News

ECT at Ellerslie

Gisborne's own National Arboretum Eastwoodhill won gold at the prestigious Ellerslie International Flower Show and the key support element was the $5000 sponsorship from the Eastland Community Trust.

The arboretum's display was based on 100 years of growing as it looks to celebrate its centennial in 2010. The theme - Acorn to Oak, from small beginnings come great things - was a collaboration by a number of generous businesses and individuals but also the generosity of ECT the local trust.

Eastwoodhill public relations manager Dana Kirkpatrick said the $5000 from ECT meant the arboretum could afford to put its best foot forward at the flower show.

"We wanted to create a sense that people were in the arboretum with a bit of drama thrown in - to do this we commissioned local sculptors Ian Smail and Brian Campbell to create some giant acorns and we printed a six metre by three metre backdrop onto canvas. Neither of these items were cheap and the ECT sponsorship helped us develop something special.

"The effect was stunning and with help from Terra Forme's Debra Stewart, the Friends of Eastwoodhill and many other helpers from all over the country we managed to produce a gold medal winning display."

Friends of Eastwoodhill manned the stand for a week and spoke to thousands of people who were overawed by the display and vowed to come to Gisborne to see Eastwoodhill for themselves. More than 50,000 people attended the Ellerslie Flower Show - set in Christchurch's Hagley Park - which was fantastic exposure for Gisborne and the Eastland region.

ECT chairman Gary Alexander said sponsoring Eastwoodhill's bid for gold fitted the trust's criteria to help with new initiatives to build economic return for the district. He said the trust's intention in providing the sponsorship was to provide a window on the Gisborne district via the Eastwoodhill display to a broad cross section of potential visitors.

"We felt Eastwoodhill was a unique vehicle to show the many attributes of Gisborne and we were delighted with the result," he said.