Friends celebrate 30 years of Botanic Garden action

Sheargold (Founding President), Rosanna Natoli (Mayor, SCC), Malcolm Cox (current President of the Friends) cutting the celebratory Hummingbird cake with the 30th anniversary gathering of Friends and guests at Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens. 
Image: Greg Miller

The Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens (MRBBG) recently celebrated 30 years since their formation, sharing a sumptuous afternoon tea with Mayor Rosanna Natoli and early Members and supporters. The event coincided with Botanic Gardens Week, with a theme of ‘Where Your Health Grows’, as well as National Volunteer Week.

Back in 1996, the founding group of Friends urged the then Maroochy Council to purchase the initial 82 hectares of land at Palm Creek Road at Tanawha. Legend has it that the Hummingbird Cake baked by Maureen Sheargold (Founding President) was shared with members of the Council at the proposed site back in 1996, and that helped to clinch the deal. It was fitting that Maureen baked another Hummingbird cake to share with guests 30 years later at this celebration!

Mayor Natoli reflected on the 30-year journey of the Gardens from first being “imagined and then reimagined”. She recalled her own experiences from family picnics to reporting as a journalist on events such as the creation of sculptures and Christmas light shows

“Perhaps the most special times are the times when you come here alone, and you just get to sit, or wander and really experience the majesty of these Gardens,” she told the gathering that included many supporters who helped establish the site, as well as past and present Members of the Friends group.

As the landscape architect responsible for the 1998 Master Plan for the site Lawrie Smith AM also reflected on the role of the Friends in the development of the Gardens, noting the Friends have been there “every step of the way.” Lawrie also provided a vision for the future development opportunities for the MRBBG for the next 30 years and encouraged the Sunshine Coast community to embrace these opportunities. He stressed the value of the Gardens to the community understanding of local biodiversity, its scientific and landscape value: “Ideally this will demonstrate and encourage the use of regional species in the rural and urban residential gardens,” he said. His thoughts were echoed by Mr Ralph Bailey, who was the architect of the Arts and Ecology Centre at the MRBBG.

Maureen Sheargold OAM, the Founding President of the Friends, was described by the Master of Ceremonies as “indefatigable” in her vision and contribution to the Gardens over 30 years. In her speech Maureen modestly asked to “Let the gardens speak for themselves”.

Bailey and Lawrie Smith AM have extensive experience in landscape architecture and are keen supporters of the Gardens.  
Image: Greg Miller