Volunteer Voice - Issue 3 - June 2014

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Issue 3 - June 2014

Volunteers Voice This newsletter will be published quarterly, showcasing articles and photographs on volunteer activities throughout Council’s Parks & Leisure branch.

In this issue:

• ‘As we explore, we grow’ • Friends House - great asset to Gardens • New Friends Committee • Volunteer Profile • Jabiru News • Volunteer Recognition Morning Tea • Plant Information: Heliconia • Watch a movie under the stars • Community Spirit grows in Kewarra • What’s On

Making a difference in Cairns

‘As we explore we grow’

Little Taccas Children’s Nature Activities Program is underway and what amazing weather to start this new program! Fifteen children, their carers and our volunteers (pictured above in red shirts) Del van Mierlo, Natasha Stanley, Chris Brett and Peter Hunt, explored the gardens on a perfect sunny day.

Volunteers play an integral role in promoting the Botanic Gardens and were pleased to offer support to the new ‘Little Taccas’ program, named after the tropical plant Tacca integrifolia.

This program was created to encourage children to learn about and experience the natural world whilst also forming friendships, as well as giving them opportunity to develop and grow through the support of caring volunteers and supportive parents in a safe, yet active, natural environment. It was also developed with the aim to connect parents and their children within the community whilst teaching

them more about natureactivities such as garden discovery walks, nature based art & craft and story-telling and sing-alongs.

Each fortnight has a different theme including Flowers, Who Lives at the Lakes?, Treasure Hunt, Picnic in the Park, Caterpillars & Butterflies to name a few.

small flower arrangements.

The 15 May session involved a walk through the Lakes to see the birdlife and animals that use the lake for survival.

The children were especially excited with a Treasure Hunt activity on 29 May. They were asked to locate an item correlating with the six colours painted in their supplied egg cartons.

The first adventure on 1 May involved a walk through the All enquires can be directed Botanic Gardens to learn to Botanic Gardens Visitors about flowers and create Centre 4032 6650.

‘Little Tacca’ Lucas using 5-Corner Fruit and paint

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Volunteers Voice

Friends House - a great asset to Gardens wealth of information for visitors enquiring about flora and fauna. Members and visitors are welcome to peruse this extensive collection in the library.

VOLUNTEER COMMENTS Volunteer Anthony Quinsey shifted to Sydney late last year to begin a horticultural career

When Council opened the Visitors Centre two years ago, the Friends of Botanic Gardens were granted space in the old Flecker Gardens office.

“I had a great time volunteering for Cairns Botanic Gardens and thank you for your encouragement.

I’ve learned so much about what it’s like to work in a garden and it made me fitter to handle regular gardening work, especially in hot weather. As you know, I plan on making a career in gardening and doing a TAFE Cert. III in Horticulture and my experiences with the Down ‘n’ Dirty group have really put me good stead for that.

What I liked was that you would always point out plant names and how friendly people are.”

After some refurbishment, the reference library and shop opened for business. The reference library is ably managed

by Mrs Judith Pedersen (pictured above right) who has spent a number of years cataloguing this great collection. There is a

The shop is wholly maintained by volunteers with all profits going back to the Gardens.

The volunteers under the guidance of Mrs Del van Mierlo (pictured above left) are invaluable in the operation of the shop.

Quite a few visitors have enquired as to where the orchid house is and the volunteers are happy to advise them of the building of the new conservatory later this year.

of mid-priced goods which are easy to pack for travellers. The majority of the stock is locally sourced.

We welcome anyone who wishes to volunteer in the shop and assure you that you will meet a range of interesting people from all over the world. Please telephone 4032 6648 if you wish to assist.

Shop and library opening Our thanks to all gardeners hours are 9.30am-3.30pm who assist the volunteers.

Mondays to Fridays with - Norma Wright the shop stocking a range

Friends Committee elected in March

(from left, top): members: Peter Shanahan, Nelson Barnes; Patron: Dr David Rentz, Membership: Jackie Frost; Guest Speaker: Anne-Marie Van Rath; member: Sandy Long; Secretary: Sybil Cumming; FOBG Newsletter Editor: Rita Sheldrick; (Front:) Publicity & PR, Dr Gail Sidorkin; President: Val Schier; Vice President, Coralie Stuart and Treasurer Marian Altis.

Absent: Events & Functions Coordinator Paul Barron.

Volunteers Voice

Lorraine Smith

recently retired from the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns (FOBG) after 12 years volunteering in various roles. Volunteers Voice decided this was a great opportunity to gain some insight into Lorraine’s broad life experience and what led her to volunteer for FOBG. Lorraine has always had a love for gardens growing up on a farm in Wangaratta, Victoria where her mother had a beautiful garden. As a child she combined this with her passion for writing and would submit articles to the local newspapers. “I would write about anything rural as I loved to see my by-line,” she laughed.

At an early age Lorraine also loved to read which led to a keen interest in travel. “My favourite school subjects were history and geography. I always loved to read and wanted to visit the magical places I’d read about as a child such as India, Timbuktu, Cairo and the middle east, Syria, and especially Damascus, the world’s oldest continually settled city. To achieve this I realised I’d better earn some money so moved to Melbourne and became a stenographer” (a job that is more or less extinct).

Once she had saved enough money Lorraine travelled to the United States in 1959 and gained employment as a cleark with the Australian Consulate in New York.

“I then travelled onto England and worked temporarily for a couple of months as a program secretary at the BBC before I hired a car with some girlfriends and travelled around Europe. The BBC asked me to contact them upon my return, which I did and became a Program Assistant, typing scripts, timing programs and cueing cameras. I loved this job and met some interesting people,” she said smiling with the memories.

The travel bug hit again and Lorraine hitch-hiked to Turkey. “It was completely different in the 60s, safe.

People were so friendly and opened their doors..

Women were segregated and because I was a foreign woman I was considered above the local women and

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ate with the men which seemed strange, another custom to get used to” she explained.

“On my way to Turkey, through Europe - I worked for a couple of weeks picking grapes in Champagne, France. Every time I saw a grape vine after that my back ached from the memory,” she laughed. “There were no showers for the harvest workers, just a hose, and it was so cold!”

With such extensive travels Loraine has many experiences to share. Whilst working at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in the library of Turkey’s Parliament House Lorraine scored a job editing Turkey’s first 5-year plan of development.

“My main qualification was that I spoke fluent English, but in those days it was all about being in the right place at the right time. I enjoyed this job. It was fascinating times with an attempted coup by a political group with tanks rolling down the streets. But the pay wasn’t always on time, so after a year I realised it was time to leave.”

Lorraine has also worked for London’s The Economist Intelligence sourcing articles from a team of writers, and was a student at the Paris Cordon Bleu which gave her the experience necessary to work as a sub-editor in an English women’s magazine in the cookery section - “This is where my life as a journalist really started.”

“I moved to Hong Kong a few years later, and lived there on and off for 19 years. I loved it! It is such a vibrant, alive city and things happened fast.”

Lorraine worked at the Hong Kong Standard (women’s editor), Radio Television Hong Kong (TV programme producer), Trade Development Council (economics editor), Trade Media (trade magazine editor), Hong Kong Telecom (PR) and the Tourist Association (PR).

After 10 years in Hong Kong she went to Cyprus and Continued page 4

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Volunteers Voice

Jabiru News

Cattana Wetland Jabiru Volunteers have been acknowledged for their early

efforts by Cairns Regional Council. Cr. Jessie Richardson (floral shirt) recently visited some of the volunteers, pictured from left, Sandy Long, Jeff Pretty, Rick and Sharren Wong and Prue Fitzpatrick to get a feel of their work. Members not pictured at the time were Prince Jose and Rebecca Johnson. Word of their volunteer work has been spreading with six new members joining this year - welcome Jeff Pretty, Tessa Ducie, Marion Wright, Peter Sheehan, Shane Gray and Chris Cruise, and also welcome back Alex Edwards who was with the original group at Stratford Nursery. You are most welcome to join the Jabirus if working at Cattana Wetlands clearing weeds, mulching and planting appeals to you. See contact details back page.

Volunteer Profile - from page 3

worked for a year for Bahrain headquartered Al Hilal, editing two trade magazines. “The company closed its Nicosia office and I returned to Hong Kong.

“When my work permit expired and my lease and work contract finished it was time to leave and I returned to Sydney, Australia at the age of 60. It was hard to return after all those years abroad as I had no contacts which made it difficult to gain permanent work, I could only find part time jobs in journalism.”

Being retired gave Lorraine the time to volunteer.

Her roles were varied with FOBG - a ‘Gardeneer’ for several years, newsletter editor for seven years, publicity officer on the Friends Committee, cooked dinners for Wednesday’s guest speaker nights, and most recently organised the Friends’ House volunteer roster. Wh en asked what she would do with her spare time now she was retired from FOBG, Lorraine explained that as volunteer head usher at the Jute Theatre, a member of Anglicare’s volunteer group, as well as a book club, she has plenty to keep her busy.

Not liking the ‘wet and windy weather” in Sydney Lorraine retired and came to Cairns in 2002. She decided this was the place to be especially when she was able to join the Friends and be among the beautiful tropical botanic gardens.

“I enjoy volunteering as it keeps me active and I enjoy meeting people. The highlight of being an FOBG member has been the people I’ve met over the years as well as the education I’ve had in tropical horticulture.”

Volunteers Voice

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Volunteer Recognition Morning Tea A thank you morning tea to acknowledge volunteers who work at Cairns Botanic Gardens, Catttana Wetlands and within local residential areas was held on April 23 at the Visitors Centre with Mayor Bob Manning giving a speech of recognition and praise to our volunteers.

attitude of ‘it’s not what I can do for myself, but what I can do for my community’ is what we need to continue building a successful city.

“These volunteers put their time and effort into keeping the Botanic Gardens precinct and Cattana Wetlands looking their best for others to enjoy.

“They educate visitors, pull out weeds, plant trees, propagate plants, tackle major landscaping projects, work on the plant database and raise funds. And they do it all with a smile and a willingness to contribute to their community.”

Mayor Bob Manning with Jabiru volunteers Rick Wong and Donna Pansino

About 80 local people regularly give their time as members of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, the Down ’n’ Dirty Group, Gardeneers, Plant Database group, Cattana Wetlands Jabirus and the newest addition, Little Taccas.

This morning tea provided an opportunity for Cr Manning to acknowledge the efforts put in by volunteers over the past year.

Cr Manning praised the community spirit saying “the

“There efforts include the construction of the vertical garden outside the Friends H o u s e , propagating and selling hundreds of plants, providing guided tours Friends Lee Ross and Gail to gardens visitors Sedorkin and an ongoing fundraising effort that has contributed $95,000 to the soon-to-be-built Botanic Gardens Conservatory.”

Mayor Bob Manning with volunteers (from left) Sandy Long, Peter Hunt, Rick Streatfield, Prince Jose, Prue Fitzpatrick and Leonie Sequeira (olive shirts Down ‘n’ Dirty & Gardeneers, red - Little Taccas, blue - Jabirus

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Volunteers Voice

Plant Information: Zingiberales

Heliconias - create instant tropical look

H. standleyi

Over the next few see them) and often long issues we will cover the petioles fascinating Zingiberales • Large, usually colourful, plant order beginning bracteate inflorescences with the popular • Underground rhizomes Heliconia family. (tuber-like plant growth).

There are 250 species The Zingiberales are a of Heliconia distributed world of discovery with primarily in the neotropics plants ranging from with a large range of Calatheas with their growth form and habit. beautifully patterned leaves, to the much loved Due to their various growth Gingers and Heliconias form and habit it doesn’t with their striking flowers, matter whether your and the more unusual selection criteria is light Orchidanthas. intensity, size, hardiness or flower colour, there is In addition to the many usually a Heliconia that will cellular features that suit every situation. distinguish the Zingiberales In general, Heliconia from other plants, there are fall into two main forms several very conspicuous - erect and pendant, characters by which referring to the habit of they can be recognised the inflorescences. In the including: case of ‘erect’ types the flowers grow in an upright • Large leaves with blades manner, while ‘pendant’ possessing transverse forms cascade toward the (parallel) venation (hold ground. a leaf up to the light and Erect Heliconias you will be able to clearly These Heliconias certainly

offer the widest range of plant sizes including the large H.caribaeas and H.bihais which reach heights of over 6 metres, the medium size H.stricta cultivars, to the H.psittacorum varieties that may reach only 0.5m.

Pendant Heliconias Pendant species are some of the most dazzling of Heliconias with their showy chains of pendulous flowers.

The plants themselves are tall, from 2 to 6 metres in height, but are generally less spreading, for example, the H. chartaceas. The more recent introductions, H. chartacea cv.Sexy Pink and H.chartacea cv. Sexy Scarlet are two of the best known and loved of the chartacea cultivars.

Reference: Heliconia- An Identification Guide, Fred Berry and W.John Kress.

H.longiflora, H. mutisiana, H. psittacorum cv. Sassay, H.bihai cv. Manoa Sunrise, H cultivar can all be found in the Cairns Botanic Gardens. A Heliconia self-guided walk is available at the Friends’ House.

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Watch a movie under the stars the rains cleared for the first showing on Wednesday 28 May with an old classic Elvis Presley movie, ‘King Creole’. This movie was well received with many compliments for the return of this wonderful event.

wickedly funny black comedy ‘The Big Lebowski’ will be screening.

All tickets are available cash sales only at the McDonnell St gate entry.

Adults $13.00; members and concession $10.00, school students $5.00.

Family $30. See website: www.star r ynightcinema. com.au

Next screening is ‘The Croods’ on 25 June which the kids will love. This is an animated film that has it all, captivating characters, rich thematic visuals and an adventurous quest.

Friends of Botanic Gardens Cairns are excited to be once again working with End Credits to host Starry Night Cinema, a fantastic fund-raising event held on the Gardens’ back lawn under the stars.

Movies will be screening on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

Much to the organisers relief

23 July will see the on screen blossoming of Judy Garland in Vincent Minnelli’s careeer making hit ‘Meet me in St. Louis’, one of Hollywood’s all-time great musicals and most astonishing achivements in technicolour.

On 27 August the stylish and

Community spirit grows in Kewarra

Kewarra Beach resident volunteers continue to grow in numbers with three new members assisting on a weekly basis.

safety aspects are covered.

For example, plants must be low maintenance and those planted near road verges must be of a certain height for clear visibility Spokesperson for the for both motorists and group Mike Denney pedestrians. (pictured right) says the community is very positive Building community with this gardening project spirit is well supported with pleasing comments by Council who offers its from those who pass by. services where possible.

Recently the volunteers have exchanged the annual flowering theme to evergreen flowering shrubs and added more native species. This follows a new Council policy to ensure all

If you would like to beautify your area please telephone 4032 6648 to gain approval, discuss ideas and become a registered volunteer with Cairns Regional Council.

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Cairns Regional Council PO Box 359, Cairns Q 4870 Australia.

07 4032 6650 Cairns Botanic Gardens 64 Collins Ave, Edge Hill, Cairns Q 4870, Australia 4032 6650 Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns 4032 3900

We’re on the Web & Facebook www.cairns.qld.gov.au www.cairnsbotanicgardens.com.au

What’s On • Jazz under the Stars Saturday, September 6, 6.30-9.30pm.

Volunteers Voice

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are interested in supporting any of the following volunteer programs please contact Public Relations & Volunteers Officer Louisa Grandy 4032 6648: • Visitor Guides • Public Relations & Shop assistance • Tuesdays - Cattana Wetlands Jabirus • Wednesdays - Botanic Gardens Down ’n’ Dirty Volunteers • Children’s Nature Activities Program - Little Taccas.

For Friends of the Botanic Gardens membership details email info@botanicfriendscairns.com.au or telephone 4032 3900.

Contributions: Please submit articles (must be volunteer or plant based) by August for the next quarterly publication in September.

Email: l.grandy@cairns.qld.gov.au. Please note articles are subject to editing.

Plant sales

• Carnival on Collins Father’s Day, Sunday, September 7, 9am until 3pm.

This is one of Cairns best attended events of the year. There is something for everyone - entertainment for all age groups, stalls with plants, art & craft, clothing, toys and a variety of food outlets.

• Starry Night Cinema last Wednesday of the month. Cash sales only at the MacDonnell St gate. (See article Page 7 for further details) • Friends ‘Talks’ are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm in the Friends House amenities area.

Members and non-members welcome.

• Friends ‘Walk & Talks’ are held the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9amnoon at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre. Members and nonmembers welcome.

Gardeneers’ plant sales are held each Wednesday outside the Friends’ House from 9.30-11.30am