contributing to the future organisation of the show were invited to contact MCDC president Keith Peart via email at mcdcmortlake@gmail.com.
Read More: Mortlake