Hills Garden Competition Winners
By JOHN COLLIGNON
While most community events went into isolation, the Sydney Hills Garden Competition was held this year as the only Orange Blossom Festival event running in 2021.
The first competition ran in 1959 as the forerunner of the Orange Blossom Festival.
Gardens entered into the competition were judged in their spring glory from mid-September culminating in an award ceremony held in the Hills Shire Council Chambers Auditorium on October 29th. Prize winners were delighted to receive their awards from special guests including Mayor Michelle Byrne and Castle Hill MP Ray Williams.
Gardens were judged by professional and experienced horticulturists and gardening experts including Ross Miller and Lucia Fowler. 
Ross Miller said: “Even with all the variable weather, we saw magnificent gardens. So many beautiful gardens in the competition this year – from small to large, from modern to traditional. “Every year we are delightfully surprised by the sheer beauty that’s created by the hard work of proud gardeners of the Hills District”.
The Garden Competition is run each year by The Rotary Club of the Hills-Kellyville and has a variety of categories for gardeners from small Town Houses to residential gardens, to gardens of industrial, commercial and retirement complexes.
The garden competition is open to gardens located in the Hills Shire and adjoining parts of the surrounding suburbs.
This year was different with a record number of entries and a changing of the guard with new prize winners for two of the major awards. Jim Anderson was awarded “Champion of Champions” for his beautiful garden at Kenthurst and also won first prize in the Large Residential Garden category and in the Senior Citizens Entire Garden category.
Danuta Szczypior was awarded the ‘George Eric Mobbs Award for Excellence in Gardening’ and first prize in two of the highly contested Residential Garden categories. The Environmental Awareness Award was won by Stewart and Margaret Hunter.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS WERE:
• Small Residential Garden Owner Maintained 1st Danuta Szczypior
• Large Residential Garden Owner Maintained 1st Jim Anderson
• Residential Front or Back Garden Owner Maintained 1st Danuta Szczypior
• New Garden – Owner Maintained 1st Ian and Jill Bleakley
• Townhouse, Villa or Courtyard Garden Owner Maintained 1st Ron Perrau
• Senior Citizen’s Entire Garden 1st Jim Anderson
• Senior Citizen’s – Front Garden 1st Brian Graf
• Senior Citizen’s Townhouse or Courtyard Garden 1st Ron Perrau
• Senior Citizen’s Garden in a Retirement complex 1st Keith McGill
• Strata or Community Title Property Professionally Maintained “Central Park”
• Good Neighbour Gardens: Villas 65-72 at Living Choice Glenhaven
• Specialty Gardens and features Mark and Rochelle Robbins
• Industrial, Commercial or Institution Garden: Living Choice Glenhaven
