Daffodils at Rydal's incredible record of donating funds to local charities is set to continue, with Lithgow's St Vincent de Paul and Legacy branches set to benefit from funds raised at this year's event.
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Since 2002, the festival has donated $193, 239 to local charities.
VIDEO: Garden expert Judy Horton OAM gives visitors a fascinating insight into the history of the daffodil and Oberon deputy mayor Kerry Gibbons reads a poem inspired by the event.
President of Lithgow St Vincent de Paul's conference welfare department Gary Marshall said at the Daffodils at Rydal official opening on September 3 that the funds would support the its wide-ranging services.
"Anyone who comes in with a need, if we can help we help them," he said.
Since the end of January to June this year, Mr Marshall said the organisation had had 600 people through the welfare department.
They were seeking help with electricity, rent and the majority needed help with food. He estimated the organisation has spent $3500 a fortnight on food.
Lithgow Legacy president Warren Kennedy said the organisation's support of widows was wide-ranging, including hosting social events and outings, providing financial assistance when needed, firewood in the winter and gardening services in the spring.
"We really appreciate the work Rydal has done. The ladies will be able to enjoy a lot more outings with this support for the coming year," he said.
In welcoming guests, emcee Colin Hunter said the festival had shown an incredible ability to bring the village together. The event runs over two weekends, with the first day of the festival on Saturday, September 7. It will continue on Sunday, September 8; Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14. It will feature private and public gardens, as well as an outdoor sculpture exhibition. There will be plenty of entertainment on offer throughout the weekend, as well as the wonderful gardens.
"The gardens are of course at the centre of it all. Not just the private gardens, but the parks and village as well," he said.
"There's an army of people involved."
He thanked the contibution of Kirkconnell Correction Centre, which supplied workers to get the gardens ready for the festival.
Special guests were invited to open the festival. Garden writer, adviser and broadcaster Judy Horton OAM, who has previously had the honour, said the festival was a "wonder".
"It set me to wondering how wonder could be the theme of this whole thing... The absolute wonder of a bulb... The bulb is a miracle. The fact that that plant has evolved the ability to shrink down and store all that starch and all that generic material... and just stay there under the ground until things look more promising," she said.
Robert Mason director of Destinations Country and Outback NSW Board was also invited to open the festival. He said Rydal's ability to get people out of the cities and into the wonderful landscapes on offer in regional NSW was to be commended.
"Getting people this side of the sandstone curtain is critical," he said.
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