SPECIAL FEATURE
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FOUNDATION & FRIENDS ONE VISION, DOZENS OF CREATIVE CONCEPTS AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS HAVE HELPED THE GARDENS REMAIN AMONG THE WORLD’S GREAT SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL,
Sir Rupert Myers, actress Kate Fitzpatrick and ABC TV gardening presenter Alan Searle launch Friends of the Botanic Gardens with a special planting
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deas for an independent organisation dedicated to supporting the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney had been bouncing around for years before Garden Director Dr Lawrence Johnson and Chairman Professor Michael Pitman took the decisive step in 1982 to create Friends of the Botanic Gardens. The pair secured a $10,000 grant, formed a committee led by inaugural President Sir Rupert Myers, and conducted the organisation’s first meeting on 27 July 1982. By the first Annual
16 THE GARDENS WINTER 2022
General Meeting on 25 November 1983, Friends had almost 600 members, a constitution and a full program of activities and fundraising initiatives. Over the next 30 years Friends of the Gardens went from strength to strength, until in 2012 members acted on the recommendations of an independent report and merged with the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation. Bringing two organisations together is never an easy task – especially when they are supported by fiercely passionate
volunteers. But there’s no question the merger was, by any measure, a resounding success, creating a more effective and coherent platform from which to raise support and awareness of Sydney’s much beloved Gardens. In fact, in its 40th year, it’s fair to say Foundation & Friends has never been stronger. So, let’s celebrate this important milestone by reflecting on just some of our organisation’s many current and past achievements, and taking a moment to consider what the future holds...
Photos: Gez Xavier Mansfield Photography, Saint Cloche Gallery, © Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
HORTICULTURAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SPACES. DAVID CARROLL REPORTS.
