An Affiliate of Camellias Australia Inc

www.camelliasillawarra.org.au

Next meeting 19 March

Coniston Community Centre 2pm

“Bloom Comp Starts”

***** Guest Speakers ****** Jim and Jenny will give a report on the International

Camellia Congress held at Dali, China

“Wilson’s Harlequin”

A chance seedling originated by member Dean Wilson from Robertson. It

first flowered in 1998. A full description is in the Spring-Summer 2015

edition of Camellia News.

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“This is how to grow Alpen Glow”

Charlie Cowell took this picture in his garden

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CAMELLIAS ILLAWARRA INC COMMITTEE

President: Mr William Walker walker38@optusnet.com.au 02 42842790 29 East St, Russell Vale. NSW 2517 V. President: Mr Don Dewhurst dandddewhurst@bigpond.com 02 98209912 7 Moselle Place, Eschol Park. NSW 2558 Secretary: Mrs Elizabeth Martin PO Box 60 Dapto 2530 02 42613484 Minute Secretary: Mrs Jean Groves jeanandrongroves @bigpond.com 02 42846200 4 Lang Street, Balgownie NSW 2519 Treasurer: Mrs Chris Fernandez, kdezfam@bigpond.com 0242280937

257 Mt Keira Road, Mt Keira NSW 2500 Membership Secretary: Mrs Tina Hamer christine.hamer1@bigpond.com 11 Foy Street, Figtree 2525 0242266401 Web Manager: Mrs Debby Dewhurst dandddewhurst@bigpond.com 02 98209912 7 Moselle Place, Eschol Park. NSW 2558 Editor: Mr Kevin Reiman cam.illawarra@gmail.com 02 42565794

23 Robyn Road, Albion Park Rail NSW 2527

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MARCH 2016

I wonder where the Autumn has gone, I haven’t seen it around our place

since March 2015, summer is still very evident and according to the weather

forecasters it is likely to remain with us for some time yet. The garden hose

is in regular use here at Russell Vale and we have experienced little or no

rain during the past two months but our camellias are looking good with

some sasanqua blooms appearing and some japonica buds beginning to show

colour.

Ill health continues to bring problems for our society, the latest victim is

Elaine Faulks who was our Treasurer. Thankfully Christine Fernandez has

offered to cover the position, and with a little help from Sandra, I feel sure

that she will fill the position very capably. It is pleasing that Kevin Reiman is

home again from hospital and doing well and I personally wish him all the

best and hope that he keeps well. Pat Bowyer is still not as well as she would

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like to be and it is hoped that she will have improved health. My wife Jan

still suffers intense pain down the right side of her body and a visit to a spe-

cialist very soon may give her more insight into her suffering.

May I ask those who still haven’t paid their yearly subscription do so as soon

as they are able as our treasurer will soon need to settle the account with the

National Treasurer.

I have received confirmation of the use of TIGS hall for our July Show. Our

Annual Show last year was held there for the first time and all who attended

were impressed by it, as there was ample space and the amenities were first

class and hopefully we can make an improvement in the number of blooms

on show.

I’d like to remind all Committee Members that our next Committee Meeting

will be held at the Coniston Community hall at the completion of the March

Monthly Meeting. This was decided at our last meeting for the reason that

the fourth Sunday in March, our usual meeting date, will be Easter Sunday

and some would prefer not to hold our meeting on that day.

The Monthly Bloom Competition will commence this month and I’m looking

forward to another year of keen rivalry that we usually experience. Hopefully

some of our newer members will consider competing, it is an ideal way of

gaining experience for our Annual show in July. For all first-time exhibitors

and anyone who requires help to bench their blooms, all you need to do is

ask someone for assistance. We all are members of a “Very Friendly Socie-

ty” and if you happen to ask for help from someone who hasn’t the ability, I

feel sure that they will direct you to someone who can.

At our meeting in March, Jenny and Jim will give a report on their experi-

ences at the International Camellia Society Annual Congress in China. I have

spoken to Jenny on the phone and while it was the third visit for her and Jim

to China there was much that happened and it will be interesting to hear from

them both. If there are others present at our meeting who enjoyed the Con-

gress, they might like to give their report also.

I look forward to see you at our meeting in March. WW.

(Continued from page 3)

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CAMELLIA CULTURE NOTES MARCH 2016.

Although we are officially into Autumn, the weather is still very much in Summer

mood.

This means that watering and fertilizing are still the most critical items on the

agenda for the success of your blooms later on. A liquid fertilizer to promote

flower buds will help rather than a Nitogen based that is for growth, this should

have been done in Spring or early Summer. Now is a good time to disbud any

plants you may want to use for show, but if it is only for garden display I would-

n’t be bothered doing. Reduce to a minimum of two buds one large & one small

preferably both pointing slightly downwards if possible to keep damage from

weather to a minimum. High humidity at this time causes many different Fungi

diseases, the most common is Botritis (grey mould) which hibernate in the scales

of the Calyx and damage the petals as the emerge. It can be rather frightening as

it has a similar appearance as the dreaded Flower Blight which we don’t have in

Australia at this date in time. Bud Mites can also bring problems to your flower

buds by sucking on the buds causing them to dry out and drop off, or damage the

edges of the petals. Confidor and Neem Oil are best for controlling Mites. Con-

trol of these problems at this stage of Bud development will give you better flow-

ers later on. Best of luck. .....Jim Powell

Hello Everyone, I’m back on deck again. Many thanks to those who sent

me get well messages and cards, they were much appreciated. (Kevin)

REMINDER: Fees for 2016 year are now overdue and payment should be

made as soon as possible. This can be done at the March meeting, by post to

our Membership Secretary Tina Hamer or by direct deposit to our IMB

bank account. Single: $20 Household: $24

Camellias Illawarra Inc

BSB: 641-800 Account No: 021112238

Please ensure that you include your name with the transfer.

If ,last year, you ordered George Orel’s book or Camellias Aus-

tralia calendars they need to be paid for at the next meeting , just

see Chris Fernandez. We still have one unclaimed book from last

year. Is it yours??????

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New growth just appearing on Margaret Davis in Kevin and Sandra’s

garden where Chis prunned it during his demonstration in September

last year.

As it is now in late February

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Calendar 2016

March 19 Monthly meeting

April 16 Monthly meeting

May 21 Monthly meeting

June 18 Monthly meeting

July 9-10 NSW show—Ravenswood

July 16-17 Illawarra show—TIGS

July 30-31 Berry show

August 13 Retic show

August 20 Monthly meeting

September 10 Monthly meeting Note change of date

September 16-19 National Congress & show—Launceston, Tasmania

Camellias Illawarra Incorporated respects the privacy of all of its members. No personal

details of individual members will be used for any purpose other than that for which they are

held, i.e. the operation of the organisation. No person’s personal details will be provided to

any other party without the express approval of that person.