ANNUAL REPORTANNUAL REPORT love to see. Nevertheless it has been satisfying to see considerable funds expended on important although easily overlooked irrigation and surveying works.

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20162016

ANNUAL REPORTANNUAL REPORT

Prepared for thePrepared for thePrepared for the

Annual General MeetingAnnual General MeetingAnnual General Meeting

Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc

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Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc

Our Vision

Provide a place of botanical discovery to encourage appreciation of our region‟s biodiversity, where everyone can escape, learn and be

inspired, and, enjoy our distinctive natural heritage and regional landscape in a garden haven.

Our Mission

The Friends volunteers are dedicated to the development of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. We support the environmental, scientific

and educational purposes of the Botanic Gardens. Working with City of Gold Coast, the Friends are responsible for much of the design, planting

and maintenance of the Mangroves to Mountains Walk, the development of the Herbarium and the Nursery. We foster community awareness and

ownership of the Botanic Gardens, provide visitor information and guiding services and undertake fundraising for the benefit of the Gardens.

Our Organisation, Governance and Risk Management

The Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, an incorporated association, with its public fund, Friends of the Gold Coast Regional

Botanic Gardens Gift Fund, has been a Registered Environmental Organisation with Deductible Gift Recipient status since 31 October 2005.

The Friends are also registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission and completed our first return to ACNC for 2013.

Friends details can be viewed on the online ACNC Register.

Dedicated to development of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, we support its environmental purposes, including education and scientific

roles. Friends volunteers are active in the following ways:

Green Team (Gardening) Nursery Press and Preserve Team (Herbarium) Meet and Greet Team (Friends Centre) Walk and Talk Team (Guiding) Explore and Learn Team Botanical Arts and Crafts Team Communications Events and Administration

Craft (Botanical) Native Flower arranging

Friends have a well-established working partnership with City of Gold Coast, asset managers of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.

Friends have developed a robust risk management system that underpins all activities, as is reflected in the Friends‟ Risk Management Policy

and Procedures.

There are almost 400 people who are part of our Friends Association. All are valued supporters of our Botanic Gardens while about 60 are regularly

active volunteers in our many activities. Many friendships are nurtured, often new skills acquired and lots of fun and laughter shared along the way.

New faces and activities are always welcome.

Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc.

www.friendsgcrbg.org.au [email protected] PO Box 5653 Gold Coast Mail Centre 9726 Phone: 0449 561 674

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Inc

Cover photo taken by Dena Maddick.

A view from the top of the stone steps

alongside the Friends Centre.

Lovely photo from a new member.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Content and Images: Thank you to all contributors.

Communications Coordinator & Team for graphic layout,

Images and general editing.

Secretary for Editing assistance and Statistical

information and assembly.

Thank you to the City of Gold Coast for printing Friends

Gardens activity posters and flyers as well as our

Newsletter Growing Matters and the Annual Report.

www.friendsgcrbg.org.au [email protected]

PO Box 5653 Gold Cost Mail Centre 9726 Phone: 0449 561

Contents:

Friends of Gold coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc P2

President Pp 4,5 & 6

Founders Report Pp 7, 8 & 9

Education Pp 10, 11 & 12

Gardening P 13

Nursery Pp 14, 15 & 16

Images P17

Herbarium P18

Flowers by Friends P 19

Garden Guides P20

Friends Centre P21

Communications P 22& 23

Botanic Art & Craft P 23

Australian Plants GC Pp 24 & 25

Library/Archives P 25

Statistics & such Pp 26 & 27

2016 Committee P 28

Birdwing Butterfly Vine fruit - the

vines in GCRBG are maturing well

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President’s Report - Alex Jakimoff

This year the Friends have taken significant steps forward, consolidating and improving past year‟s achievements.

This report reflects the year of the Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.

The gardens have benefited from improvements such as irrigation and surveying that have absorbed significant Council funding.

Our three year Strategic Plan outlines seven objectives which guide our activities:

1. ‘Conservation of endangered local native plant species and preservation of the region’s floral biodiversity’.

In September we organised a community planting day during National Threatened Species Week and planted endangered plant species in the

Montane area but unfortunately this day was cancelled due to inclement weather and the plants were later installed on a volunteer gardening

day. Griffith University hosted a group of Friends and were guided around their Rare & Threatened Plant Walk by Professor Catherine Pickering

from Environment Futures Research Institute Griffith University. Professor Pickering gave a wonderful presentation to a Friends general meeting

in September including local native species, conservation and biodiversity.

Our popular production of the Friends calendar this year featured beautiful photographs of Queensland and Australian native plants that are

endangered, near threatened or rare.

A current project is the development of the Endangered Plants Trail.

Herbarium volunteers continue collecting and preserving our region‟s plants, keeping a record of what is native to our area and beyond.

The Gardening team continue maintaining the important Mangroves to Mountains transect.

The Nursery has propagated endangered plant species for sale and planting in the Gardens.

Australian Plants Gold Coast, a Sub Group of the Friends organisation have had another active year as you wil read in their report in this

publication and in each issue of Growing Matters.

2. ‘Provide interpretive data to increase awareness of the values of regional plant communities and ecosystems’

Significant progress continues in this vital aspect of our activities. The excellent quality of the signage has attracted much positive feedback

which reflects the extensive effort put into their design, production and installation by consultant Kate Heffernan and Curator Liz Caddick.

new Butterfly Garden sign was installed which included greatly appreciated sponsorship from the Gold Coast Bushwalkers Club

two new Bird Signs were installed to educate visitors about the resident water birds – thanks to Southport Rotary for funding both of them

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Interpretive signage has been completed to complement the new Rotary Education Pavilion, both funded by Rotary Gold Coast

the Herbarium continues to produce plant labelling for our existing and expanding Living Plant Collection

There will soon be even more top quality signage including the:

Indigenous Plant Use signs sponsored by Rotary

Endangered Plants signage trail sponsored by Southern Pacific Developments P/L

Story of Our Country signs funded by Rotary and the GC Community Grant

Art and Garden signage part funded by Alan Donaldson and family.

3. ‘Undertake effective fundraising and use best practice business management in conducting the operations of the Association’

Some of our grants have already been mentioned but we deeply appreciate organisations such as Southport Rotary, Gold Coast

Rotary, Stronger Communities Programme (Federal Government), Gold Coast Bushwalkers Club, Gambling Community Benefit Fund,

City of Gold Coast Community Grant and our very supportive local Councillor Paul Taylor for his financial assistance using

Divisional Funds. Improvements within the Gardens and in Friends activities have resulted from the hard work and specialised skills

of some dedicated Friends writing up grant applications. This year Rana Baguley, Kate Heffernan, David Fitzgerald and Mary Woods

have been actively engaged in this procedure.

4. ‘Market, publicise, promote, stimulate interest in, and foster community awareness of, the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens’

Friends work hard flying the flag for the Gardens, making presentations to groups such as the Helensvale Garden Club, Broadbeach Library, Over

50‟s Retirement Village, Gold Coast Landcare Forum and wherever else we are invited.

Two large successful events were held in collaboration with the City of Gold Coast. The inaugural Botanic Gardens Open Day in May was

extremely well attended throughout Australia sampling the environmental, scientific and educational work of the Gardens … as well as

enjoying Music in the Park at the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

Discovery in the Gardens in August was a signature event where the public came to „enjoy, learn and be inspired‟ as our Strategic Plan

Vision has as an objective

The Mayor‟s Garden Competition Open Garden was supported by Friends who helped escort visitors around the winning garden

Friends Centre our volunteers provide visitor information 7 days a week from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

5. ‘Collaborate with the City of Gold Coast Council on development, expansion, maintenance and rehabilitation works in the Botanic Gardens’

Our Gardens have been built and maintained over the years through a partnership with Council. This year Friends have been working with the

Curator to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to clarify our roles and responsibilities. Our liaison is carried out with regular meetings of

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the Horticultural Reference Group and the Advisory Group and with our collaboration on numerous activities such as Gardening, Herbarium,

Nursery, Education and events.

Unfortunately in these times of tight Council budgets there has been little opportunity for the delivery of high capital cost projects which Friends would

dearly love to see. Nevertheless it has been satisfying to see considerable funds expended on important although easily overlooked irrigation and

surveying works. Friends still have much work to do in convincing Council of the value of its wonderful natural asset in the Botanic Gardens, and that it is

a significant whole of city asset rather than a divisional park. We know that Queensland‟s second largest city deserves a Botanic Gardens funding budget

that recognises its importance, particularly with the expected focus during the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. We are looking forward in the near

future to the Garden Entry Statement that is being funded by Cr Paul Taylor‟s Divisional funds.

Recently Cr Taylor presented our dedicated Friend Poul Sletten with an Environmental Volunteer Award from the City of Gold Coast, a well deserved

award and congratulations Poul!

6. ‘Provide education services and guides for schools, tourists and other visitors to the Botanic Gardens’

This aspect of Friends activity is very rewarding, and something that we have done well over the years with school holiday programs for children.

During the school year Rana Baguley also organises a program of school excursions to the Gardens.

Arbor Day was celebrated with a planting by Benowa school students.

Our Friends guides have undergone training to deliver quality guided tours which were especially popular during our two big event days.

It is particularly important for the Gardens to be an easily accessible place for the public to learn of our amazing local biodiversity. Our role in

education can maintain the increasingly vulnerable connection to nature for our urban Gold Coast community.

7. ‘Grow the 'Friends' as a respected association with the power to advance the Botanic Gardens in the interests of the wider community’

Being a member of Friends is an opportunity for self development of the individual. The opportunity is provided to learn and enjoy various

activities. This may be through training, workshops and excursions. We invite all to become involved in whatever way they would like to expand

knowledge, be more active and engage in fellowship. You will find a report from each group here which may whet the appetite of any not

already involved.

All groups require renewal and succession to keep strong and relevant in today‟s rapidly changing world. Friends are no different. It is a great challenge

to inspire the next generation to maintain and develop the momentum.

The Friends Coordinators have worked tirelessly to manage our volunteer groups such as the Herbarium, Guides, Friends Centre etc and their huge input

is deeply appreciated. Also it has been very satisfying to see the Australian Plants GC group have an active and interesting year, My congratulations to

their leadership for that success.

My thanks to all the Management Committee members this year. I appreciate all their individual skills and experience in this contribution

of time and effort. Thank you to all our Friends for the energy and support which keeps this organisation moving forward.

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Founders Report - Kate Heffernan

My 2016 report considers two extremely contrasting comments made about Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. A short but scathing text chat message

published in the Gold Coast Bulletin in early November was at odds with praise heaped on the Gardens just one week before, by Master Planner Lawrie

Smith. [see letter next page]

Each person visiting the Gardens will have differing expectations depending on their previous exposure to Botanic Gardens. It

is little wonder that some visitors would think of all botanic gardens as being a landscape of giant fig and exotic pine

trees and sweeping lawns, interspersed with blazing colourful annual flower beds and reproduction international

landscapes. My own early experiences in botanic gardens were no doubt like that of the writer, and many others who

have lived in, or visited Australian capital cities with botanic gardens stretching back a century or more. In my view

the cruel sting of comments lampooning what this one writer saw as Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens failing to

meet his/her own expectations is better respected for its candour. It should give rise to thought and discussion among

Friends. Shouldn‟t Friends wonder where the Gardens failed this visitor? Although not meeting their expectations,

perhaps it wasn‟t the Gardens that failed. Were there sufficient messages and stories throughout the Gardens to convince

the disappointed writer of the merit of the plant collections at Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens? Was each and every plant in

the collection itself in tip top form, fulfilling its design intent such that it mattered little whether it was part of an orchid collection, or a Japanese

Garden or some other eagerly and personally anticipated landscape style? Perhaps what it lacked to this visitor was inspiration, to entertain, surprise

and educate him or her, and to make them forget or at least reconsider their notion of what they thought should have been there!

Our Gardens are of the contemporary era, a regional botanic garden with the emphasis on the flora of the South East Region, with science, education

and conservation being critical.

I‟m confident that Lawrie Smith‟s different and positive comments brought smiles and encouragement that the past 13 and a half years of planting have

indeed started to yield results. Lawrie‟s letter indicates that his initial vision, his clever and exciting concept, developed through extensive consultation

with Friends and the greater community, is being realised. These comments indicating that Lawrie‟s high expectations for a regional botanic garden are

being met do not mean all is done and it‟s time to rest on laurels. They are a sign that the Gardens plant collections are on track in the eyes of Lawrie,

who knows what his remarkable concept set out to achieve, and express his hope that this progressively expands.

The challenge is to show the vision and the rationale behind the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens to those visitors like the Bulletin writer, whose

visit possibly doesn‟t come with prior knowledge or any understanding of the intent behind the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens layout. A lack of

adequate funding in recent years has resulted in slowed progress, in particular with vital supporting infrastructure, but many plantings are reaching a

level of maturity bringing opportunities for greater interpretation and an interesting and enjoyable experience for visitors and locals. There is important

„catch up‟ happening with the city installing the invisible infrastructure such as upgraded and new irrigation. The past couple of years have seen

significant milestones in interpretation, with „basic botany‟ lessons on the signs in the Rotary Education Pavilion, more plant labels and the beginnings

of a suite of interpretation signs funded externally by Rotary, Dahl Trust, Bushwalkers and other groups and Friends members and private individuals, as

How can a Friends group, with an almost

20 year history of working towards a regional botanic

garden for the Gold Coast reconcile such

diverse opinions?

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Design with Nature

Lawrence Smith AM

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

B Arch Dip Land Arch ARAIA FAILA

5 Sarow Drive

Warner Q 4500 BRISBANE

07 3882 3832 0411 228 900

[email protected]

ABN 85 880 448 774

The Mayor, Gold Coast City Council

The Curator, Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden

The Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden

Kate Heffernan

Re: Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden

Good afternoon all,

On Saturday October 22, 2016 I was asked to address a meeting of members of Australian Plants Gold Coast group, held at the Visitor Centre at the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden and this gave me the opportunity to again inspect progress on this invaluable community facility. Very impressed, I returned again on Monday to continue to appreciate more fully the significant environment being created. As many of you know I was responsible since 1991, through my company Landplan Studio, for the initial master planning and design of the project but now retired for several years, I always enjoy

visiting previous projects to observe progress.

Everyone involved with the creation of this magnificent, scientifically based botanic garden are to be congratulated and I would appreciate it if you

could distribute my thoughts and compliments to all those involved.

Letter from the Master Plan architect Lawrie Smith

well as self- guided walking trails through the Gardens.

Friend‟s advocacy and strong voice brought the Gardens into reality and their efforts were, and continue to be its foundation. Friends Volunteers now

undertake many of the typical Botanic Garden functions, underpinned by years of involvement as principal stakeholders, planning, dreaming, working and

learning along the way. All Friends should be proud of an incredible effort, but also unafraid of analysis or criticism. Both should lead to evaluation of

the Botanic Gardens, and in particular of Friends role as champion and advocate. Both also provide a positive opportunity to look for ways to improve.

My hope is that Friends collective voice is used and is heard – to support the Gardens by urging an increase in staffing to expand and secure the plant

collections health and presentation, and petitioning for a much needed indoor space for education, interpretation and displays, Herbarium, merchandise,

retail plant sales and communication. A Biodiversity Centre!

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One of the values of a Regional Botanic Garden is to research and display the flora of the surrounding bioregion to inform the community about the potential for the use of local species in amenity horticulture in urban, rural and residential landscape. Using our unique flora extensively creates a built landscape with „sense of place‟ that ensures it cannot be confused with any other locality. GCRBG does this admirably and has set the benchmark very high for other botanic gardens to follow. There are so many areas around the extensive site where the visiting public cannot fail to be impressed by the

diversity, the attractiveness and usefulness of the local flora.

Perhaps the best way to experience the existing range of local plant communities is to walk along the Mangroves to Mountains trail extending from the alluvial flats near the Nerang River to the upper hill near the entrance & Rosser residence. Along every few metres of this lengthy trail the planted flora communities impress with their special forms, colours, foliage, flowers and fruits whether they be trees, shrubs, ground covers, ferns, orchids or palms. Walking this trail captivates the observer and encourages further exploration, not only of other parts of the botanic garden site but of the natural

environments of the wider Gold Coast region.

The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden is already a wonderful tourist attraction in progressive development but most importantly it is the scientific basis of the collection that sets this community facility apart from all others and also gives it national significance. The Gold Coast is central within a „botanic hot spot‟ that contains a regional flora that is one of the most unique and diverse of the continent – hence the significance of this botanic

garden.

I trust that over the coming years and decades as it is developed, as carefully as it has been up to now, that the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden will

assume its deserved place among the primary „must see‟ destinations of the Gold Coast – dare I say „the green in the heart of the gold”?

The cooperation between the Council and the continuing strong community support from the outset has primarily resulted in the extent and quality development we see today. It is hoped that this successful partnership expands progressively to create the optimum attraction envisaged by the master

plan document.

My best wishes for the much deserved future success of this remarkable Regional Botanic Garden on the Gold Coast.

Lawrie Smith AM

Landscape Architect

Tamborine Mountain Botanic Garden General Manager Roger Lenehan with Kate at the Sooty Owl chainsaw carved seat, entrance to the Sooty Owl Walk. Image Alan Donaldson

Image shows Rotary Education Pavilion in its Botanic setting. Image K. Heffernan

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EDUCATIONEDUCATION Rana Baguley Education co-ordinator

Botanica

Education Team organised and delivered four Botanica Quests during 2016 with another planned

for December. Two of the Botanica Quests used the Nature Play theme and associated passports

with missions to accomplish. These were well received. Another quest was based on the

traditional „Dare to Discover‟ while the Botanica Arts and Crafts Quest was run at Christmas.

Children‟s activities were also offered at Open Day and at Discovery in the Gardens.

Kids in Conservation

Two activities, Grow That Plant and What Bird is That? were held during 4 different school

holidays in 2016 giving older children the chance to learn propagation skills and identify birds at

the Botanic Gardens. Thanks to Sarah Jane for producing the Bird Brochure, especially for the

Gardens. This will be very popular with young birders.

Total number of children involved with these school holiday programs was 198.

Given the amount of time given to preparation, promotion and work on the day, the number of

attendees is disappointing. There appears to be an oversupply of children‟s activities during the

school holidays on the Gold Coast. There were 39 pages of Active and Healthy School Holiday

activities for the September holidays.

This year all Children‟s Activities were also featured in the Naturally GC booklet.

There was great exposure for Botanica in an article written by Jo Kennett, (ABC 91.7 Saturday

Breakfast Radio Producer) published in the Weekend Australian on, 11 June. GC Bulletin had a

photo shoot at Botanica on Friday for an article about Backyard Biodiversity, which was

published in the magazine, Aspire.

Thanks to all members of the „Learn and Explore‟ Team for their support and to the

Communications Team for creating posters to advertise these events.

Art Classes

After a disappointing response to the Art Classes with Megan Skehan for both adults and

children in the first half of the year, it was decided to suspend the classes at the end of June.

Rotary Education Pavilion

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The Official Opening of the Rotary Education Pavilion on 11 March was a highlight of the year.

Around 50 people attended from Rotary, Friends and the City of Gold Coast Council. Justin

Schaffer, the main benefactor for the construction of the Pavilion opened it. The seven

interpretative signs designed and unveiled by Kate Heffernan are now completed and installed.

The Pavilion itself has already been used by school groups, workshops and visitors … a

wonderful asset to the GCRBG.

Gold Coast Rotary has provided most of the funding with some assistance from the Gold Coast

City Council and Rotary District 9640. We especially thank Burling Brown Architects, Burchill‟s

Engineering Solutions and Thomas Independent Certification for providing professional services

for the design and building approvals pro bono.

Seating and a noticeboard have been installed since the opening.

Interpretive Signage

This year has seen the successful application for grants to increase the interpretive signage in

the Gardens.

Southport Rotary Club funded 3 x Bird signs (installed)

Gold Coast Bushwalkers Club funded 1 x Butterfly sign (installed)

Rotary District 9640 funded Indigenous Use Plants signs (printing stage)

Charles Wang funded Threatened and Vulnerable Plants signs (printing stage)

Gold Coast Community Grant funded 1 x Story of our Country sign (design stage)

There are also another six signs that have been researched, designed and created by Kate

Heffernan. Each sign requires relevant, precise information as well as appropriate images to

tell the story. This involves liaising with different sources and gaining permission to use the

text as well as the images with acknowledgement. Three of the signs are ready for printing and

will be installed by the end of November.

Potato Press has been used to fabricate and install the signs.

Arbor Day

The second Tuesday in October is observed as Queensland Arbor Day. This year, on 11 October,

24 students and 2 teachers from Benowa State School attended along with 2 councillors, Cr

Justin Schaffer,

benefactor

All heads turn to

look at the signage

Nick, Rana & David at Rotary Shelter March 2016

Alex addresses the group in the new

pavilion

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Paul Taylor and Cr Gary Baildon. Students planted 15 Ghost Gums given to the Botanic Gardens by Trevor

Seppings, Cranbourne Botanic Garden as part of an Australia wide trial to grow these eucalypts in other

regions. Certificates of Appreciation were given to Benowa SS and the Councillors. Information,

researched by Kate Heffernan, about the Ghost Gums was also presented. Thanks to Council staff and

Friends for their assistance in preparation and planting for Arbor Day. Inviting only one school helped to

reduce the coordination time for Arbor Day, even though the outreach to other schools did not occur.

I attended the Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens hosted by Friends of Geelong Botanic

Gardens in late April. The theme was

„Geelong – Regional Relevance: Botanic Environments and Their Survival in a Time of Global Warming‟.

Professor Catherine Pickering addressed the Friends General Meeting in September about the use of

technology and the development of a new app, GroNATIVE. A follow up tour of Griffith University with

Catherine Pickering was arranged to be held in October for Friends.

An Early Childhood Literacy Event, hosted by local schools and childcare centres, was held at the end of October. Friends

provided a storytelling, walk and craft activity which focused on the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.

Discovery in the Gardens (DiG)

Two interactive displays were set up as part of DiG to highlight the educational activities of the Botanic Gardens;

„Botanica Arts and Crafts‟ and „Education at the Gardens‟.

Both were well visited by children, interested parents and teachers.

Arbor Day October 11 2016. Image: K. Heffernan

Ghost gum at Myall Park

Alan preparing for propagation class

DiG 2016

Poul & Caroline tending

the Herbarium display

Flowers By Friends Table of

arrangements for sale and display

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GARDENING GROUP - Alex Jakimoff

The Gardening Group this year has particularly enjoyed putting in new plantings and watching them flourish.

Renovating the Friends Centre garden has resulted in a great injection of colourful shrubs and groundcovers that have

pleased visitors and Friends to this high profile area.

Additional new plantings in the Buffer Gardens, Rose Garden, Story of our Country, Montane, Summer Garden and

other areas are rejuvenating and adding to their value. This aspect of our work is always enjoyable to diversify our

routine pruning, weeding and other gardening tasks.

Positive comments and feedback have been welcome and morale boosting, for example from visiting members of the

HMAQ ( Horticultural Media Assoc Qld), Jane Edmanson and Jerry Coleby-Williams from Gardening Australia and

Lawrie Smith (the Gardens Master Planner).

It has been pleasing to welcome a number of younger additions to our group this year, with students from Griffith

University and TAFE using the Botanic Gardens to complete their community internship units in environmental

studies. While not long term volunteers, their younger energy has been delightful while we could also impart

gardening and plant knowledge in return.

A helpful improvement has been the repair by Council of the Montane path using more weather resistant surface

materials, which will significantly reduce repair work hours by our group, and thereby keeping the path open and

encouraging visitation to this area.

Joan and Sally-Anne have worked hard keeping the Rose Garden in excellent condition, and have received much

favourable comment from passing visitors.

The first Community Planting day was on May 29th which added colourful understorey shrubs to the Mangroves to

Mountains transect. Unfortunately on September 18th our Threatened Species Community Planting was washed out

but the plants were installed the following week in the Montane zone, adding various plants including some

threatened species to this area. Some of these were propagated and grown by Friends Nursery.

Volunteer have amassed 1,027 hours from 1st November 2015 to 31st October 2016 which includes Friends and

community on Community Planting Days. Thanks go to all our gardening team contributors whether they are short or

long term, it has been a pleasure working with such a friendly welcoming group. No doubt the vital coffee and cakes

afterwards on the Friends Centre verandah have been an important part of that!

Shirley, Catharine, Lee, Demi, Alex, Dick, Graham after planting the donated Bird‟s Nest fern on November

2nd 2016. Photo: Alex‟s niece Margot

Dick standing beside the endangered swamp orchid Phaius australis

Sept 28 2016 Photo: Alex Jakimoff

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NURSERY - Alan Donaldson

In my notes for last year‟s Annual Report, I expressed my hope that by now our volunteers would be operating from within the proposed nursery extension. Whilst we are currently using some of that space with a limited number of benches, it is very disappointing for me to report that the extension site layout, ground levels, and the proposed new stock garden construction has not yet been resolved. Hopefully, our wish for a safe and functional nursery with suitable public access will

be fulfilled.

For a number of reasons earlier this year, I decided to resign as the nursery co-ordinator and sometime later curtailed most

of my activities at the nursery. I look forward to again being involved in some way at the nursery sometime in the new year.

Below are some of the highlights that I would like to report on for my period as co-ordinator in 2015 -2016.

Kids in Conservation: Grow that Plant Workshops Amongst the goals of the Friends nursery, and, in accordance with several of Friends Objects, nursery volunteers regularly conduct plant propagation workshops for children in conjunction with the overall Friends “Kids in Conservation” program. The workshops, entitled “Grow that Plant” help Friends provide educational services to children with the aim of giving hands-on experience of plant propagation skills. It also aims to stimulate children‟s interest in growing the plants of our region. As part of these Objects, several workshops were conducted by nursery volunteers during the year. The first, on January 20th, was conducted by Leah and Poul at the nursery. Eleven children aged between five and eleven accompanied by two mothers, met with Leah and Poul at the Friends Centre and walked to the nursery for the workshop. The second workshop was conducted at the Nursery by Kate and myself with 9 children and 2 mothers in attendance. The July 1st. workshop was conducted on the lawn at the Friends Centre by Kerrii and myself with continuing good attendance by children and parents. September 23rd. saw Kate and me conducting a workshop at the new Rotary Educational Pavilion. It‟s a great education venue, particularly with the Interpretation Signage. At every workshop the children eagerly participated, and all went home happy with their output of cuttings and seeds they had sown. A big thanks to Rana for all the organisation behind the scene and to Kate for promoting on ABC and the general media and for developing the posters and flyers. Thanks also to

Noreen and to Liz for arranging printing of the posters and flyers.

Banksia aemula propagation and planting.

As part of Friends Objectives, the first batch of rare provenance Banksia aemula seedlings grown by the nursery for Council for the Bora Ring at Mermaid beach were planted on January 13th. Kate and Alan were invited to the well attended planting with representatives from Council, community and Indigenous people, including representatives from the Yugambeh Museum. The morning went well and a watering roster was developed to ensure the plants survived in the sandy soil. A recent inspection of the site shows excellent growth in all but one plant despite the unpredictable weather we have experienced this year. The balance of the seedlings are being grown-on until further advise from Council. Hopefully a spot can also be found at the Botanic Gardens for some of these plants. Further seeds were provided from other surviving plants closer to

Burleigh Heads, however we have had no luck with their germination.

Open Days at the Botanic Gardens

The nursery volunteers participated in the two Open Days at the Botanic Gardens this year.

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For the BGANZ National Open Day on May 29th. Most of the nursery volunteers conducted the plant sale at the nursery, as well as conducting two well attended propagation workshops for all age groups. Despite prior concerns about public access to the nursery, it was well attended and sales figures of around $700 were very encouraging. Additionally Australian Plants sub group joined the Friends Nursery group and recorded sales of around $150.There

was a lot of work involved detailing and setting out plants prior to the day, and, with the work on the day, our volunteers can hold their heads high.

On D.I.G. Open Day, August 13th. a smaller number of our volunteers conducted further sales and two propagation workshops at the main tented display area. Sales figures of around $900 were again very encouraging despite our somewhat limited stock due to the sales on BGANZ Open Day. This highlights

the need for the proposed nursery expansion to give more space to grow additional plants.

Arbor Day Ghost Gums

Nursery volunteers were pleased to have been part of this year‟s Arbor Day “Ghost Gum” planting in the Gum Tree Corridor Zone of the Mangroves to Mountains. The young plants were donated by Horticulturalist Trevor Seppings from the Australian Garden at Cranbourne whom Kate and I met while Kate was working in Victoria last year. The three of us shared a common interest in Gums, and Trevor arranged delivery from Victoria and later came up personally to make a presentation which was well received by quite a number of attending Friends and staff. The gums were cared for and potted on by

the nursery until the Arbor Day planting. Nursery volunteers also attended on the day and assisted students with the plantings - Image: P6

This planting is a part of a national research project undertaken by Trevor and may involve future additional plantings.

Native Plants Stock List During the year a comprehensive spread sheet listing all native plant species stocked or propagated by our nursery volunteers was prepared by the nursery Co-Ordinator. This spread sheet is envisaged as a living document that can be further expanded to include additional items such as seed collection data and stock quantities. The spread sheet currently records 118 species, classified in botanic and common name, plant type, and seed or

cutting source.

Propagation of Rare and Endangered plants. Friends Nursery propagates a number of “Rare, Endangered, Vulnerable” and uncommon regional plant species. Thanks to the generous donations from Friends members Brian and Tracy Ashton, species such as the endangered Davidsonia johnsonii, near threatened Cupaniopsis newmanii, and the vulnerable Lepiderema pulchella have been donated and sold for Friends. In addition the nursery has propagated other endangered species such as the

vulnerable, Sophora fraseri, near threatened, Endiandra globosa and the Richmond Birdwing vine, Pararistolochia praevenosa.

Blue Skies Nursery, through Australian Plants member Matt Brain, have also been very generous with donations of several small uncommon plants such as

Spiranthes sinensis and the Fringed Lily Thysanotus tuberosus amongst others.

The nursery has been unsuccessful with germination of Botanic Gardens sourced seeds of the endangered Ochrosia moorei, however we will continue to

attempt propagation of these and other plants under these classifications as part of our objectives.

With only a few exceptions, there is very limited sales potential with plants under these classifications. Future propagation efforts need to be based on

specific sales or planting programs.

Seed Bank

During the year it was hoped that a seed collection program in conjunction with the Friends Herbarium Group and the Botanic Gardens staff would be established whereby seed required for propagation for the nursery, and a Botanic Gardens seed bank could be undertaken. In addition, specific plants could be propagated for the Botanic Gardens in an organised way rather than the ad-hoc projects we currently undertake. Unfortunately this program has

not eventuated but it is hoped that it will be implemented in the coming year.

In the meantime collection for the nursery continues on a needs basis and via donations from various interested people and nursery volunteers. Seeds

P 16

continue to be stored at the nursery, albeit, not in the best manner for long term viability. Thanks to Jenny for her efforts with reorganising the filing of

the seed collection at the nursery.

Herbs, Cottage plants and Orchids

Herbs, cottage plants and a small range of Orchids continue to be good sellers. Thanks goes to the volunteers Leah, Katherine, Kerry and Jenny who

specialise with the propagation of these plants, often at their own homes.

Plant Labelling

Our attempts at getting plant labelling to a higher standard were unfortunately thwarted by a plague of small brown ants. After the supply of a new printer and only a few weeks of operationd ants destroyed the printer‟s internal workings. At this stage the nursery is in limbo as to a replacement printer, or for the success of repairs. This will no doubt be addressed in the coming year. A special thanks to Kerrii for all her efforts with the printer

selection and for all her printing work at home.

Concluding remarks

In conclusion, I would like to thank all the new and long term volunteers for their work over the past year, with a special mention to our stalwart propagator Poul for his untiring efforts. The nursery welcomed some new and highly valued volunteers, I hope they will continue their work with the

nursery. Thanks to Katherine for taking over the role of Nursery communications following my departure.

I believe the nursery has continued to demonstrate its value to Friends via plant sales and how it meets Friends objectives. The nurseries potential is

even greater.

Nursery Cooperative - text by Katherine Page & Nursery Volunteers Our Nursery has been extremely busy since Al resigned as coordinator in May and subsequently, stepped away from the Nursery. The Nursery volunteers immediately raised their hands to take on various roles and contribute to the numerous „behind the scene‟ activities. This included record keeping and further development of recording sheets, familiarisation with plant listings, seed cataloguing and colour-coding the diverse plant groups we are

propagating, for ease of recognition by all e.g. threatened/endangered species, bush foods, natives (gen), herbs and cottage plants.

At present we have some 5 trays of seeds going, 9 of cuttings, 102 trays of tube stock and approximately 42 trays of potted on stock. We also hold 110

orchid plants made up of 70 in the permanent collection and approx. 40 common varieties for future sale. We also care for a large bench area of council

plants. To accomplish the increased tasks, Nursery sessions have been extended from 7-11am, clocking up some 982 hours for Friday mornings over the

past year. This does not include the many more hours our dedicated Nursery Volunteers‟ contribute outside our „Nursery mornings‟.

We are also pleased to convey that this year, the Nursery has contributed over $5,800.00 to Friends from plant sales via the Friends Centre and various

events. As our stock variety and availability grows, the Nursery volunteers envision not only a further increase in financial contributions to Friends, but

increasing community outreach connections, which will further boost awareness of the increasing Nurseries activities. However, these objectives are still

being stifled by the delay with finalizing the Nursery extension that was initiated and pursued by Alan Donaldson at the beginning of 2015, to become a

serious WHS issue from March 2016.

With sincere appreciation to all the Nursery Volunteers of 2016 for your time, effort, knowledge and ideas:

Aileen Smith, Alan Donaldson, Allison Martin, Ann Mallon, Beverley Geraghty, Carlos Batista, Graham Hope, Jenny Rosewell,

Jenny Capper, Katherine Page, Kerrii Cronin, Leah Purcell, Maxine Smith, Poul Sletten, Sue Tierney, Teleri Ewe.

P 17

The new Butterfly Garden signage with graphics by

local artist Megan Skehan

orchids

Jeremy Coleby-Williams addresses the crowd - Open Day

In and around the Nursery

Images from around the gardens & events Shelly & others - Open Day

P 18

Herbarium - Poul Sletten

Audit of collection: The review of Herbarium objectives (compiled at the end of 2015) was revisited, confirming

the need for our records and specimens to be crosschecked. The Saturday group agreed to audit the entire

collection before it became unmanageable. To date we have checked all species in Families up to the letter N.

Completion is expected early next year.

Herbarium shelving upgrade: Thanks to Friends member Dick Baber the narrow herbarium shelving was

replaced. The new shelving is as wide as the storage boxes and so reduces the risk of accident when accessed.

IT upgrade: The Herbarium took part in many discussions about the IT equipment needed. We are now working

towards having a Wi-Fi hub and linked computers between the Friends Centre, Herbarium and the Nursery.

Collection focus for meetings: We agreed to limit meeting times by concentrating on identification, collection

and sign placement in three areas: Australian Defence Forces, Bushfoods and Story of our Country. With the

assistance of Graham McDonald many trees were identified and tagged ready for new labels. During the year we

inserted 85 Blue Labels that were already in hand, and worked with Curator Liz Caddick to prepare data for

additional labels. The group went on researching/testing possible stakes, ordering labels and gluing. We now have

80 new signs and will continue to place these at every opportunity.

Collection on Council land: Curator Liz also encouraged us to work with Council members to identify and GPS

plants on various pieces of Council land. This will slowly help us forge links into their mapping system, information bases and personnel of interest to the

functions of the Gardens. Consequently, excursions were made to Collingwood Court and Sungold Avenue Reserve. These visits provided us with

opportunity to ID weeds and other plants and record them. All info was passed on to the Council via our grateful contact Lara Solyma (Snr. Environmental

Planner).

Participation in public days: Herbarium members contributed to several important public days: Arbor Day, Open Day, Wattle Day and the now regular

event D.I.G. (Discovery In the Gardens). We also collected ferns for the Irish Artist commissioned by the Council for a public artwork in the city before the

Commonwealth Games. We now plan to add Garden ferns to our collection.

Drying cabinet upgrade: At the end of May, the essential drying cabinet ceased to function. Pressing of plant material was suspended for a time. The

unit was replaced thanks to our insurance and operations recommenced.

Assistance to Myall Park Botanic Garden: We completed the remounting of the ageing Herbarium to prolong the life of the collection.

Master Plan: We are waiting for the end result of the Master Plan to which we all contributed last year.

Thanks: All „herbies‟ have made valuable contributions. We are dedicated to the work and enjoy the learning and general progress of our herbarium.

Di wheeling „tools‟ for the „planting‟ of ID labels. L to R Clyde, Russell, Poul, Beverley

& Peter. Photo: L Ryan Nov 8 2016

P 19

Flowers by Friends - Claudia Knapman

The floral design group has become an established part of the Friends since our trial year in 2015. We have

developed our skills further and have increased our profile in the wider community. The response to our work

confirms that the goals of showcasing Australian native flora, educating the community about native plants,

promoting the BG and the Friends, and raising funds for the Friends are being met.

Whilst it is not possible to use only regional flora, demonstrating the diversity and beauty of Australian flowers

and foliage stimulates interest in native plants in general, as well as in local species. Greater use of SEQ flora is

anticipated with establishment of the Cutting Garden, once weed control of the site has been established.

Arrangements have been sold at the Friends‟ Centre and by order, but the group has been unable to commit to a

regular sale day despite interest from Friends and members of the public. 2016 has been difficult with respect to

members‟ ill health, travel and other issues. Occasional shortages of personnel have demonstrated the need for

expansion, so sufficient trained people are available at any one time to meet event commitments and to provide

a more reliable product at the Friends‟ Centre. Accordingly, we look forward to beginning workshops with a new

group of participants in November, and hope to have the capacity in 2017 to provide flowers for sale at the

Friends‟ Centre on a regular basis in the cooler months.

During this second year of operation, the group has invested more energy towards events. These have provided

excellent opportunities for promotion to, and education of, the wider community. Displays and arrangements for

sale were produced for Mothers‟ Day, BG Open Day and Discovery in the Gardens (DiG). In addition to orders for

a few smaller events for other organisations, we prepared over several months for two large events that

depended on our products meeting a very high standard. Flowers by Friends provided Australian flora for the

stage and registration tables, as well as posies for the guest speakers at the SEQ Catchments Association‟s

Landcare Forum at Robina Community Centre and received a very positive response. The group undertook

detailed floral work within a limited colour range for a formal wedding, also, and has had further wedding

enquiries.

Thank you to the team for the outstanding work they have produced and, in particular, to Gene Rosser for the

very generous use of her garage as a storage facility and the provision of a pleasant workspace, as well as

commitment to the project.

P 20

GARDEN GUIDES - Shelly Kelly

At the end of 2015 Kate Heffernan ran an information session at the Friends Centre for members who had expressed an interest in becoming a volunteer guide at

the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.

Training began on 5th February 2016 and was attended by 7 members of Friends. The course comprised 10 two hourly workshops and continued until July. In that

time Kate gave the participants of the course a thorough explanation of the history, establishment and role of the GCRBG, also the role of Friends, Council

Officers and the various Friends groups. Along with the appropriate notes, the trainee guides learned about the intent of the Plant Collection and the

composition of the precincts within the Gardens along with detailed guided walks. Introductory botany and taxonomy was also part of the course. Unfortunately,

due to family commitments, job offer and a relocation interstate, only 3 were able to complete the course.

A number of meetings have been held throughout the year for our senior guides to update and share their ideas and knowledge o f their specialised walks. Both

the Bush Foods and The Story of our Country gardens have been very popular with many enquiries.

The aim of the guiding programme is to train our guides to enhance the visitor experience and support some of the objects of FGCRB by increasing awareness of

the values of the regional plant communities and ecosystems. This is done through interpretation of the living collection and by presenting well informed and

interesting guided walks.

Throughout the year, the guides have been available for specialised guided walks at events such as the BGANZ Open Day in May and Discovery in the Gardens in

August. Guides were also available for the opening of the Rotary Education Pavilion and the GCCC Volunteer Environmental Awards which were held at the

Gardens. During this time almost 250 people have been introduced to the Gardens with guided walks by our trained guides.

This year we participated in Seniors Week by offering Free Guided Walks, however the result was similar to our previous years ‟ experience with Gecko‟s Green

Week and not a great response. It was a good opportunity to be involved and benefit from the publicity which helps promote the gardens and increase awareness

of the presence of a botanic gardens on the Gold Coast.

There has been an increase in numbers for the Free Guided Walk offered on the first Sunday and the third Wednesday each month . We would like to see an

increase in the number of groups booking for guided walks. Two groups of around 20 enjoyed lunch on the verandah with Coffee at the Gardens after their walk.

A market for the groups requiring a guided tour of the Gardens would be the retirement homes and our wish is to one day have a motorised transporter to assist in

the comfortable movement around the gardens of these groups. The people mover at the 20 hectare Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens is operated by members of

the Friends. It has allowed the guides to be involved in showing the Gardens to those who may have difficulty walking. Members of the guiding group are looking

forward to an excursion to the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre on Thursday 17th November.

{This visit was enjoyed by a group of 12 who had a marvellous lunch of a bush tucker inspired menu with the food prepared as we waited}

Once again a big thank you to the wonderful volunteer guides of the GCRBG and all who have helped with Garden Guiding over the last 12 months and with

special thanks to our mentor Kate Heffernan.

P 21

Friends Centre Coordinator Report - Mary Woods

The role of our Friends Centre volunteers is primarily to help visitors get the most out of their visit to the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. Everyone

is welcomed, provided with information and guidance and encouraged to enjoy their visit. During this financial year, we attended to a total of 4298 people

- 3324 locals, 728 from interstate and 246 from overseas.

While The Friends undertake a range of activities that support the environmental, scientific and educational purposes of our Botanic Gardens, our Friends

Centre volunteers help fulfil one of the Objects of The Friends in particular, paragraph 3(10): “to maintain and staff an information service for the Gold

Coast Regional Botanic Gardens”.

We work closely with the Friends Management Committee and other Friends activity groups, as well as with the Curator and City of Gold Coast to foster

awareness and community ownership of the Gardens to ensure our Botanic Gardens is: … a place where everyone can escape, learn and be inspired.

This year we have maintained a panel of around 30 volunteers who are regularly on duty at the Friends Centre from 10.00am to 2.00pm each day. We have

welcomed six new volunteers this year and I would like to acknowledge the time and effort our more experienced people are happy to pass on to the new

people.

A new series of workshops for the Friends Centre volunteers has been planned for the coming year to upgrade the skills of the more experienced

volunteers and to provide more formal training and support for newcomers. (The first workshop was held in October.) Each session will cover some of the

specific information as well as background explanations which ensure our volunteers are well informed and confident to provide information and assistance

to Gardens visitors.

Many Friends Centre volunteers give additional time to administrative and clerical support and other routine tasks all of which contributes to the smooth

running of the Friends Centre and Friends‟ public contact role. Mention must be made in particular of Shelly Kelly who for most of this year has capably

handled phone calls to The Friends phone number. Some also assist in other Friends groups as well as volunteering for Friends special events such as the

Open Day in May and Discovery in the Gardens in August this year. In total for the year, they have contributed 3275 volunteer hours.

Acknowledgement must go to Sue Tierney, our past Friends Centre Coordinator who stepped down during the year for family reasons. Sue has energetically

developed the Friends Centre functions over the past few years and encouraged new volunteers to join our ranks. At its July 2016 meeting the

Management Committee was also magnanimous in its praise for Sue Tierney, who did a sterling job in the role.

The Management Committee has been able to refurbish the Friends Centre building with the benefit of grant funds from the Australian Government

Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development‟s Stronger Communities Program. New tables and chairs and shelving for our merchandise has

arrived, and this summer will be more comfortable with the newly installed air conditioning. There is more to come including ceiling fans inside and on the

verandah, all of which will improve the facility for all the Friends functions our multipurpose centre supports. New IT equipment will also come from this

grant in the new year.

The Friends moved into our small Friends Centre building at the end of 2009. It was wonderful to have a roof over our heads for planning and delivery of

Friends activities and we continue to make the most of the facility. Seven years on, it is more than obvious that as the Gardens grow, so does their

popularity and while The Friends have continued to develop activities that support the Gardens, our little Friends Centre is bursting at the seams. It is

hoped that our Gardens acquire a visitor centre building worthy of the Gold Coast in the not too distant future.

P 22

Communications - Noreen Swan

2016 has been a development year working alongside the different groups in an assistance role, promoting links with media

and other organisations whilst producing 4 Newsletters and the 2017 Calendar which was themed for the first time. The

Calendar theme of Threatened and Endangered Species (Plants) seems to have been well received with sales proceeding

encouragingly. We thank Lyn Reilly for her editorial assistance with the Newsletters and Calendar and for the photographs

that were sourced from Glenn Leiper and Graham McDonald. Without being able to acquire photographs of the selected

species for the Calendar (hard to get due to their being threatened and endangered) the theme may well have needed to

be changed. (Images on the right show 2016 front covers of Growing Matters the FGCRBG Newsletter)

The growth of Friends, as noted elsewhere, reflects the importance of effective communications with a healthy, active

participatory membership body. Communication is essential at all levels of governance and should impact positively on the

local community and beyond.

Much of the graphic work previously a part of the Communication package has been done by Kate Heffernan through grants

and Council and this has taken Kate away from being a complete role as member and leader of the Communication group.

She has remained a valued mentor and provider of knowledge, inspiration and photographic images as time permits.

We value Kate‟s participation in media where she showcases the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens at every

opportunity. If you do not listen to local FM radio 91.7 regularly do tune in on Saturday mornings to hear Gardening

Talkback with Kate and producer Amy McDonald with producers Jo Kennett and Josie Sargeant. Once a month Kate is a

guest on 4CRB‟s Monday show where she answers people‟s questions and mentions the GCRBG. Kate does all of this work

without remuneration just using her high profile to promote the gardens. Kate also arranged interviews for Friends in the

build up to DiG and also writes two articles a month for the Sun and one a month for the Over Fifties publication. Prior to

DiG Kate did a double page promotional spread in Over Fifties and an article in the Sun.

Kate has also worked hard promoting the Gardens throughout the Mayors Garden Compettion and promotes the GCRBG

regularly as BGANZ National Representative.

Media presentations and Outreach programs remain an area that needs developing. Apart from the work done by Kate and

GCCC through Liz Caddick, the Curator, Friends is somewhat behind the eight-ball. We endeavour to make placements and

are always striving to add more but often miss deadlines. This is very much on the agenda for the coming year with,

hopefully, a calendar of activities that will have you marking your diaries (calendars) and such. Sally-Anne Simankowicz has

contributed a great deal to those placings and was instrumental in producing the Volunteer handout. Sally-Anne and I have

also done some outside engagements.

Lots of posters, flyers, media releases and invitations have promoted events, activities and coffee@thegardens that are an

Scribbly Gum Vol 18

Issue 2

Allocasuarina emuina Mt

Emu She Oak Vol 18 Issue 1

Callicarpa pedunculata

Vol 18 Issue 3

P 23

‘Banksia Menziesii’

from an original watercolour

Minjung Oh

©2015

email: [email protected]

printed in Australia

Botanic Art and Craft Nancy McWatters

This group meets on the last Friday of each month in the Friends Centre. Although our numbers have dwindled this year largely due to members relocating health and family commitments we have endeavoured to support Friends through our efforts. We are particularly grateful to Minjung Oh, a former member who moved to Brisbane this year; Min is an artist who specialises in Botanic Art using water-colours and sketches. She has most generously donated many supplies of her work in the form of paintings, cards, book-marks, mugs and carry-bags to the Friends throughout the year sending packages down from her Brisbane base to continue her support of the Gold Coast Botanical Gardens. Her beautiful work is on display and for sale in The Centre. Also a sincere thank you to Rena Cecco who has created beautiful craft items and supported our group so enthusiastically throughout the year. With the help of many Friends we successfully hosted another Mothers' Day Stall at St. Kevin's Catholic Primary School and are grateful to them for welcoming us into their community. Col continues to do his mosaic pots - even though he has sight difficulties. Ever popular. We welcome new members to join us and share your creative endeavours with the rest of the group.

important part of building an identity and informing and educating visitors. They are part of the day to day work of communications and will continue

to contribute to Gardens and Friends identity. Friends are certainly pulling their weight in promotion of the Gardens with more that can be done.

I would like to call on all readers who may have an interest in being a member of the Communication team to contact me by email:

[email protected] to discuss the work that we do and would like to develop.

Some of the primary areas of need are:

photography media contacts and placements graphic work editorial assistance

Thank you all for the friendship and assistance given during this year. It is a pleasure to work with such committed people and be confident that we

can say „job well done‟. Noreen

P 24

Annual Report from Australian Plants Gold Coast SIG for Friends of GC Regional Botanic Gardens

AGM Nov 19, 2016

Further to the AGM Nov 2015, we had our Xmas Party at the GC & Hinterland Historical Society. This was well-attended and enjoyed by all, the APGC donated $1000 to help the Historical Society maintain the gardens which were established with the help of the members of APGC. At the Xmas party,

Bonni volunteered as Leader and Beth as Assistant Leader when Bonni was away for 2017. This was accepted as an addendum to the AGM.

Activities for 2016

Excursions

Mar 19: Garden Visit to Annie Petersen‟s Wonglepong rainforest garden- magnificent plantings on rich basaltic soil. Attendance 25.

May 21: Wal & Heather Mayr‟s bush restoration work on their Austinville property amazed our members; well attended ~25 members!

April 15-17: Goomburra Weekend Excursion led by Graham and Beth was enjoyed by 10 members

July 30: Cameron Falls Excursion attended by 5 members and 2 visitors.

Aug 26-28: Lennox Heads weekend in the wallum over 2-4 days was enjoyed by 7 members.

Sept 16,17 members visited Native Plants Qld Wildflower show at Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens.

Speakers

Feb 20: Graham and Beth McDonald presented their slides of WA native plants including the endangered plants of the Stirling Range.

July 16: Pea Flowers by Bonni and Beth

October 22: Lawrie presented “Designing with Natives”.

Propagation

We‟ve had less attendance this year since switching to a Saturday and we might try going back to 4th Sundays.

The faithful few have produced hundreds of plants and sold them at 3 events this year + our Xmas party

Displays & sales

Inaugural Open Day for BGANZ in May sold $137 worth of plants.

Mudgeeraba Show was July 25, 26 and we sold $215 worth of plants and books- many thanks to the helpers for those 2 days!!!

Landcare Forum in Oct sold $104 books + plants.

In 2016, we were given the membership list and able to email notices of our activities to our members, instead of asking Friends office to do this. More

frequent reminders of our activities has helped a bit and some new members are participating. The members who are active in supporting/attending

APGC events is ~ 25 out of 80 total=31%.

P 25

Agenda for AGM and General Meetings

Minutes of the last AGM accepted/changes.

Declare all offices vacant and call for nominations/second/vote

Nomination of Leader: Peter Reilly has put his name forward, any other nominees accepted from the floor.

Secretary: Lyn Reilly has put his name forward, any other nominees accepted from the floor.

Treasurer: Allen Crompton has put his name forward, any other nominees accepted from the floor.

Representative on GC RBG: Richard Phillipps?

General Meeting Items on Agenda

Presentation on Native Plants Queensland benefits and comparison with APGC (BY)

Presentation on APGC as SIG of Friends (Lyn)

Proposals for 2017:

Changes to Propagation

Suggestions for Speakers/Excursions/activities/displays, etc.

Sale of books (remaining stock)

Donation to GCHHS for their garden upkeep

Donation to Friends for their signage?

LIBRARY/ARCHIVES - Helena Kelso

The Library Accession Register shows that over seventy titles have been added to the collection in 2016.

Most were donations and of these just a few were new.

I extend grateful thanks to Gene Rosser for covering the newly acquired books and to Beverley Windsor for her enthusiasm in both shelving them and keeping the collection in Dewey order. Shelf space is severely limited and because there is no room for new shelving we will be looking to “weed” the

collection in 2017 so that our ongoing acquisitions can be housed.

The Friends archives are only as comprehensive as the documents and photos held, so if you feel you might have anything to contribute, including

digital photos of Friends events, please consider enriching the Friends archives with them.

P 26

Friends Workload

Contribution to the

Gardens

Over the past year, Friends has

continued to make a most

significant contribution to our

partnership with the City of the

Gold Coast in managing,

developing, supporting, promoting

and enhancing the Gold Coast

Regional Botanic Gardens.

Apart from the expenditure listed

elsewhere, our volunteers have

contributed just over 12 full-time

equivalent staff (that is, the

equivalent of 12.67 full-time

employees working City of Gold

Coast working hours per week or

23,890 hours of work) to the

Gardens.

Expressed as a dollar value this

represents saved expenditure of just over $500,000.00 for the

year. This figure is derived using the first point of Level 4 from an 8

level scale of salaries contained in the Queensland Local Government

Officers' Award 1992 multiplied by 12.67 full-time employees, as

mentioned above.

The break-down of the workload, per Friends workload area, is shown

in the table on this page.

Work area Hour

s

Visitor Information 3275

Gardening (including

community planting)

1027

Nursery 1892

Herbarium 1951

Garden Guides 400

Art & Craft 270

Flowers by Friends 501

Communications 2000

Bird Interest Group and

Climate Watch 320

Community events 1154

Friends Committee input 6100

Friends administration 4800

Planning 200

TOTAL 23890

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Friends Centre Visitors 2010 to 2016

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Friends Centre Visitors Monthly 2014 vs 2015

Series1

Series2

P 27

Friends Membership Statistics

1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016

2014 2015 2016

Number of applications received

since the formation of Friends 619 654 724

Number of current memberships

(incl. m'ships in grace) 254 256 261

New memberships this year 61 45 64

Individual memberships

- Individual / Pensioner / Junior 189 179 195

Multiple Memberships - Association / Corporation /

Family / Pensioner couples 92 77 66

Non-financial as of 31 Oct 2016. 1 year of grace whilst we pursue

56 100 91

Financial as of 31 Oct 2016.

Paid to 30 Sep 2017 and beyond. 198 156 170

Life Memberships (incl. Honorary) 48 50 54

Honorary Life Memberships 3 3 5

Australian Plants GC Memberships 76 79 88

Octogenarians Justin

Schaffer and Friends patron

Gene Rosser

P 28

OFFICE NAME

President Alex Jakimoff

Vice President Neil Morley

Treasurer Harry Ellis

Secretary David Fitzgerald

Communication Coordinator Noreen Swan

Education Coordinator Rana Baguley

Australian Plants Dr Richard Phillipps

Committee Hans Veenendaal

Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc

2016 Committee

Liz Caddick, Paul Taylor Poul Slatten and

Pauline Young at presentation Group photo at GC Environment Awards

Environment award Poul Sletten is the recipient of this year‟s Environment award from the

Gold Coast City Council Images: Saraya Robinson

Flowers by Friends Landcare table

decoration.

In the Red Zone at Griffith

University - Gold Coast

Nursery was opened for visitors on

Open Day 2016