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'Dame Elisabeth Murdoch' rose Reviews & Comments
Discussion id : 43-836
most recent 26 JUN 13 SHOW ALL
 
Initial post 11 APR 10 by Laurie Newman
I am a proud Australian. My profile illustrates that I am also a keen rosarian. Since visiting Mornington Botanical Rose Garden yesterday, it came again to me the sad conclusion that our "Cultural Cringe" is alive and well. I spotted two beds of Rosa 'Dame Elisabeth Murdoch', enclosed in two bays dedicated to and sponsored by that illustrious Australian lady. In view of her reputation and the great esteem with which she is held in Australia, I wondered just who chose this particular rose that was given the honour of her name. Be that as it may, it is an unremarkable rose bred in Germany, Rosa 'Speelwark', and to it second hand is given the name of a great Australian lady. The question needs to be asked as to why not an Australian bred rose? It is my opinion that that would be a much more appropriate option.

But then, "they" have been recklessly indifferent to recognising Australian bred roses since Alister Clark's roses were exported to America 80 years ago, resulting in the creation there of the "mystery virus" from Australia because of which we are still prohibited from exporting roses to USA. Recently the wheel has turned full circle, and we now don't accept roses directly from America. How in the past we have escaped "Witches Broom" and other "nasties" they have over there I don't know, and I expect that we can be very thankful for the protection of quarantine protocols.

During that period of time, it has been the practice of several Australian rose distributors from time to time, to bypass Australian roses and give a new name to an introduced rose, no doubt for commercial advantage. I will not name names. It is a historical fact, and it has happened with Rosa 'Speelwark'. Why is not an Australian bred rose chosen? Australian bred roses have been named for early explorers, and various religious centres of learning, but very few living Australians or significant national occasions. The centenary of Australian Federation was such an occasion, and rather than adopt an Australian rose for that celebration, "they" chose a rose with the name of a crazy cartoon-strip character, "Betty Boop"!!! In its gaudiness it may be attractive to many, but where is the innate Australian character befitting such an occasion? Australian roses were suggested, a very appropriate rose amongst them, but they were overlooked. Why? I am completely unaware how this rose was marketed with the new name Rosa 'Centenary of Federation'.

And now I see Rosa 'Rebell' has been renamed Rosa 'Australian Centenary of Federation'. Bred by Kordes of Germany in 2006, the connection with our federation, and how we got and why we need a second token of recognition of that occasion escapes me.

Australian bred roses are very good indeed, and compare favourably with those selected from overseas stock. In competition with roses submitted from overseas, Australian bred roses have performed very well at the Australian Rose Trial Garden in Adelaide for many years. A problem exists whereby growers and distributers in Australia dedicate their annual production to roses from their overseas principals in order to maintain the agency, to the almost total denial that Australian bred roses exist.

One brave Australian distributor is the exception, but it requires that the large rose interests and the general public seriously look at the quality roses available at home, and that are not generally made available to the general public.
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Reply #1 of 4 posted 31 MAY 13 by Flik_in_Oz
Thanks for this info. I had wrongly assumed this rose was Australian-bred when I bought it.
After reading your post, I intend to buy some Aussie roses this winter and see how they perform in NW Vic, where we have very hot, dry summers and cold, (sometimes) wet winters.
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Reply #2 of 4 posted 31 MAY 13 by Margaret Furness
Laurie, the "new" RSL rose is another that has been around OS under another name for a while. I saw it under artificial light and am still shuddering, but tastes in roses vary.
It's not a matter of roses being "chosen"; it's just marketing by the importer.
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Reply #3 of 4 posted 5 JUN 13 by Nastarana
I believe that the organization which registers new roses in the USA, would that be the ARS?, will not register any rose named after a living person without written permission from that person.

Does whatever agency or organization which registers roses in Australia have a similar requirement? Maybe you need a letterwriting and emailing campaign to encourage well-known Australians to request that their names be attached only to the productions of other Australians. The persons being honored might not realize that their own countrymen and women are being neglected.

I will say that I am extremely happy so far with the Australian rose, 'Titian', which, among other virtues, is so far almost entirely cane hardy in zone 5, NA, and very resistant to Black Spot.
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Reply #4 of 4 posted 26 JUN 13 by Laurie Newman
Thank you Nastarana. The organisation representing International Registrar of New Rose Names is indeed managed by two co-directors engaged by American Rose Society. In Australia, we have a Registrar of New Rose Names acting as an agent for that body, and who happens to be myself. In all cases where a living person has a rose named for them it is mandatory that written permission be obtained before registration can proceed.

I thank you for your suggestion that I canvas prominent Australians that they may want to draw more attention to themselves, but have a sneaky suspicion that this is not the case.

Australian Rose Breeders Association represents some Australian rose breeders and makes it its business to remind major growers that our members and others in Australia do breed good roses, but we are rarely if ever approached, and must go cap in hand to seek assistance to have Australian roses grown and marketed. At least one Australian breeder and an ARBA member has given up on Australian growers, and is exporting his roses to Europe to obtain an outlet for his product.

Yes, I can agree that 'Titian' is a worthwhile large shrub to grace your garden. Thanks for your input.
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Discussion id : 72-040
most recent 31 MAY 13 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 31 MAY 13 by Flik_in_Oz
I planted this rose in August 2012, only a few months before the beautiful Dame Elisabeth Murdoch passed away. She was a remarkable woman.
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Discussion id : 37-093
most recent 9 JUN 09 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 9 JUN 09 by Margaret Furness
Dame Elisabeth got her title for her philanthropic works (not for being Rupert Murdoch's mother!), including support of music. She was one of the very early members of the Heritage Rose movement in Australia. She is still involved in the management of her garden, designed 70-odd years ago by Edna Walling, a major Australian designer. The garden is often opened for charity fundraising, and Dame Elisabeth usually greets some of the visitors. She turned 100 in February 2009.
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Discussion id : 23-214
most recent 27 DEC 07 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 26 DEC 07 by Jean Marion
currently available from Wayside
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Reply #1 of 1 posted 27 DEC 07 by Cass
Thanks!
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