Visiting Wollongong Botanic Garden this summer? Look out for the new ‘Inspirational Women’ rose donated by local Rotarian Dorothy ‘Dot’ Hennessy OAM.

Community leaders and guests gathered in the rose garden for the planting ceremony on November 22, when Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown introduced Dot as her own personal inspiration.

"Today it is our pleasure to acknowledge and celebrate inspirational women of the past, present and future," Tania said.

“Dot is a dedicated community volunteer and absolute trailblazer. She was the first female president of the Rotary Club of Wollongong – a position she held three times.

“As fellow community leaders here today know, you cannot say no to Dot.”

Tania commended women involved in local community groups and government.

“I am honoured to be recently elected first female mayor of Wollongong, and I’ve been touched by the reception I’ve had, particularly by young women in our community,” she said.

“I am proud that women play such a prominent role in the leadership of our city. We are joined here today by my deputy, councillor Linda Campbell, and city council directors Renee Campbell and Joanne Page.

“It’s with great pride that all four directors of Wollongong City Council are female – this is a rarity in local governments.”

Dot shared the story behind the rose's creation – a conversation she had with Linda Hurley a decade ago, when Linda's husband, David Hurley, was the governor-general of Australia.

“This has taken a 10-year journey, and a lot of patience,” Dot said.

“On my first visit to Government House, while admiring the rose garden, Mrs Hurley shared that they’d had a rose created in honour of the wives of the governors of New South Wales.

“I parked it, I kept it in mind. I thought, ‘Never let an opportunity pass.'

Both Linda and David Hurley attended the ceremony and were presented with an Inspirational Women Rose.

“We are gifting this rose on behalf of our Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards,” Dot said. “To celebrate their wonderful journey and all that they have done for us.

“The rose is just so beautiful and has a wonderful perfume.”

The Inspirational Women rose, a Floribunda variety, was crafted by Brisbane-based rose breeder Vivienne Dixon. 

Dot spoke about the women who inspired her, including her mother, Adelaide, a Deaconess in the Anglican Church during the Great Depression. 

"Our mothers are the inspiration for us to be who we are today – that goes for both men and women," she said.

The ceremony ended with the planting of three rose bushes. 

Look out for the vivid purple petals of Inspirational Women rose in the Rose Garden, which is to the west of the duck pond in the south-eastern corner of the Wollongong Botanic Garden.

"Please let us continue to inspire, especially in memory of our mums,” Dot said.

“Celebrate all women – past, present, and in the future to make a difference."

Need to know

Wollongong Botanic Garden opens daily at 7am. The Rose Garden closes at 4.30pm, but the rest of the garden is open until 6pm on weekdays and 6.45pm on weekends and public holidays.