Taking the time to smell the roses and name one Freda

Tomorrow (Friday 3rd December) The Hermitage Hotel at Aoraki Mt Cook Village marks the centenary of Freda Du Faur (1882-1935), the first woman to summit Mount Cook – a feat she accomplished on December 3, 1910.

Christchurch adventurer and rose grower, Steve Moffatt, of Moffatt’s Flower Company, Christchurch, has named a new rose variety ‘Freda’ in honour of this remarkable Australian mountaineer.  He and wife Barbara, dressed in period costume pose with a bunch of the divine roses that they will personally deliver to the Hermitage for the celebrations that will take place there over the weekend. 

“It is very special for Moffatts Flower Company to be able to name a rose after Freda Du Faur,” said Mr Moffatt.  “Last week with fellow adventurer Steve Gurney, I climbed to within 60 metres of the top of Mount Cook in hobnail boots similar to what Freda would have worn, in a re-enactment of a historic climb that took place in 1890 and so am only too aware of the hardships she would have faced. Her accomplishment was incredible – I understand that more now than ever after our re-enactment adventure.”

The flowers from the rose Freda will be available from good florists or Moffatt's Flower Company in Halswell, Christchurch from March 2011.