‘Seedlings Club’, a first for Newcastle Herb Society
Among those who were acknowledged for more than 20 years’ service to the club, was Wood’s mum, Jeanne Hardy, the founder of the Newcastle Herb Society.
At nine-years old, what Tara Wood wanted most in the world was to be a member of the Newcastle Herb Society, just like her mum …So much so that she threw a huge tantrum.
Years later, Wood is now running the club as its chairperson.
At the Herb Society’s awards ceremony on Saturday, March 16, Wood proudly announced that the club now has enough junior members to have a ‘Seedlings Club’ for the first time in its 30-year history.
Wood awarded Seedlings members, Caide Wood, Rebecca Abbett, Paige Wood and Céleigh Abbett, with certificates for ‘carrying the legacy of the club into the future’.
The awards ceremony was a meeting of friends who, over the years, have become a family.
See photos here:
Among those who were acknowledged for more than 20 years’ service to the club, was Wood’s mum, Jeanne Hardy, the founder of the Newcastle Herb Society. Hardy, who has, in the past, served as the club’s chairperson and secretary, is now an honorary member celebrated by the club for her support and guardianship over the years.
Other members acknowledged for their generous contributions to the club were Ian MacCullum, the club’s unofficial photographer, and Louis Eksteen, for his unwavering support.
Members who contributed to the club ‘big or small’ for more than 20 years received the ‘Ginko plant’ certificate. Recipients of this certificate were Rookshana Surtie, Riekie Meyer, Daleen Honeyball, club treasurer, Anne Holmes, and founding member, Jeanne Hardy.
Marie Dantuma and club president, Tara Wood, received the ‘Sage’ certificate for more than 15 years’ service to the club.
Club secretary, Janet de Jager, together with Geraldine Evans and Elizabeth Smith, received certificates of acknowledgement for more than 10 years’ service to the club.
In the special awards category, Heather Hitchen received the ‘Sporty Herby’ certificate for being the most physically active club member, Rookshana Surtie received the ‘Busy Bee’ certificate for being the most social, Elizabeth Smith received the ‘Birthday Fairy’ certificate for sprinkling a bit of birthday magic on club members’ birthdays, the Honeyballs received the ‘Herb Homies’ certificate for hosting meetings at their residence, and Tara Wood received the ‘Absolute Awesomeness’ certificate for her fun and dedicated approach to her duties as chairperson.
Three special awards were issued in absentia. Fazeela Rasool was awarded a certificate for being the ‘Committee Stirrer’, Charles Honeyball was awarded the ‘Heavy Lifting’ certificate for being the muscle of the group, and Tanya Willemse was awarded for being ‘The Hostess with the Mostess’.
The event concluded with the launch of the club’s first recipe book, ‘It’s about Thyme’, a collection of members’ favourite recipes which they contributed over the past 20 years. Wood described the book as, “…a labour of love in loving memory of members who have passed away.”
The book is available from club members at R140 a copy.
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