In Memoriam: Dorothy Shaw
Bill Dale
Sidney, British Columbia
Her many friends were greatly saddened in early May, 1990, to learn of the death of Mrs. Dorothy Shaw of Duncan, British Columbia, after a lengthy illness. Dorothy was born and grew up in New Zealand. As a young woman she went to Britain where she studied at the London Conservatory of Music. In 1935, she moved to Duncan where she was the music mistress at Queen Margaret's school. She married Roland Shaw in 1936 and they moved into their Norcross Road home where she would live for the next fifty years. Soon after moving, Dorothy started to build a rhododendron garden which would be her main interest for the remainder of her life. She became very knowledgeable about rhododendrons and had a collection of good plants, most of which she obtained from the Layritz nursery in Victoria. They in turn had obtained them from various sources in Britain. Dorothy delighted in showing her garden to visitors and was very generous with her plants and her knowledge. Each spring she would open her garden to visitors to benefit the Cowichan Valley Hospital Auxiliary. Her garden was one of the first show gardens on Vancouver Island.
A few years ago a fire completely destroyed her home and her many priceless belongings. This was a devastating blow to Dorothy. She was determined to have another garden and at her new home on Maple Bay Road, she built a beautiful small garden of which she was justly proud and which she enjoyed showing to her friends.
Dorothy gave talks and slide shows to many garden clubs in the area. She was often asked to act as a judge at flower shows, especially for the rhododendron section. This was a job she did very well and for which she was extremely well qualified.
Dorothy Shaw will be greatly missed and long and affectionately remembered.