National Chrysanthemum Society of England medal c1951

Summary

In 1951, Melbourne City Council's Parks and Gardens Department became the first organisation in Australia to win a prestigious National Chrysanthemum Society of England medal, which was a major horticultural achievement. The society was founded in Stoke Newington, now part of the London borough of Hackney, back in 1846 to promote the cultivation of the chrysanthemum. The prize was awarded for the council's entry of 2500 blooms at the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria's chrysanthemum and fruit show, which opened on 27 April 1951 at the Town Hall. It's worth noting that the best bloom was primrose yellow and exhibited by Lenah Valley of Hobart. A lot of the credit for the council's award should go to the Royal Park district foreman, Frank Keenan, and his team of 25 gardeners, who watched over the blooms around the clock. Councillor William Brens took great pride in displaying the medal to council, and the achievement even hit the headlines in the local press. The silver medal is mounted in a wooden plaque, with the obverse displaying the stylised initials 'NCS' amid an array of chrysanthemum blooms. The reverse features 'National Chrysanthemum Society' around the rim; the hand-engraved centre proclaims 'Parks & Gardens Dept / MCC / 1951'. This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.