Book  (2009)  Page(s) 99.  
 
Ralph Fegan,a member of the Central Otago Rose Society has organise the production of a rose for Sir Tim Wallis of Warbirds over Wanaka fame. The name he has chosen for it is 'Janice Wallis' after his late mother who was the instigator for the planting of 250 heritage and modern rose at Wanaka airport back in the 1980s. Ralph, the Operations Manager at Wanaka Airport, now has the pleasure of looking after them. One of the reasons the roses were planted at the airport was to record the memory of a bomber pilot by the name of Neil Blunden, who was Janice Wallis's brother. Sadly, he was shot down and died while on bombing run to destroy the German battleship, Tirpitz, over the Asen Fiord in. Norway in 1942. As a tribute to Tim for all he has done for Wanaka airport over the years, Ralph came up with this idea, and some of the money from sales will go towards the NZ Fighter pilots' Museum which is based at Wanaka airport. The rose which was chosen was bred by an amateur breeder, George Agnew in Mosgiel, and is a cross between 'Moody Blues' x 'White Lightnin'. The rose has been budded on to rootstock by Geert and Wilma of Southern Roses at Edendale in Southland and will be officially released at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow next Easter 2010. It will appear in the Southern Roses Catalogue later this year. 'Janice Wallis' is a medium to tall hybrid tea in a bridal pink colour which blooms in flushes throughout the season. It is a strong, healthy rose with glossy foliage. The colour of the flowers is so pure that this rose is one of the must-haves in every garden.