BOOK REVIEWS
Celebrating Regional Biodiversity: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Rosser Park by Kate Heffernan Reviewed by Lynette Reilly, Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens This inspiring book details the fascinating journey of this 31-ha site, coming almost full circle from a heavily vegetated natural area frequented by the region’s First Nations People, through a period of economic growth with sugar cane farming then small holdings, to the current botanic garden featuring regional flora. The book’s foreword is by Lawrie Smith AM, Principal Landscape Architect and Master Planner of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens (GCRBG).
Lynette Reilly
The author, Kate Heffernan, is uniquely qualified to write on this topic. She was a horticulture and garden design lecturer for 20 years, as well as a professional botanical consultant. Kate was also the founding member of the GCRBG. Since 1998, her passion, drive and commitment has contributed to the formation of the gardens and its continuing growth and recognition. A former garden presenter for ABC Gold Coast, Kate has been a feature writer for horticulture and landscape professional journals and has led garden tours in Australia and overseas. She is a past chair of the Queensland branch of BGANZ and past state representative to the national BGANZ Congress. She says her proudest achievement is her involvement in these gardens. She is an honorary life member of the Friends of the gardens.
Kate has been a feature writer for horticulture and landscape professional journals and has led garden tours in Australia and overseas. The book has 100 pages and over 250 photographs and is described by Alex Jakimoff, Friends president, as ‘images of tranquillity, of people and plants, and of a community creating something wonderful.’
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THE BOTANIC GARDENer | ISS 58 Winter 2022
