MAX Atkins of Yatte Yattah is no stranger to the country shows, winning countless champion prizes over the years but this year it looked like he wouldn’t be exhibiting.
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The day after the South Coast Register spoke to Mr Atkins at the Berry Show in 2015 about his winning roses, he collapsed.
“I was collecting my vases and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by medics. They thought I had a heart attack,” he said.
He was cleared of any heart trauma, but it would be the first of dozens of trips to hospitals over the next year.
“It’s been a rough year,” Mr Atkins said.
Just a few weeks later Mr Atkins was back in hospital with what he described as a mysterious ailment which prevented him from breathing properly and was treated for allergies.
It wasn’t long after that he was back in hospital with suspected appendicitis and was locked in for emergency keyhole surgery.
With five surgeons working on him, Mr Atkins was under the knife for three-and-a-half hours. When he came to his doctor was standing at the end of his bed.
“I was told I had grade-four cancer and they had removed a tumour that was 30 centimetres long and about 10 centimetres wide,” he said.
“Grade-four is next door to palliative care.
“The doctor said it had probably been there for about 15 to 20 years, and no-on ever suspected it.”
Since last year’s show season, Mr Atkins has undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy and has regular check-ups every three months.
“But it appears, at least for the time being, that I am clear,” Mr Atkins said.
“I am a very lucky man.
“Just before all this I was judging at various shows while I was really crook and I didn’t even know it.”
The doctors told Mr Atkins his fitness level may have helped him in his recovery, something he attributes to his work in the garden and years as a cattle farmer.
After exhibiting at Berry Show in the cattle section for more than 25 years, Mr Atkins decided to begin showing rose cuttings from his collection of over 150 species.
He said it was a funny thing, but cattle farmers had a tendency to gain an interest in roses.
“I would always check to see if there was a rose exhibit on when I was showing across the country, particularly in Sydney, and I’d come home with a new rose each time,” he said.
Last year he won ribbons at the Berry, Nowra, Kangaroo Valley and Milton shows with his displays, something he hoped he would be able to repeat again this year.
“I’ve been doing what I can in the garden,” he said.
“I’ve always been someone who has done something as well as I possibly could, from my time as Mayor, with my cattle, and now as a rose hobbyist.
“Roses are regarded as the Queen of the flowers and I think they are lovely. They’re difficult to grow well here but I think the challenge make it that much more rewarding for me.”
Mr Atkins said his favourite rose, for sentimental reasons, was the Gemini.
“It was a rose given to me for my birthday and it has proven to be an extremely good rose with an unusual colour and lovely perfume.”
In his opinion, Mr Atkins said the Firefigher rose had the best perfume in the new varieties, while the Papa Meilland had the best in the old roses. He also loves Double Delight for its colour.
