It was a very happy birthday for the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens thanks to a sizeable donation from the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Friends Association (MRBG Friends).
MRBG Friends President Maya Harrison presented the Gardens with a cheque for $10,000 to contribute to the purchase of database software.
Gardens Curator Lisa Kermode thanked MRBG Friends for their donation, saying IrisBG Software has been specifically designed for botanic gardens and is used all over the world.
“It’ll be a really great tool for us to manage and record all the plants in our living collection,” she said.
“It’ll record information like the species, where they’re located, the history and origin of that particular plant.
“We’ll also be able to display that information on some maps and that will be available to the public and also to botanic gardens across the world to find out about our collection.”
Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said the significant contribution brings the Gardens into the 21st century.
“Without interest by ‘friends’ groups in our community, we wouldn’t be a community,” he said.
“This database will certainly revolutionise the way we do business as the botanic gardens.”
The Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens were opened on May 24, 2003 and celebrated their 19th birthday last week.
MRBG Friends President Maya Harrison says the association raises funds year-round through the garden shop, community events and fundraising to assist the Gardens and save for such donations.
“The friends of the gardens have been involved in the gardens since before they even opened,” she said.
“The garden friends have basically planted most of what you see here in the gardens as tubestock.
“The Botanic Gardens is really showcasing our regional plants.”
These days, MRGB Friends are involved in planting, weeding and feeding throughout the Gardens as well as leading guided tours and social events.
Last Saturday, MRGB Friends made their next significant contribution to the Gardens, planting 1000 Golden Everlasting Daisies (xerochrysum bracteatum) on the lagoon’s edge.
MRGB Friends have had to reschedule the annual planting twice this year but there was not a cloud in the sky this time around.
“It’s quite spectacular when they’re all flowering and hopefully they don’t get buffeted by wind and rain and stay upright,” said Ms Harrison.
Botanical Art Interest Group
Another branch of the MRGB Friends is the Botanical Gardens Interest Group which is currently running its latest exhibition ‘Where A Plant Begins’.
Similar to the old conundrum of ‘the chicken or the egg,’ the exhibition ponders whether seed or flower came first.
Botanical artists have focused on a particular aspect of the plant’s lifecycle – flowers, pollination, seeds, germination or seedlings using photosynthesis – or they have portrayed the entire lifecycle of a plant complete with flowers, seeds and features of their chosen plants.
Combining detail, accuracy and artistry, the botanical artists have committed many hours to each graphite drawing, pastel drawing, watercolour or acrylic painting.
Each piece showcases how the artists take live specimens and create a living piece of botanical art via their sketch books, photos and art materials.
‘Where a Plant Begins’ is available for viewing at the Lagoons Gallery within the Botanic Gardens Café and is open 9:00am to 2:00pm Wednesday to Friday and 11:00am to 1:00pm on weekends until Sunday, June 26.
For more information on the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens Friends Association, the exhibition or any other initiatives, contact Maya Harrison on 0436 331 009 or email mackayrbgfriends@gmail.com.
Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, MRGB Curator Lisa Kermode, Mackay Regional Council Regional Services Coordinator Ross Willis, MRGB Friends President Maya Harrison, and MRGB Friends Penny McMahon, Kevin Jackson, Julie Inkson, Meryl Ritchie and Carolyn Atkinson. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
MRBG Friends planted 1000 Golden Everlasting Daisies on the banks of the lagoon last Saturday
Where a Plant Begins’ is available for viewing at the Lagoons Gallery within the Botanic Gardens Café
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