Pollinating great ideas

World Poetry Day at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens

Roana O’Neill, Co-ordinator Communication & Engagement, Bundaberg Regional Council

I recently ran a poetry competition in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens in support of World Poetry Day (WPD) on 21 March 2021. We invited the community to send in their poems and we celebrated WPD for the whole of March.

We received a small number of lovely thoughtful poems. We also received poems from three staff which was great.

Rod, who lives in a nearby retirement village, wrote two poems (The Botanical Gardens and The Gardens). Nicola penned Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. She is a mum of four who always used to walk through the gardens while waiting for the kids to finish hockey practice (the hockey fields are right next door to the gardens) and now she’s getting back into teaching. Pippa is only seven years old and wrote Botanic Gardens Botanic Gardens. It’s a funny story as her mum, when I spoke to her, had no idea she had entered! We found out that she saw the competition last time she visited the gardens with her grandparents. Pippa had been learning about rhythm and melody at school from her music teacher who had been showing them how to achieve this in three lines, hence the three lines in the poem. Technically it’s actually meant to be sung!

The poems by staff are by Monica (Six Mount Perry Road) and Darien/Di (We Fell in Love with a Rainbow Tree). Di runs the nursery in the gardens and Darien is her trainee. Monica works in administration in the office based in the gardens.

You’ll find these poems scattered throughout themagazine. I hope you enjoy reading them as muchas I did.

Pippa receiving her prize from Cody Johnson, Area Supervisor, Botanic Gardens & Horticulture, Bundaberg Regional Council.

Six Mount Perry Road

Immersed in calm completely as the rustling leaves sound The sandpaper vine celebrating sprinkles purple confetti around Stories of strong foundations in the Friendship Grove can be found Up the stairs of the Japanese Gardens little legs run leaps and bounds The fresh scent of eucalypt settles on tastebud and nose Bismarck palms stand proudly in the migrant home they chose Lounging on the pathway the water dragon takes his pose Hand in hand lovers walk, sneaking a Hinkler Garden rose Jade, a fitting name for the stand-out turquoise vine Families wait patiently in the sugar cane railway line A cooling presence instantly felt walking beneath the Bunya Pine Warmth closing back in as the sun reinforces its shine Mist falls free and softly within a rainforest of green Lush lawn irrigated by tears of a groom whose bride he’s just seen Ducks swarm diners, for a crumb they’re always keen Bundaberg Botanic gardens, your beauty truly is serene.

Written by: Monica, staff member, Bundaberg Botanic Gardens

Monica writing her poem at Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.

The Japanese Garden at Bundaberg Botanic Gardens. Image: Bundaberg Regional Council.

Botanic Gardens Botanic Gardens

ducks

trees

train rides

Botanic Gardens

Written by: Pippa, age 7