Rose grower will be missed

Long-time Te Awamutu resident and ardent rose grower, Anne Oliedam, will be missed at next month’s annual spring rose show.

The 88-year-old, who died recently, was a true stalwart of the show. Passionate about roses for decades, she played an active part in the Te Awamutu Rose Society, in earlier years and when it started up again in 2020, taking on the role of treasurer and then president for a couple of years before ill health saw her reluctantly step down.

She long advocated for Te Awamutu as the ‘Rose Town’ of New Zealand and was the society’s president when two top international rosarians, Michael Marriott and Paul Zimmerman, visited in late 2023 as part of a Botanica World Discoveries Tour.

At the time, Anne described the visit to Te Awamutu by such prestigious international rosarians as a ‘big feather in our cap’.

The society presented her with life membership at its 2026 annual meeting.

© Viv Posselt
Current Te Awamutu Rose Society president Linnie Jones, left, pictured a couple of years ago with former president and respected rosarian, Anne Olideam, who died recently. Photo: Viv Posselt

Anne’s sister-in-law Diana Jones, who alongside fellow member Shirley Lord, received life membership to the society on the same day as Anne did, said Te Awamutu had been home for Anne for most of her adult life.

She and her brother Bryan (Diana’s husband) were brought up in the New Plymouth area, and one of Anne’s first jobs after leaving school was working at a bank in Ōtorohanga. She later moved to Te Awamutu where she remained.

Anne’s prized roses took out a few awards in their time, and she was known for having an extensive knowledge on roses and her ready willingness to mentor novice growers.

Her finger was on the pulse of everything the society was doing, said current president and another of Anne’s sisters-in-law, Linnie Jones.

“Anne was always with us at Mitre 10, at other promotions and get-togethers, and always up for selling raffle tickets. No-one got past her … Anne knew everyone and those she didn’t know, knew her.

“Her presence will always be felt … in every rose that blooms, every rose I pick.”

The Te Awamutu Rose Society’s 62nd annual spring rose show will take place on November 6 and 7.

Source: www.teawamutunews.nz