Newsletter of the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens 10th Anniversary Community Planting ‌. 28 July
Growing matters Featuring Garden News Activities Coming Events Growth *Photo Photo Competition*
Banksia robur Peter Reilly
Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc
Autumn 2013
Volume 15 Issue 1
CONTENTS 0 3 President‘s Report
11 A Tale of Two Gardens (cont.)
0 4 Curator's Column (cont. from p3)
12 Education at the Gardens
0 5 10 Years as President…..
13 From the Secretary‘s Desk
0 6 Environment Achievement Reward
14 Botanica Quest
0 7 Ex-tropical cyclone Oswald by Alan Donaldson
15 Products for Sale
0 8 Herbarium by Clyde Dunlop
Friends contact details
0 9 Rose Garden with Elinor Cox 10
16 Images & Information
A Tale of Two Gardens
New Name—Fresh Ideas—Events—Competition On the Cover 10 Years of Community Planting. We invite all to help us celebrate the contribution made by the Friends and Community in the development of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. The first planting was on July 28th 2003. 10th Birthday Celebration Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens 28th July 2013
A search for ideas through the minds of many members revealed that a popular choice for our Newsletter would be Growing matters — hope you can identify with it and all the connotations it invokes.
Banksia robur– developing flower bud and multiple flower head. Usually occurs on plants in cultivation after microscopic insect, fungal or physical
President
Treasurer
Education
Webmaster
David Baguley
Gareth Davis
Rana Baguley
Caroline Kelly
Vice President
Communications
Herbarium
Australian Plants
Lyn Reilly
Kate Heffernan
Neil Morley
Peter Reilly
Patron
Planting
Membership
Friends Centre
Gene Rosser
Alan Donaldson
Peter Reilly
Elinor Cox
Secretary
Archivist
Newsletter/Editor
General Members
Mary Woods
Helena Kelso
Noreen Swan
Di Wagner Elaine Swan Poul Sletten
Coming Events and Dates to Remember—follow the scroll Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 2
President’s Report David Baguley
The theme for this edition is ―Looking Ahead‖ but, as your new President, I am well aware that the future is being built on foundations laid by some very dedicated individuals. I would like to firstly acknowledge Nick‘s inspiration, dedication to a vision and hard work in getting the Gardens to where we are today. Our Gardens‘ creator, Kate Heffernan was a worthy recipient of the Gold Coast‘s Australia Day Environmental Award. Congratulations Kate on this important recognition of your achievements in guiding the development of a Regional Botanic Gardens, recognised by visiting experts as world class. One of the Friends‘ goals under Nick‘s leadership was to have a Curator appointed by the Council to manage the ongoing development of the Gardens. Dr Liz Caddick has been chosen to fill this important role and I urge all members to get to know Liz and give her your full support as the Champion of the Gardens within Council. This appointment will change the role of the Friends to a certain extent but not lessen our importance, especially given recent decisions by the Mayor and the new Council. Council capital funding has been slashed across the board and the Gardens have not been spared. Funds previously approved for the world class Garden for Children have been withdrawn, despite having an agreement with local Rotary clubs to assist with funding. Council funding for any capital works in the Gardens will not be a priority unless we can change the attitude of our elected representatives. So, looking forward, one of our key roles will be to RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS with all our citizens and especially our Councillors. The tenth Anniversary celebration of the first community planting in July will provide an opportunity to showcase the Gardens. Without council funding for new projects, money will have to come from somewhere else. Another role for Friends will be to SEEK ALTERNATIVE FUNDING. We will be actively seeking Grants, working with our Rotary partners to source corporate funds and private benefactors as well as planning fund-raising events. Did you know that the Friends have a fund available for tax-deductible donations? Please talk to me if you know of any potential sources of funds. Please read the following pages to find out what your hard working committee has planned for the year ahead. Plenty of opportunities are available for volunteers to become involved in activities in our Gardens. You can use existing skills or learn a new skill; certainly have fun and make new friends and you do not need to be an expert in plants or Gardens – look at me, definitely a Gardening ‗L-plater‘.
Curator’s Column Dr Liz Caddick
This is my first column for the Friends newsletter, and I would like to thank the Friends Executive for the invitation. This is a great opportunity for me to keep in touch with you all and to bridge the gap between what is going on in Council at a strategic level, and what is happening at the Botanic Gardens on the ground. I‘ve had the pleasure of meeting many of the Friends volunteers since I started at the Gardens in November. But for those of you whom I haven‘t met yet, I should begin by introducing myself. I came to Australia from the UK ten years ago, where I‘d worked as a botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Edinburgh, at the universities of Reading and Cape Town, and completed my PhD in Botany at Kew Gardens in 2000. On arrival here, I taught myself about the SE Queensland flora through working as an ecological consultant for three years, before taking a job with Council‘s Natural Areas Management Unit, working on the strategic planning of conservation reserves and development of recreational infrastructure. Plants are my passion, and I‘ve researched and studied them all over the world, from Mongolia to Madagascar, Sarawak to South Africa. I love the botanical diversity of Australia, the uniqueness bred by isolation, and the exciting prospect that there are still new plants out there waiting to be discovered. My first few months here have been a challenging period for the Gardens. We lost a lot of plants in the spring drought although, thanks to Wendy and her trainees, the new Mangroves to Mountains irrigation system saved many more, as did those Friends volunteers who came in over Christmas to help with watering. From one extreme to the next, we were then battered by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, lost over 100 trees, and had to close the Gardens for a week for safety reasons. Once again, thank you to the maintenance crew and to all the Friends volunteers who helped with the clean up, and thank you to our visitors for your patience. Our challenges are not just environmental. (Continued on page 4)
Having more active members will magnify our influence and achievements. So I challenge each of you to invite others to join and find a role where they can BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED. Photo Competition-entries close April 21
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 3
CURATORS COLUMN (Continued from page 3)
Council‘s recent budget cuts have seen exciting projects like the Garden for Children put on hold, which has been devastating for those who have invested much time and energy into this and other projects. The designs are done, the projects are ‗shovel ready‘. Our Councillors do support the Garden for Children project in principle; so we must remain optimistic that one day it will happen. While budgets are tight, we are investigating various grants that may help to fund projects within the Gardens. Building improvements that will be happening over the next few months include replacement of the toilet block near the playground with a more accessible building at the end of the car park. The existing maintenance compound will also be undergoing renovations to replace old shipping containers with a smaller and tidier maintenance shed. The impact of Government spending cuts goes beyond our local council. The State Government‘s Skilling Queenslanders for Work program finishes in June, so our current trainees may be our last at the Gardens for a while. They are already proving to be a hard working and enthusiastic group. We are trying to make the most of their time with the Gardens, with a big list of projects lined up to give them a broad range of skills. Kate and I have also been thinking of other suitable projects for horticulture and landscaping trainees, and we are working with Gold Coast Institute of TAFE to try and bring new groups of horticultural students into the Gardens. The hiatus in capital projects gives us the time to contemplate what has been achieved so far and think how best to consolidate and enhance what we have. Over coming months you‘ll see the trainees working in the Eastern Precinct (along the ring road just inside the main gate), filling in gaps where we‘ve lost plants since the March 2011 Planting Day, stabilising an eroding section of the lake, and adding screening plantings. The Eastern Precinct is the first part of the Gardens seen by most visitors, so it is important that we make a positive impact here. We are also planning replacement plantings in the Mangroves to Mountains Precinct, to have this area looking as good as possible for the 10th anniversary of the first planting in July.
My encounters with Friends and supporters of the Gardens have been a highlight of my first few months here. In particular, Kate has been a wonderful support, introducing me to the Gardens, the stakeholders and the issues, and inspiring me with her positivity and commitment. Kate has recently made great inroads in developing a detailed maintenance plan for the Gardens, which will help us to manage the Living Collection in a more proactive way. I have enjoyed meeting the Herbarium team and seeing the impressive amount of work they‘ve done cataloguing the Living Collection. Neil and I have met with Council‘s Natural Areas Management Unit to discuss future collecting locations in Council‘s 12,000 hectares of conservation reserves, and officers from this unit are very excited at the prospect of contributing to our Herbarium. Recording our Living Collection in an accessions database is now a high priority. This is a massive task and I am looking into the most efficient options available. I also experienced, first hand, the Friends education program in January, when I took my children to Botanica Quest. It is a fantastic and inspiring experience for children and parents and is a wonderful way to promote the Gardens. Rana has done a tremendous job this month, personally visiting schools to talk about our schools Education in the Gardens program which is also being promoted on Council‘s environmental education web page and Facebook. While our budget is tight, Council‘s website presents a good opportunity to promote the Gardens, and I am trying to add more regular updates to the What‘s On page, so please let me know if there is an event you would like to be listed. I am also looking into other ways to promote the Gardens, and of course suggestions would be welcome. Lastly, I would like to thank you all for making me feel so welcome. I am looking forward to getting to know the other Friends teams and Coordinators in coming days. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by so many inspiring people who are so passionate about the Gardens. I look forward to working with you all more closely throughout 2013.
Autumn Community Planting Day Sunday, April 7th Gum Tree Corridor 8 am set up and from 9 am for planters
All welcome – bring a friend. Stay safe covered shoes, a hat, sunscreen, gloves and water please.
Gum Tree Corridor under water
Photos: Alan Donaldson‘s photos in this Newsletter reveal the extent of flood water and damage resulting from the January/February rain and wind.
10th Anniversary Celebration .... 28 July Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 4
Ten years as President of Friends – thank you, Nick! Mary Woods, Secretary
At our AGM on 25 November last year Nick Bloor advised the membership of his decision not to stand again as President of Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, and that he would also be resigning as Chair of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Project Control Group.
outstanding communicator, in Friends and the Project Control Group; and he is a strong leader, but leading also with kindness, fairness and friendship. On a personal note Nick has been and is a fine friend to me. .. I have much I could say, but will close by thanking Nick for his support, his guidance and his friendship.‖
Kate finished her address with a letter from Lawrie Smith, OAM, Master Planner of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, which, she said, ―expresses so well Friends are enormously indebted to Nick for his ten the valuable contribution and respect Nick has years as President. He has steered us through an earned‖. These are some of Lawrie‘s remarks: amazing period of growth and development for us as an organisation. He has ably represented Friends in many ―Throughout my whole association with GCRBG I forums, including reporting directly to Gold Coast City have been impressed by the drive and vision of all Council and representing Friends in the joint Councilof you who have been instrumental in achieving Friends management groups for the Gold Coast the wonderful result that so many people now Regional Botanic Gardens from 2003 to 2012. We were appreciate. very pleased that he accepted appointment to the Management Committee as Past President, so we may Of these many wonderful people I must single out continue to have the benefit of his wisdom. one person, Nick Bloor! In my experience with a number of Botanic Gardens no one else is so adept Kate Heffernan addressed the AGM to acknowledge at championing the vision for the GCRBG as is Nick. Nick‘s contribution and to make a presentation: Over the years he has always ‗been there‘ ensuring that everyone catches the vision, and knows the ―From the 2002 AGM we have been privileged to scientific value of the continuing development…the have Nick as Friends President. In those days there groundwork he has put in place is so substantial was only one newsletter each year! So 2003 was that it will be difficult for anyone to destroy – they Nick‘s first President‘s report. He wrote about, and may modify it but the basis will continue. I quote, ‘a real feeling of history in the making, as Friends members, young and old, working However, it seems to me that with Nick‘s dynamic together, laying out plants, carting mulch, character he will still be there - albeit in the laughing’ on July 27th 2003‘ - our first Community background, for all those who continue to establish this Planting Day. important community facility which is so vital and necessary in a developing world city as the ‗green in Fast Forward – November 2012 – now a real Botanic the heart of the gold‘. Garden, loved and acknowledged by all who visit for its horticulture, aesthetics, opportunities for I applaud Nick for everything he has done over the passive recreation, education and science. years and for the friendly attitude he offers to all – this is the mark of someone who is so able and dedicated. Getting here has been a huge journey - a decade long journey led by Nick. This Botanic Garden is So Nick, as you leave these positions of authority, tangible evidence of all the work by Friends, please accept my thanks and congratulations supported and partnered by GCCC and the personally for overseeing the implementation of the community…and everything has been accomplished planning strategies which, due to the involvement of in a world often more focussed on economy than the Friends and PCG, will become one of the premier ecology. Nick‘s own commitment to environment is Botanic Gardens of Australia. Acknowledgement also, evident in his business, and in his contribution to on behalf of the members of BGANZQ, who similarly these Gardens - a decade given to grow these appreciate the wider significance of the Gold Coast Gardens, all the while growing a young family and Regional Botanic Gardens. Thanks mate, you have been an innovative and successful business. an inspiration!‖ Nick is a brilliant strategic thinker, but he also concentrates on the detail. He has business savvy, essential in an organisation like Friends; he is an
Nick Bloor
To warm applause, Kate then presented Nick with a pair of crystal wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
Immediate Past President of Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens 2002-2012
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 5
Kate Heffernan wins the Australia Day GCCC Environmental Achievement Award
This role is diverse – support and assistance to the Curator, trainees and volunteers, including Friends, with among other duties:
and takes on a new role in the Gardens
to develop resources for Friends and volunteers
Lyn Reilly
contribute to public education and interpretation through Fact Sheets, signage etc.
horticultural development, including design, site preparation, plant sourcing
to develop volunteer policies and guidelines
To promote and assist with activities, events and education at the Gardens.
The citation reads Kate Heffernan has been the driving force behind the creation of the Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens for more than 14 years. She has been a passionate, committed advocate and volunteer. Kate is a key member of the 400 strong Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and has played important roles in numerous aspects of the Gardens including; assisting with site selection and design, progressing the Gardens potential as a training venue, enhancing the living collection and endeavouring to ensure the Garden’s foundations and vision were strong. The Gardens have come to life over the past decade as a direct result of Kate’s vision and drive. The Gold Coast Regional Botanical Gardens are now internationally recognised as fulfilling objectives for a Botanic Garden in conservation, scientific research, education and recreation.
planting
All this makes for a busy part-time role as well as her freelance work outside the Garden, along with outcomes from her new website www.kateheffernan.com.au Day-to-day: Currently Kate is busy organising the new plantings for the area from the Eastern precinct round to the Myrtaceae Garden; preparing estimates and quotes for trainee and community projects; writing detailed Gardens maintenance guidelines and a Gardens volunteer policy. She and Liz have completed the Precincts and Zones map started last year by the HRG, and hope to have it in detailed print form soon.
The volunteer contribution from Kate and the Friends has been an essential supplement to the development and sustainability of the Gardens. Kate’s 14 years of passionate input has been the most significant single contribution to the Gardens which is a profound partnership between Gold Coast City Council and the community. As a direct result of Kate’s efforts the Gardens are now a credible botanic asset and a hub for learning. There are currently numerous training scheme projects, school education programs, TAFE trainee schemes, internal trainee opportunities and other school training opportunities. Congratulations Kate. Kate’s new role: This new role doesn‘t have a ‗title‘ yet. I think specialist horticultural advisor, trainee program developer/deliverer, advocate …... should all be encompassed within it! First Community Planting Day—28 July 2003
*Next Community Planting Day …………. April 7 2013
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 6
Ex-tropical cyclone Oswald
Alan Donaldson
Following the extremely dry spring and early summer, ex -cyclone ―Oswald‖ caused havoc as it swept down Queensland from the Gulf of Carpentaria all the way to NSW during late January.
with various species of 4 to 5 year old plants uprooted. In the main car park area, one mature Eucalypt fell over the boundary fence into a neighboring property. Syzygium ‗Cascade‘ were uprooted in the Display Garden and extensive branch damage and leaf fall While the Gold Coast can count itself extremely lucky occurred near the Myrtaceae Garden. when compared with other locations such as Bundaberg, our Botanic Gardens were not untouched by the damage Several Eucalyptus curtisii were uprooted along the boundary fence at the rear of the Cultivar Garden as caused by the heavy rain and strong winds. well as Grevillea ‗Honey Gem‘ suffering severe branch Unfortunately, one of our most recent Community losses there. Minor losses occurred in the Bush Foods Planting sites, the Moist Hinterland section of the Gum Tree Corridor suffered the most severe damage. The Garden as young trees were uprooted. combination of steady soaking rain followed by extremely strong winds and further very heavy rain was too much for the rapidly growing Eucalyptus grandis in particular. Some of these young trees had achieved excellent growth to around five metres since planting as tube stock in July 2011. As with most of our losses at other sites in the Gardens, the majority of these young trees were toppled out of the ground with their root ball virtually intact.
The Friend‘s Centre Garden lost one healthy Eucalyptus curtisii and apart from some minor wash outs and lots of leaf fall from the surrounding Eucalypts it survived well. Other parts of the Mangrove to Mountains ‗deco‘ pathway suffered severe washouts.
Kate was requested to do an inventory of the losses and I assisted with this heartbreaking task. In all, over 120 trees were lost or severely damaged. Some of these were pulled upright and staked by staff, time will tell if Further along the Gum Tree Corridor many of the 3 and they survive and grow into healthy trees. 4-year-old trees were uprooted or snapped off on the The damage to our Gardens was significant. Reports main trunk. The Saline Estuary section was completely from other Qld Botanic Gardens provided to Kate (as flooded to about 75 centimetres depth and again several Chair of BGANZ Qld),showed that The Gold Coast young trees there were uprooted. Regional Botanic Gardens were not as badly off as The second car park Garden suffered extensive damage Mount Tamborine and Bundaberg.
Gumtree Corridor and Car Park Garden
Craft Group Workshop 1st Monday of each Month
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 7
The Friends‘ Herbarium Clyde Dunlop Having spent my working life in the Northern Territory Herbarium (Darwin and Alice Springs), I was pleased to see when I arrived on the Gold Coast that the Friends had started a plant collection at the Botanic Gardens. I was keen to volunteer. The Friends‘ herbarium is still in an embryonic stage but, is a major undertaking. Outside the herbaria funded by state, territory and commonwealth governments, there are few herbaria that have not folded or been absorbed by government. This is not to say that a regional herbarium could not survive on the Gold Coast but the ‗business model‘, I believe, would have to include major support from volunteers and the many environmental and Gardening groups and perhaps universities on the Coast. This, in addition to the Council supporting the institution with infrastructure and recurrent funding. I have some general comments on herbaria:
The Herbarium Herbarium specimens which are well preserved and accompanied by good collecting data can be useful in a number of ways. The primary and most important role of herbarium specimens is in the ‗typing‘ of plant names. When a new name is published for a species (or subspecies, variety), a specific specimen in a specific herbarium is designated as the type of that name. Australia‘s earliest type specimens are in overseas herbaria such as Kew and the British Museum while the majority of modern Australian types are in the state and federal government herbaria. The secondary role of herbaria is in plant identification: correctly named specimens are used as references for identification. A future herbarium on the Gold Coast would, I believe, have plant ID as its main function. The major Australian herbaria are all data based and all or most specimens have longitude / latitude collection locations so that maps of distribution of taxa (families, genera, species, etc.) can be easily produced. The combined data from all the herbaria are used to provide maps for taxa for the entire continent, used for example, in the Flora of Australia publication. Building a library of relevant literature and collecting plant images as well as specimens, is the challenge we face. Fortunately, a good start has been made and hopefully the Council will continue to look kindly upon the enterprise. (Clyde joined the Friends some 2 Years ago and has been working with the Herbarium members...ed)
Botanica Quest
Photo Competition All members are invited to submit photos taken within the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens for the purpose of selecting images for the 2014 Calendar. If you have not seen the 2013 Calendar—our first—then we have a display issue at the Friends Centre. We want digital images for publication purposes and A4 prints for promotion of the Friends both in the Friends Centre and at any functions where we have display facilities available.
Enjoying a Sunday afternoon at the Gardens
Join the Friends now — help us GROW. Entries close on April 21st 2013.
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 8
Photos: Graham Cox
WHAT’S NEW IN THE ROSE GARDEN THIS YEAR? In the last newsletter there was a report from a small maintenance group about nurturing the Rose Garden. Consistent watering, weeding, pruni ng a nd mulching have continued to keep the plants thriving and producing a rich reward. There have been regular ―flushes‖ of colourful blooms throughout the spring and summer seasons. A planting in late winter resulted in a wonderful display from the first standards to be planted. Two stand -out performers have been ―Papa Meilland‖ and ―Tequila Sunset‖ varieties. Many visitors have passed on their appreciation of the colour and beauty the plants are adding to the Horticulture Display Gardens.
Future progress includes expanding our group of helpers, an autumn planting and an increase in the size of the Rose Garden. Plans are afoot for the addition of two Gardens linked by a walkway creating the setting for the future Rose Arbor. Why not join in the exciting growth ahead? We‘d like to know your favourite climbing roses. Do you have two hours per week on Wednesday mornings, 7:00-9:00am to help us cultivate or prune? Experience the feeling of nurturing beauty and creating growth in our Botanic Gardens, surrounded by the perfume of our lovely blooms. Elinor and Joan.
Welcome to new Friends‘ members ask a friend to become a Friend Since the last newsletter, we are very pleased to have welcomed fifteen new Friends. We hope your involvement will be satisfying, rewarding and enjoyable as we work together to ‗grow the Botanic Gardens. Last year the Membership team started revising the Friends membership brochure and application form. This was one of the strategies to help increase the Friends membership base. The new brochure has been designed, printed and is available for prospective members both online and at the Friends Centre. How do we encourage people to become Friends of the GCRBG? As an organisation supporting operations and future growth of the Botanic Gardens, Friends have achieved amazing progress over the past 12 or so years … all
because people like you believed and wanted to make a difference. How do we increase the number of Friends? It‘s actually quite easy … we can ask a friend to become a Friend! We all have a friend or friends whom we know love and appreciate the natural environment … TELL them about the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens and all the different areas in which we support the growth of the Gardens… INVITE them to come along to an activity, function or a walk through the Gardens to see first hand what is being done. Not everyone has the time to commit to the activities of the Friends but most people are willing to support the Gardens and Friends! By simply asking a friend to become a Friend, we can double, triple or quadruple our numbers and have so much more experience and enthusiasm to call upon. Membership Committee
Want to be a SMART Gardener… enquire at the Friends Centre Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 9
Australian Plants
A Tale of Two Gardens While this story begins in the past, it is looking to the future of two Botanic Gardens, one ‗old‘ and one ‗new‘ and the thread that connects them.
The ‘old Botanic Garden’ Myall Park Botanic Garden In the early 1940s Dave Gordon started collecting native plants from all over arid and semi-arid Australia and planting them on his Darling Downs property ‗Myall Park‘. He wanted people to be able to see wonderful wildflower displays and iconic gums, many from Western Australia, without having to travel further than Glenmorgan. He called this collection Myall Park Botanic Garden. Over the years, besides planting thousands of trees and shrubs, he diligently added over 7000 specimens to his herbarium. The hybrid Grevillea ‗Robyn Gordon‘ originated there, the offspring of G. banksia from eastern Queensland and G. bipinnatifida from Western Grevillea ‗Robyn Gordon‘ Australia. The money should have rolled in as Australian Gardeners a do pte d i t enthusiastically as well as o ther flowering natives. However, Dave gifted this and subsequent hybrids to the nursery industry and so missed out on the income generated by today‘s Plant Breeders‘ Rights. This system had not started when ‗Robyn‘ was ready to go public and it was not retrospective. ‗Robyn‘ was selected as the floral emblem for both the Year of the Outback (2006) and the Western Downs Regional Council, more recently.
Planting hakeas
The years rolled on and by the time Dave passed away at the age of 102, control of the Garden had passed to a board of volunteer directors, people passionate about the value of this collection. Look at their website www.myallparkbotanicGarden.org.au and you will see that the Garden has flourished with the aid of working bees, resident caretakers, grants, admission fees, support from the local Council plus income from campers, the onsite cottage and backpacker accommodation. As with most Botanic Gardens, this one is the major Dryandra arborea bud tourist attraction in its region. Enter ‘the ‘new Botanic Garden’ and our connection: Our Australian Plants group – then the Gold Coast branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants – first visited Myall Park Botanic Garden in 1996, soon after our formation. We were struck both by the amazing treasury of unusual plants there and the evident lack of TLC. So for the last seventeen years, we have led a working bee there –planting, Gemma, Ashley & Allen mulching mulching, irrigating, weeding, repairing, mapping Peter and I have been two of their honorary directors for quite a number of years. Recently our Gold Coast Herbarium team has undertaken to help restore and record the collection in their historic Peaceful camping in the Gardens herbarium. Although the Garden is a five to six hour drive west of the Coast, the peace and quiet, wonderful plants and iconic birdsong beckon us back at least four times a year. The early morning or evening light on the silvery foliage brigalow and cypress or on the golden trunks of gimlet gums (Eucalyptus salubris) entice exploring photographers. Staying overnight also brings the joys of brolgas calling in the
Eucalyptus wandoo trunks
Enquire at the Friends Centre for more information
(Continued on page 11)
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 10
(Continued from page 10)
early morning and a variety of honeyeaters during the day. Art lovers enjoy Dorothy Gordon‘s paintings in the Gallery, various art installations and the occasional travelling art exhibition.
Series—Local Native Plants No. 5
The future? Our Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens can only benefit from a close association with another Botanic Garden, as members exchange ideas and enjoy a different ambience. Myall Park is a ‗bush‘ Botanic Garden, different from our more ‗lush‘ one. The role of volunteers and Friends is equally important to both. To help at a working bee (free accommodation and great friendship) please contact Peter or Lyn Reilly through secretary@friendsgcrbg.org,au. The next one starts on 26 April. To stay, whether directly or on your way to somewhere else – e.g. Carnarvon Gorge – contact the Gardens via their website (or ring the caretakers on 4665 670)
Melaleuca thymifolia (Thyme honey myrtle) FAMILY: Myrtaceae DISTRIBUTION: The Thyme honey myrtle is found in melaleuca forests and coastal heath. It ranges from the Rockhampton area, down the coast into New South Wales and inland into the Burnett and Darling Downs regions.
Grevillea kennedyana
DESCRIPTION: This small to medium shrub has small elliptic to ovate leaves to about 1 cm. The attractive flower clusters to 20 mm have a clawlike effect. They can be purple, mauve, pink, or even white. The flowers appear on semi-hard wood in spring. The persistent woody capsules to 6 mm are found on older wood. CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION: This shrub is quite adaptable to soil type and moisture content but it prefers moist, heavy clay soils. It is suitable for small gardens as a low hedge or screen and it will grow in difficult conditions. Fertiliser applications and pruning after fruiting encourages new growth and a compact form. Propagate from fine seed or cuttings from selected forms.
Myall Park Botanic Gardens Gallery Text and photo: Graham McDonald Text and photos — Lyn Reilly Lyn and Peter are both honorary Directors at the Gardens.
Author, Grow Natives on the Gold Coast: a practical guide for Gardeners Available for sale at Friends Centre
Friends News / Autumn 2013
Page 11
Education at the Gardens Rana Baguley Education Coordinator
As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first Friends Community Planting Day in July this year, we are encouraged to look forward to the next decade of growth. In the last Friends News, I wrote about the development of educational programs at the Gardens, so now it is time to look to the future.
Already there are plans for more workshops as well as training Friends volunteers as guides for regular Garden tours. More interpretative signs and shelters are in the design stages.
The children‘s school holiday program, Botanica Quest , continues and could be expanded with more People visit Botanic Gardens all over the world for volunteers. Last year there were waiting lists for most different reasons. The major attraction is always the of the sessions. All children, parents and carers enjoy plants and the environment in which they grow. For the hands-on experiences that Botanica offers. many people any new knowledge gleaned during their visit is incidental. For others it is intentional through Education at the Gardens program for primary participation in a guided tour, a specific program or school students and their teachers is aligned with the workshop. Visitors also find out information from Australian Curriculum. Last year around 1000 students interpretative signs, displays, brochures and fact sheets and their teachers participated in the lessons, which or by chatting to one of the volunteers at the Friends cover ten different topics. This year, the brochures for the Education Program have been delivered to 65 Centre. primary schools on the Gold Coast. It‘s hoped that Friends would like to develop the educational role of schools will take advantage of this program in our our Botanic Gardens over the coming years for all age historic and biologically diverse Regional Botanic groups in conjunction with the Curator and the GCCC. Gardens.
BOTANICA ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR KIDS
Celebrate good times
Come to the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens to enjoy creative activities with Botanica Arts and Crafts
28th July 2013, Friends will celebrate ten productive years of planting in the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.
Join in the fun over the Easter school holidays.
It‘s amazing to look around and take in the abundance of growth evidenced across all areas of our Gardens.
Create different and interesting works of art using materials from nature. Suitable for 4 to 12 years.
FRIDAY 12 APRIL
2 Sessions 9AM AND 10AM
Photographic comparisons from earlier years verify this outstanding accomplishment. This is certainly something worth cheering about — out loud!
$5 per child. Bookings essential Ph 0449 561 674
So please, mark the 28th July firmly in your diary and be part of this Birthday Celebration.
Don‘t forget to bring a drink bottle, hat, sunscreen and wear enclosed shoes.
If you can contribute to the days success e.g. suggestions for activities, assistance on the day etc. do not hesitate to contact us at the Friends Centre or noreen@swanjoy.com
Meet on the verandah of the Friends Centre in the Mangroves to Mountains area of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, 232 Ashmore Road, Benowa.
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This event proudly coordinated by the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.
Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
Join Friends and help grow the Gardens Friends News / Autumn 2013
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F r o m t h e S e c r e t a r y ’s D e s k … . . Contact: Mary Woods
secretary@fgcbg.org.au
0449 561 674
Well, 2013 is off and running and Friends activities and our contributions to the management and operations of our Botanic Gardens are well and truly in gear. Friends welcomed the appointment of Dr Liz Caddick as the new Curator. We welcomed David Baguley to the Chair as Friends President and farewelled Nick Bloor as President, with a big thank you for his ten years at the helm.
group addresses a range of issues relating to the overall operations of the Gardens. It also provides guidance to Council in the management and strategic direction of this significant community asset. The Gardening team meets Wednesday morning 6-8.30 in Summer; 7-9 in Winter
Friends volunteers have helped out first with the watering as we anxiously awaited the rains, then the mopping up when they came with a vengeance on the Australia Day weekend. The Friends Centre volunteers have kept the visitor centre open and assisted visitors from near and far to enjoy our Gardens. There have been Guided Walks, talks and presentations to community groups.
The Rose Garden team meets Wednesday mornings 7-9am
Having successfully launched their Friends 2013 Calendar and Christmas Cards, the Craft Group is busy preparing for Mother‘s Day. There has been training and induction for the Friends Nursery. The Gardening groups on Wednesday mornings have managed to continue amid our wild weather. The Herbarium team continues to expand its numbers and the scope of its work. Botanica for children is on again in the April school holidays and the Community Planting Days for 2013 are being planned.
The Craft team meets on the first Monday each month 10am-2pm
Friends representatives David Baguley, Kate Heffernan and I, attended the meeting of the Botanic Gardens management group, the GCRBG PCG, on Friday 22 February. This first meeting of the year dealt with a busy agenda. Chaired by the Curator Liz Caddick, and attended by our Council partners from Gold Coast Parks and the Botanic Gardens Maintenance team, this
Nursery News This month our group of volunteers had 3 productive meetings, firstly to discuss our aims, objectives, protocols and meeting times, then to conduct nursery induction and propagation workshops. It was good to see the new faces at the meetings and the enthusiasm shown bodes well for the group. Thanks Kate for your interesting and expert tutoring, I am sure that we all learnt some new skills and that everyone is eagerly waiting to start work at the nursery itself.
The Nursery team meets Friday mornings 8-10am The Herbarium team meets every Tuesday and Saturday mornings 9-11am
At this rate, we will all need to pull together as usual. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our events and activities this year. While not everyone is able to take a really active part, we value the support and enthusiasm of all our Friends members – it helps keep our Gardens thriving. Did you realise you are part of a group of around 400 people who are members of Friends? We have about 50-60 people who are more actively involved and always welcome those who want to enjoy being ‗active and healthy‘ together in our Friends‘ groups. Let me know if you want more information about our activities and groups.
of seedlings struck at home. All going well we have the basis for a productive start to our operations. Should other Friend‘s volunteers wish to join our group, please feel free to come along, any training and induction that is needed can be given on site. We intend to meet at the nursery each Friday at 8.00am. Ultimately, as the group is fully trained, attendance hours and times will become more flexible for those who cannot attend on Fridays. Alan Donaldson
We now have several trays of cuttings, which we hope will shortly strike roots together with the several trays
Enquire at the Centre or just come along..... Friends News / Autumn 2013
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The burning question a review by Lyn Reilly
The Biggest estate on earth: how aborigines made Australia by Bill Gammage, published in 2011 by Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978 1742377483 Early European explorers were amazed at how ‗parklike‘ much of Australia was. Even Captain Cook wrote in his journal ‗we made an excursion into the country which we found diversified with woods, lawns and marshes; the woods are free from underwood of every kind and the trees are at such a distance from one another that the whole country or at least a great part of it might be cultivated without being obliged to cut down a single tree’. In the Whitsundays he saw ‗land on the Main and Islands diversified with woods and lawns‘. It is not like that today. From northern Australia to Tasmania, uncleared land can be dense and impenetrable. Why? Early Europeans were amazed that grass grew on the fertile land and scattered trees on the (poorer) hills. Many comparisons were made with ‗a gentleman‘s park‘. Again, why? This book explodes the myth that pre-1788 Australia was an untamed wilderness. It reveals the complex, country-wide systems of land management used by Aboriginal people. Its author Bill Gammage is a historian and adjunct professor in the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University. As well as extracts from early writings, Gammage has included beautiful reproductions of the work of pioneer artists, depicting the appearance of the countryside. In a landscape by John Glover for example, he uncovered evidence of three distinct fire regimes. Some trees need fire every five years, others every 10 years, others not for centuries. How could all this complexity have come about? He concludes that the logical answer is that the first Australians deliberately crafted it. And their main technique of control was fire.
Many Australian plant species have a relationship with fire, developed over millions of years. Some people today argue that nature alone made the 1788 landscape, perhaps via lightning fires. There is no evidence that lightning caused most bushfires back in 1788. Although lightning today starts a large percentage of fires in western Queensland (fewer in southern states), in 1788 - because people lit so many fires there was less fuel for lightning to ignite. As Gammage says, if lightning fire distributed Australia‘s plants, then their distribution pattern outside towns and farms should be similar to that in 1788. It is not. Although early explorers like Mitchell and Leichhardt knew that Aborigines fired grass to attract game, not until 1960s did researchers begin to sense system and purpose in their burning. Knowing which plants animals prefer enabled selective burning to entice them to the sweetest feed, the best shelter, the safest scrub. Aborigines established a circuit of such places. Grazing animals could be shepherded in this way because apart from humans they had no serious predators. Only in Australia was this so. Clans could spread resources over large areas, thereby providing for adverse seasons and they had allies, sometimes hundreds of kilometres away, who could trade or give refuge. Mere sustainability was not enough – abundance was normal. It made life comfortable. Like land-owning English gentry, people generally had plenty to eat, few hours of work a day and much time for recreation - sitting down and talking. Hence the acquired ‗lazy‘ tag. Subsistence peoples don‘t have time for this. Gammage has a huge volume of references to support his central argument (that the 1788 landscape was made) that it would seem so many records over so great an area cannot all be wrong. I found this book a fascinating and convincing read. I first read a copy from my local library, then bought it as an eBook from Amazon Kindle for $14.95 so I can dip into it at my leisure. It is available in hardback for $49.99 or paperback for $39.99.[The book has won many awards including the 2012 Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History.]
Community Planting Day Sunday 7 April 2013
Friends News / Autumn 2013
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BOOKS for Sale Prices shown have been discounted for Friends members.
Grow Natives on the Gold Coast: a practical guide for new friends and a place to live‘. Picture story book by Lynette Reilly, illustrated by Lois Hughes, published by the Friends. $15.00
Gardeners by Graham J. McDonald. Published by our Australian Plants Group. Includes: soil types of the Gold Coast; solving problems associated with each soil type; choosing the best natives for your area; creating a Garden which supports local wildlife. $12.00
Available from the Friends Centre or contact secretary for packing and postage details
MERCHANDISE for Sale
Mangroves to Mountains (Rev. ed.) A great field guide to the identification of over 2 200 plants from SE Qld. By Glenn Leiper, Jan Glazebrook, Denis Cox & Kerry Rathie. Published by the Logan River Branch, SGAP (Qld Region) Inc. Full colour. $47.00
Original Friends T-shirt. Cream. All cotton. $10
Create More Butterflies: A guide to 48 butterflies and
Friends Golf shirts Green. Poly/cotton. $20
their host plants for SEQ and northern NSW. Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke. Includes photos of caterpillars; getting started with butterfly Gardening; wild butterfly locations and much more. A publication of Earthling Enterprises. $25.00
Cap
$15
Bucket hat
$20
Commemorative Friends thermos cup with handle. Stainless steel inside & out. $18
Poisonous to Pets: plants poisonous to dogs and cats by Nicole O‘Kane.
$32.00
Micky’s Music: A picture story book about a soldier crab seeking his true self amid coastal casuarinas and mangroves Written by Lynette Reilly. illustrated by Sharon Dye, published by Greater Glider. $10.00
A range of customised Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens merchandise will be ready as soon as design work is complete. Cards Coasters
Dictionary of Botanical Names compiled and illustrated by Don Perrin.
Keyrings
Drink Coolers
Mousepads
and more ………. $14.00
Birdwings New Home: A pair of Birdwing Butterflies experience trouble and joy as they move house, seeking
General Information to contact Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
? Postal Address: PO Box 5653 GCMC QLD 9726 Location: Secretary:
232 Ashmore Road Benowa 4217
secretary@friendsgcrbg.org.au Mobile: 0449 561 674
Treasurer:
treasurer@friendsgcrbg.org.au
Important Friends dates for our Botanic Gardens for 2013: Saturday 9 March Friends stall at ‗Linking You Locally‘ expo at Robina Library Sunday 7 April Autumn Planting Day 9-10am Friday 12 April Botanica Arts & Crafts 9am and 11am Sunday 9 June Green Week events including (World Environment Day)
Membership Officer:
membership@friendsgcrbg.org.au
Sunday 28 July 10th Anniversary of first Planting Day (National Tree Day)
Visit our Website :
www.friendsgcrbg.org.au
Sunday 29 September Spring Planting Day Tuesday 8 October
Queensland Arbor Day
Sunday 1 December
Friends AGM
Spring Planting Day Sunday 29 September 2013 Friends News / Autumn 2013
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Eastern Precinct
Communications
Friends Community Planting
Kate Heffernan Communications Coordinator
A spontaneous visit to the Gardens enjoyed by a holiday maker from Sydney reflects the impressions so often recorded in the Visitor’s Book and reinforces the value of good communication.
A lady who works with my niece Belinda at the NSW Ombudsman's office had just returned from the Gold Coast and was recounting her accidental discovery of a ‗beautiful botanic garden at Ashmore‘. She had taken a detour and stumbled across the signs! By coincidence Belinda and 5 year old daughter Hayley had enjoyed the most recent Botanica Quest in January while holidaying with Alan and me. Instantly the office conversation was all about Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. This anecdote is a reminder of the value of communication….the importance of the presentation of the Gardens and the key messages of the botanical collection, the interpretation signs, Fact Sheets and the welcoming volunteers at the Friends Centre. Every visitor is potentially our most able promotions person who might share their experience with countless others. In this case it was staff at the Telecommunication Ombudsman's office in Sydney! So with the tenth anniversary of the first official botanic gardens planting this year, it‘s time for both a pat on the back and encouragement to all who transmit the Gardens messages to keep up the great work and support the celebration event on July 28th.
February 2011
March 2011
Belinda & Hayley at Botanica
Interested in being a volunteer guide? Induction and Training starts 11th April, please contact secretary@friendsgcrbg.org.au
March 2012
Phone 0449561674 or call in at the Friends Centre for details and to register your interest. 1. Volunteer guide introduction , induction and training session
3. Volunteer guide training
April 11th 9.15am – 12 noon
Ecologically compatible plants for the Gold Coast in the Display Gardens
2. Volunteer guide training
May 2nd 9.15am – 12 noon
Regional plants in the Mangroves to Mountains Transect
March 2013
April 17th 9.15am – 12 noon
Newsletter Deadline
Please have your copy in for the June Issue by 29th May 2013.
Many thanks to the Gold Coast City Council for its assistance in the printing of this publication. PO Box 5653 GCMC QLD 9726***Email: info@fgcbg.org.au ***Web: www.friendsgcrbg.org.au ***Ph: 0449 561 674*** 232 Ashmore Road Benowa