At the age of 90 and having survived three aircraft crashes during the last war, Wallace Fred Brownlowe might have been expected to be enjoying a quiet hobby.
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But as a three-time champion rose grower, Mr Brownlowe from Thornton has 200 roses in his garden and they need a lot of care.
And now Mr Brownlowe is gearing up for the Hunter Valley Spring Rose Show in Maitland on Friday and Saturday.
“Growing champion roses is pretty demanding work,” he said as he examined his special baby, an A-grade exhibition scarlet City of Newcastle rose.
He has already won championship awards at the show three times in a row.
Once a navigator on a Beaufighter during the war, Mr Brownlowe reflected that rose growing – while far less dangerous – was still very demanding.
“I loved flying and I still do,” he said.
“The Beaufighter was a magnificent aircraft, but flying in wartime could be very stressful.
"I survived two crashes and once our pilot ditched into the sea when we had engine problems.”
It was 12 years ago that someone suggested he might trying growing roses and the bug bit him.
“It’s a wonderful challenge to grow a champion rose and I do love these flowers,” he said.
“But to enter a show, you must grow a perfect rose.
“This requires giving them constant attention, spraying them and feeding them special fertilisers.
“In winter you get a bit of time off when roses are dormant. But these are my babies and I love the hobby.”
The Spring Rose Show runs are from noon to 5pm on Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday at the CWA Hall in Church Street, Mailtand.