Nomination and Citation for T A Stewart Memorial Award 2026
It is with great pleasure that The Rose Society of South Australia Inc (RSSA) nominates Mrs Diane vom Berg for the T A Stewart Memorial Award, believing her record of work and activities have provided outstanding service to the rose.
Diane was in 2025 awarded the Gold Medal of the World Federation of Rose Societies (WFRS), recognising 13 years of outstanding service to the Federation, firstly as Treasurer and then as President until June 2025. During her time in office for the WFRS, Diane attended all of the World Conventions and many of the Regional and Heritage conventions held across the globe. Her term as Immediate Past President and Chair of the Promotions Committee will ensure her continued involvement in the Federation until at least 2028—a lengthy and remarkable term of office.
In 2024, Diane was awarded the Australian Rose Award for service to the rose.
Diane received Life Membership of RSSA in 2019. She joined the Society in May 2001 and has since given service at a far greater level than what one would expect of a Member. Elected to Council in 2005, as a Vice President in 2008, President in 2020 for a three-year term, and then as Secretary in 2023 to now, Diane steered the Society through the challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring members were kept up-to-date with Society activities and also ensuring her Council remained focused on the significant challenges we were facing.
As a Member of RSSA Council, Diane has:
- co-ordinated Christmas Dinners. Diane has for a number of years, been instrumental in planning the event, seeking alternative venues on occasions, completed the seating plan and provided raffle prizes;
- spoken to a number of groups—e.g. Burnside City Uniting Church and Westbourne Park Uniting Church, promoting rose growing and the benefits of Society Membership;
- acted as an informal liaison officer between Associate Member, Woodville Academy of Floral Design and our Society, encouraging their participation as exhibitors at Shows and promoting the benefits of Rose Society membership;
- been instrumental in providing a friendly “Welcome Committee” to members and visitors to the Monthly Meetings;
- been the Branch Liaison Officer for both Chaffey and South East Branches. In this capacity, Diane has been most diligent in attending Branch meetings and keeping their Executive and Members informed of forthcoming events and activities;
- been a guest speaker at several Branch meetings. Diane has also provided additional support to the Roses in the Heartland branch, since its inception, by working at its Barossa Rose and Flower Show in a variety of roles;
- attended many National Rose Society of Australia Annual (NRSA) General Meetings, as one of our State delegates;
- participated in a number of RSSA Sub Committees and RSSA groups, some of which have had national or international linkages or relevance. Among them have been:
The RSSA Rose Shows Committee. In this capacity Diane: jointly catered for Spring and Autumn Rose Show weekends for 10 years; co-ordinated the President’s Official Afternoon Teas at Spring and Autumn shows for many years, providing the catering at no expense to the Society; and in later years, worked closely with the President and Show Manager to take “Roses to the People”, and promoted the shows in mainstream media—exemplifying RSSA’s ethos;
- Allan Campbell Lecture Weekends, as organiser;
- providing her home at Clarence Gardens as a venue for a number of the Society’s Floral/Exhibitor/Judges workshops and for sub-committee meetings;
- the Rose Adelaide 2008 WFRS Regional Convention and “Centenary Year of Celebration”; and
- providing her home for Centenary Year meetings and opened her beautiful rose garden as part of the Tours conducted during the Convention activities.
In service to the NRSA, Diane has:
- attended many National Rose Society of Australia Annual General Meetings, as one of our State delegates;
- served on several NRSA AGM organising committees, often taking charge of accommodation for interstate delegates, organising social activities, coordinating gifts for delegates and flowers for their rooms, taking responsibility for menu selection, seating plans for dinners etc;
- fulfilled many roles for the National weekends and often providing her home as a venue for receptions, either as a Welcome or Farewell event; and
- worked on the Triennial Convention of the World Federation of Rose Societies, hosted by the NRSA and held in Adelaide in 2022;
- fulfilled pivotal responsibilities as a member of the NRSA organising committee for the 19th World Rose Convention, held in Adelaide. Diane was the key contact person between the professional conference organisers and the committee. Diane spent hundreds of hours at meetings both with the committee and on behalf of the committee, ensuring that Australia presented a world-class convention at a very uncertain time (COVID-19 pandemic). Diane’s well-established contacts across state, national and world organisations assisted the committee greatly; and
- opened her magnificent garden to delegates during the convention and providing it as the location for a celebratory dinner of committee members and key stakeholders following the convention’s closure.
During her term as an Executive Member of the WFRS, Diane:
- prepared and delivered numerous speeches across many countries world-wide;
- maintained the books of accounts of the WFRS for 10 years, providing stable financial leadership during that time;
- oversaw two successful Regional Conventions and a triumphant World Convention in Fukuyama, Japan;
- chaired international judging committees at several WFRS mandated Rose Trials. During 2024, Diane spent several weeks travelling to trials across Europe in order to participate; and
- delivered stable and respected leadership to the WFRS, facing the many challenges of the Presidency with a calm demeanour.
In addition to the contributions outlined above, Diane is a Rose Judge and has officiated at many Regional, State and National shows. She is an accomplished and awarded exhibitor of cut roses.
She is also a permanent member of the Assessment Team of the National Rose Trial Garden of Australia, assessing roses on trial at Adelaide Botanic Gardens during the growing season.
Diane accepts the many and varied roles she has assumed within the rose world with humility and poise. Whether responding to the questions of a new grower at a RSSA event or engaging with a politician at a WFRS meeting, Diane is always respectful and responsive to the needs of others whilst maintaining a clear focus of her own goals at that setting.
The RSSA is very proud of the achievements of Diane vom Berg and respectfully submit this nomination for consideration for the T A Stewart Memorial Award.
Gavin Woods ARA, SMA
President, Rose Society of South Australia Inc.
March 2026
