By Molly Taylor
SUE Zwar is known by some as the “rose lady” of the Penola and Coonawarra area but this title will soon be challenged with the district’s Australia Day citizen of the year set to replace it on January 26.
Wattle Range Council has named Ms Zwar the 2021 Australia Day Penola citizen of the year for her outstanding contribution to the community over the past four decades.
Ms Zwar moved to Coonawarra with her partner John and two daughters in 1976 and almost instantly became involved with various not-for-profit organisations and groups.
“I was sort of on my own, didn’t know a soul in Penola, so therefore you join whatever you’re asked to, just to get to know people which was how I started volunteer work,” she said.
Ms Zwar first joined the Penola Lutheran Church and has been the women’s fellowship president or secretary every year apart from her first.
Her passion for roses began shortly after stepping foot in friend and Penola resident Susie Kidman’s garden and she is now a proud National Heritage Rose and National Hertitage Trust Penola branch member, as well as a South Australian Rose Society life member.
“I always said she was the culprit which made me love heritage roses to start with,” she said.
“Some people call me the rose lady, I have never done horticulture or anything like that, it is just self taught.
“Once you get the rose bug, it is pretty hard to shake.”
With support from the Pinchunga gardening group, Ms Zwar helped plant over 200 roses across the health care facility as a day time volunteer.
When a freak tornado ripped through Penola in 2010, Ms Zwar also coordinated the planting of another 200-odd roses across the township, which she continues to help maintain.
As well as a Petticoat Lane allotment of Hybrid Tea and China Roses, the avid rose lover planted and maintains blooms on the western boundary of the Coonawarra Club Hall, where she is a member and current secretary.
Rose donations were made by Wagner’s Rose Nursery owner Brian Wagner.
*The Border Watch will continue to profile various Australia Day award winners across the Limestone Coast in the lead up to January 26
“In my garden, we have a lot of parrot damage so that’s another reason why I like planting roses in Penola and Coonawarra,” she said.
“When I am working in Penola and people are walking along, the first thing people go to do is smell the roses.
“It is really nice interacting with guests of the district and you can promote the area as well when speaking to them.”
Ms Zwar was surprised to win the award, believing there were many people in the Penola district which volunteered their time.
“I think that’s the thing about living in a small country town, people do things because they’re interdependent on each other,” she said.
“Whatever facet of the district which you think of, there are people who are quite happy to help out.
“I think you get more out of volunteering than what you put in, because it is such a rewarding thing to do.”
Ms Zwar said she enjoyed living in the region, running her successful bed and breakfast Camawald Cottage and would not live anywhere else.
