Winners congratulated

 Irene and William are the ŌCHT Garden Awards 2021 Grand Champions.

The gardeners were named the awards’ supreme winners on Tuesday, March 9.

They received a trophy and a $300 Bunnings voucher. Their prize was sponsored by Daikin New Zealand.

Other headline prizes went to Tilaga (Good Sort Award and second overall), Alex (Unique Garden winner and third overall) and Beverley (Pot and Tub winner).

Maurice Carter Courts, Spreydon, was named Best Complex.

ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney with Garden Award 2021 Grand Champions William and Irene.

Maurice Carter Courts, Spreydon, was named Best Complex.

More than 100 people attended the fifth annual awards ceremony at Tūranga, the city library, to celebrate ŌCHT tenants’ gardening success.

William and Irene could not make it to the ceremony, but at their house this week they said gardening was a pastime they simply loved doing.

The pair love it to a high standard: they were joint winners of the same prize last year.

ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney thanked the gardeners for all their hard work.

“Wow, what beautiful gardens,” she said as images of the finalists’ gardens scrolled on the screens behind the stage.

“To the gardeners, thank you all for the wonderful job you do around your homes, and for taking care of your gardens.

“It’s a joy to us, thank you.”

Judges Pam Sharpe and David Moyle spent a week in January visiting and judging ŌCHT community gardens across Christchurch.

They endured 35degC heat and a nasty southerly to find the best privately-tended gardens at the Trust’s housing complexes.

Cate thanked Pam for her fifth stint as judge, and congratulated David on his 10th – including five as a judge when the complexes were managed by the Christchurch City Council.

ŌCHT is also grateful for the tremendous support shown by sponsors, who helped grow the prize list on last year.

Thanks to our sponsors:

ŌCHT Garden Awards Grand Champion, sponsored by Daikin. Prize: $300 Bunnings gift voucher.
Good Sort Award, sponsored by Daikin. Prize: $300 Bunnings gift voucher.
Green Thumb Hero: Sponsored by JIAS Electrician, $100 Mitre 10 voucher; Ross Richdale Plumbing, $100 Pak ‘n Save voucher; Mitre 10 Hornby, $100 Mitre 10 voucher; Recreational Services, garden bucket full of goodies.
Pot and Tub Section, sponsored by House and Land Services. Prize: $100 gift voucher.
Unique Garden, sponsored by Clean Up Canterbury. Prize: $100 gift voucher.