Volunteers Voice - Issue 4 - Sept 2014

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Issue 4 - September 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: • Promoting Volunteers at Carnival • Volunteer Comments • Wonderful Bird tours with John Seale • Volunteer Profile • Community Gardens play important role in lifestyle • Conference an inspiration • Photo spreads • Gingers, Costus & Backscatchers • Test Your Knowledge • What’s On • How to Volunteer

Making a difference in Cairns

Promoting volunteers at Carnival Friends of Botanic Gardens, Cairns and other volunteer members were all smiles as they raised funds and promoted awareness of their activities at the annual Cairns Regional Council’s Cairns Festival event ‘Carnival on Collins’.

Once again attendance was in the tens of thousands at the Botanic Gardens and Tanks Art Centre on Sunday 7 September with over 200 market stalls, muscians, kids activities and roving performers.

awareness and encouraging visitors to become members and make donations for the new Conservatory.

The annual Friends’ event Jazz Under the Stars on Saturday 6 September was also a wonderful fundraising success.

Pictured above: Volunteers - (from left) Cattana Wetlands Jabiru Prue Fitzpatrick, Little Taccas Chris Brett, Down ‘n’ Dirty Rhonnie Lavater and Friends of the Botanic Gardens committee secretary Volunteers were busy with a variety of Sybil Cumming. Below: (from left) activities - cooking up a storm with a Friends ‘Gardeneers’ Rod Garrett, Val sausage sizzle which sold out by 1.30pm, Auld, Mary Gandini and Jan Leishman. the Gardeneers’ plant sale, raising More photos Pages 6 and 7.

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VOLUNTEER COMMENTS Christina Lehmann, from Germany, volunteered at the Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands in June

“From the first day, my stay at the Gardens was perfect! Everybody immediately included me in the team. I felt in the best hands! I learned about plants and their scientific classification with Keith, how to properly mulch with Matt and how to steer a mower and work on paths by Stuart and Sonja. I was shown the Centenary Lakes (Cassie) and the Blue and Red Arrow tracks (Eddie). I also worked with another great team at Stratford Nursery.

Andrew and I planted trees at Freshwater Creek and I was taught about native plants.

Attending the Volunteer Group, I worked with amazing people who dedicate their free time in order to support the Gardens’ work. Thank you to Louisa and the Tanks crew for supporting my stay. I felt warmly welcomed and cannot imagine any better work experience! Thank you again, everyone, especially for welcoming me back in the future! I will surely take that offer seriously!”

Volunteers Voice

Wonderful bird tours with John Seale Free bird watching tours with Friends of the Gardens member John Seale are held at the Botanic Gardens every Tuesday starting at the Friends House at 8.30am. Following is an overview of these tours from John.

The first Botanic gardens bird walk was held on Tuesday 14 June 2005 with one attendee, a young lady from Tasmania, who returned for another walk five years later. The average attendance is six to seven people. Most are usually visitors to Cairns from overseas and other parts of Australia. Soon after starting, I had the largest group on a walk with 31 people.

Unlike plants, birds do not always stay still and usually only the first few people of a large group see the bird before it flies away. I do carry a telescope with

me which is a real bonus.

I try and get the scope onto the bird as quickly as possible and then wait for the gasps as the visitors see superb views of Rainbow Bee-Eaters, Kingfishers and parrots. These species often sit still for a long time unlike the Honeyeaters who rush around loaded up with their hits of nectar.

A few of of my favourite birds are the Bush Stone Curlews and the Doubleeyed Fig Parrots. The Curlews rarely fly away and most visitors to Cairns have heard their nightly screams and wails. The southern birdwatchers love to see these birds as they are endangered in the southern regions.

The Fig-parrots are very approachable when they are feeding on figs and they are delightfully small and brightly coloured. The Papuan Frogmouths are always a big hit but roosts

may be hard to find.

Since starting in 2005, I have not varied the route except where there is a known bird roosting or nesting. It continues to amaze me that we generally see the same birds in exactly the same locations from week to week.

The combination of the Gardens and Centenary Lakes provides a large variety of ecotones in a very small area.

The Gardens themselves are good for Sunbirds, Yellow Orioles and Black Butcherbirds. Just outside the Gardens is a large incubation mound of the Orange-Footed Scrub Fowl. Most overseas visitors have never heard of mound-building birds and are amazed at the size of the mounds. We also see Brush Turkeys. The large open area near the --- Continued Page 11

From left: Grey Goshawk (top left), Rainbow Bee-eater (below left), Double-eyed Fig Parrot (centre), Bush Stone Curlew (top right), Comb Crested Jacana (below right)

Volunteers Voice

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Volunteers Peter Hunt (left) and Rick Streatfield’s love of the outdoors led them to volunteer at at the Cairns Botanic Gardens.

Peter Hunt volunteers with two programs at the Gardens – the Wednesday Down ‘n’ Dirty group and the fortnightly Little Taccas is such a good flow too.” children’s nature program Having had 30 years on Thursdays. experience in the building Peter moved to Cairns a industry as a factory couple of years ago to be manager and then outside with his family. He had as a construction manager, recently retired so wanted Peter has been a great to do something physical as asset to the Gardens he didn’t like being idle. and volunteer programs “I like gardening and through build-ing bamboo being outdoors, having screens for the Aristolochia building and always done the gardening vine, at home, so checked the renovating in the Friends Cairns Botanic Garden House and constructing website to see what the Vertical Garden, the volunteer options were first of its kind in Cairns. available. I had looked “The Vertical Garden was at other options such as a great challenge as it was National Parks, however something different. It is the Gardens volunteer still a work in progress with program seemed to suit.” a little trial and error due Peter joined the Down ‘n’ to seasonal changes and Dirty group about two seeing what plants work years ago and says, “This in these conditions. I have team is a friendly, happy learnt a lot about plants and diverse group of with this project.” people and I learn so much Peter also volunteers working with them. There his time with the new

children’s nature activities program ‘Little Taccas’. He has offered great support from the beginning of the program and is well received by the children.

“My grandkids are not in Cairns and I love being with kids and this program just flows. I have to be careful my grandkids don’t see Little Taccas photos as they get jealous when the see Poppy with other kids,” he laughs.

-----------Rick Streatfield was inspired to join the Botanic Gardens Down ‘n’ Dirty group after spending a week at Lord Howe Island weeding with a friend, who is a member of the Sydney Botanic Gardens Friends.

fit, I meet people and I love the gardens. I have neglected my own garden and thought if I work at CBG it would make me feel better,” he laughed.

“I love the learning I experience from my volunteer companions. I know nothing about plants compared to them and it will give me the confidence to design my own garden.

There is such a choice and variety in this volunteer program, you don’t have to do heavy work if you aren’t able. Everyone has different skills and backgrounds bringing different things to the group. Although there are regulars the group changes each week depending on who can make it so there “When I retired I wanted is always a variety of to get into gardening and personalities and a good meet people who did this blend of people.” type of volunteer work.

----- continued Page 5 Outside work keeps me

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NEWS IN BRIEF NEW CONSERVATORY: Council has approved a $1.13 million contract to VIS Constructions for the construction of the Cairns Botanic Gardens Conservatory. The concept design is described as a contemporary yet functional structure inspired by the Licuala palm.

Demolition of the Munro Martin Fernery and the George Watkins Orchid House is expected to commence this month with the new facility open in 2015. The FOBG’s contribution ($95,000) will be used to purchase new plants and assist with the fit-out.

Volunteers Voice

Community Gardens play important lifestyle role Community gardens play an important role in our lifestyle. As communities expand and people move into high-density living, the opportunity for people to grow their own vegetables decreases.

an approval process for establishing a community garden on Council land.

Contact details for the community gardens are in the caption below.

National awareness of health issues such as diabetes and obesity has also encouraged people towards a healthier lifestyle and taking control of the food they eat.

A community garden not only offers the opportunity for people to learn to grow their own food, it also provides a social platform for people of all cultural backgrounds to share friendship, knowledge and life experiences.

Several community gardens have been established in Cairns.

The Edmonton Community Garden is located within the Sugarworld Gardens and was approved by Council on 9 September 2009.

The Bungalow Community Garden was was established on 30 August 2013 and has about 80 members.

Clusia major - fruit, not a flower

Region Community Gardens Guidelines to address the growing demand for community gardens and to provide guidance, framework and

In 2012 Council adopted the Community Gardens Policy and Cairns

If you don’t have a lot of the space in your own yard imagine what you could do with your own plot in a community garden. Contact the community gardens to get involved.

Edmonton Community Gardens President: Peter Firth, firths@bigpond.net.au 0410 348021 or secretrary Julie Hayson, julie57@bigpond.com, 0400 799115.

Bungalow Community Gardens Secretary: bungalowgarden@yahoo.com.au 0429 934820

Volunteers Voice

Conference an inspiration

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VOLUNTEER COMMENTS

The Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens (AAFBG) biannaul conference, held at the Gold Coast between August 8 and 10, inspired fresh ideas for attendees Louisa Grandy, Council’s Public Relations & Volunteers Officer, and Sandy Long from the Friends of Botanic Gardens, Cairns.

Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, a passionate group of volunteers and wonderful hosts, organised a range of guest speakers to suit their theme of ‘Growing Matters, Growing Gardens, Growing Friends’.

Keynote speaker Professor Tim Entwisle, Director and CEO of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, spoke on ‘Australia’s Changing Seasons’ where he argued for a new set of seasons, taking his inspiration from those who have lived in Australian for tens of thousands of years. His solution is an early spring (sprinter), late spring (sprummer), long summer and then a short autumn and winter with the idea that plants define these seasons.

All speakers were interesting to say the least however speakers who inspired new ideas were: CEO Volunteering Gold Coast Richard Patterson, who spoke on ‘Effective Volunteer Management’ focusing on recruitment, retention and rewarding volunteers; Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens’ Maya Harrison, who talked of their success story of producing a children’s book ‘Bungee Jumping Caterpillars’, purchased specifically for the Little Taccas program; and GCRBG Curator Dr Liz Caddick who spoke on ‘Prospering Through From Page 3

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Work experience student from France, Julie Auclair, spent two months working with staff and volunteers at Cairns Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands as a part of her studies’ practical training requirements. “My time at the Gardens was just amazing. Working in such a beautiful place gave me the opportunity to learn a lot and to enjoy it at the same time. I would like to thank all the team for having welcomed me so well and for their patience.”

Partnerships’ between staff, volunteers, community, universities, employment agencies and other botanic gardens. This task-sharing approach has enabled the Gardens to grow and develop far beyond what could be achieved by one group alone.

Volunteer Profile

Ric is well known for his work as a doctor. After training in medicine in Sydney he specialised in tropical medicine.

“I spent three years in New Zealand after my training as I love mountains, snow and hiking. I then worked in New Guinea in Government Health Services,” he said.

Ric then came to Cairns and was employed as the Regional Medical Officer for Aboriginal Health with the State Government Health Service for 13 years covering the northern region from Innisfail to Torres Strait/New Guinea

border. “I first worked with the health communities in child and adult health, then moved into Disease Control such as dengue, meningococcal and the like.

I then worked with sexual health and education in northern schools.

having time to hike regularly with his favourite being the UK trails. “I haven’t done them all but I’m working on it now I’m retired,” he smiles. He also regularly visits Patagonian and Nepal.

“Although I enjoy company I also love solo walking. Nature puts you in your place!

“I have loved storms since I was a kid.

I’m weird that way,” he laughs. “I had to buy a new tent after experiencing a particularly heavy storm in Patagonia this year where my tent was blown Ric’s love of hiking and mountain- apart over night – so amazing to be eering began as a child and he enjoys in it!”

Ric was then asked to become the Deputy Director of Medical Services at the Cairns hospital for seven years.

“It was then easy to retire as I wasn’t keen on politics or administration and the love of outdoors drew me back to travelling.”

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Volunteers Voice

Volunteers were all smiles raising

Carnival on Collins, one of Cairns’ largest community events, was held once again on Father’s Day (story front page)

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1. Service with a smile: Friends of Botanic Gardens, Cairns serving at the sausage sizzle Lothar and Lee Ross, Pat MacConnacher and Rita Sheldrick.

2. Friend and Cattana Wetlands Jabiru Sharren Wong accepting donations from Carnival-goers for the new Conservatory.

3. The Carnival was in full swing with thousands flooding Collins Avenue, Gardens and Tanks.

4. Friend Norma Wright greeted visitors and took care of plants at the Friends House.

5. Friends Vice President Coralie Stuart and Secretary Sybil Cumming.

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funds & awareness at Carnival 6. Volunteer members at the Friends & Volunteers Promotional Marquee, Down ‘n’ Dirty member Rhonnie Lavater, Cattana Wetlands Jabiru Prue Fitzpatrick and Little Taccas’ Chris Brett.

7. Friends Patron David Rentz and Peter Shanahan shared their knowledge at the Insect Display.

8. Friends committee Membership Secretary Jackie Frost assisted with promoting the Friends’ activities.

9. Gardeneer Sandy Long with customers at the annual Plant Sale.

10. Friends committee Treasurer Marian Altis laughs with a customer at the Sausage Sizzle.

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Volunteers Voice

In action: Little Taccas, Jabirus

Volunteers offer their time within a range of programs at the Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands.

1. ‘Little Taccas’ story-time with Del Van Mierlo in the Flecker Gardens.

2. ‘Little Taccas’ Chad, Luke and Dan with Peter Hunt.

3. Cattana Wetlands Jabirus Prue Fitzpatrick and Sharren Wong scooping the noxious water weed Salvinia.

4. Cattana Wetlands Jabirus.

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5. ‘Little Taccas’ Natasha Stanley, otherwise known as Miss Tash, reads ‘A Hungry Caterpillar’ to a very attentive group.

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TOUR GUIDE

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and Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteers Down ‘n’ Dirty volunteers work at the Botanic Gardens each Wednesday morning.

6. Weeding in Gondwanan Garden, (from left) Stefanie Kranabetter, Narelle McCallum, Judith Pedersen and Leonie Sequeira.

7. Gardening in Fitzalan Garden.

8. It’s not all “hard yakka” volunteers socialising after a morning of mulching.

9. Supporting the ‘Pledge to Save the Planet’ Facebook page, (from left) Anne Griffin, Katie Schmidt, Leonie Sequeira, Lee Ross, Narelle McCallum, Pat MacConnacher and Wendy Russell.

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Volunteers Voice

Plant Information: Zingiberales

Gingers, Costus & Backscratchers

Etlingera venusta

ZINGIBERACEAE – the Gingers Zingerberace is the largest family in this order, consisting of 50 genera and 1,000 species. They are found in all tropical areas of the world but are concentrated in southeast Asia.

There are several genera – Alpinia, Amomum, Bosenbergia, Curcuma, Etlingera, Globba, Hedychium, Kaempferia and Zingiber – all of which can be seen at the Botanic Gardens.

These plants are grown for their beautiful flowers as well as culinary purposes. Many species contain essential oils in their rhizomes and are used as spices for cooking, for example Curcuma domestica (tumeric), Alpinia galanga (galangal), and of course the most common, Zingiber officinale (the edible ginger).

COSTACEAE – Costus & Backscatcher Gingers This family consists of 4 genera and about 150 species.

Costus, with 100 species, is most diverse in American tropics, but also found in Africa, Asia and Northern Australia.

Costus are very easy to distinguish from other gingers by their whorling style of growth (see Costus vargassii right).

Leaves whorl around the main stem while Ginger leaves are usually on either side of the stem and Heliconia leaves are usually at the end of the stem like the Bananas.

Other genera are Monocostus with one species as the name suggests, Dimerocostus (two species) and Tapeinochilos, often referred to as the Backscatcher Gingers. There are twenty species of Tapeinochilos extending through New Guinea, Indonesia and tropical Australia.

Visit the Botanic Gardens to see these family collections.

Zingiber neglectum

Hedychium longicornutum

Alpinia purpurata

Curcuma alismatifolia

Kaempferia rotunda

Tapeinochilos palustris

Costus vargasii

Tapeinochilos ananassae

Volunteers Voice

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Wonderful Bird Tours with John Seale

Lakes Resort in Saltwater Lake Garden is home to several species and usually easy to see. Saltwater Creek and Lily Creek provide most of the water birds.

Since starting the walks I have noticed a few changes in species. There are seven species of Kingfisher in the Lakes area but recently the Forest Kingfisher seems to have departed the area. We have had two additions with the arrival of the Magpie Goose and the Radjah Shelducks.

The latter have bred at least six times in the last three years and are such a beautiful tropical duck.

Quite a few birds are

seasonal and we currently have noticed the return of the Pied Imperial Pigeons.

The Metallic Starlings also return from PNG but there seems to be more of these staying over winter in Cairns.

There is a nesting Grey Goshawk currently in the Lakes area. We have seen it building the nest by flying into a dead branch, breaking it off and carrying it to the new nest. They have been seen mating and also standing on guard in a big tree near the nest.

While conducting the walks, I usually point out and talk about some of the trees/plants that I think are worthy of note.

Test your knowledge 1. What is a balanced PH number for your soil?

Today I noticed the Jade Vine and the Flame of the Forest in the gardens but these are not long lasting.

Regular plants that get my mini-talks are any native orchids in flower, the Antplants in the Saltwater Lake mangroves, the Corypha Palm (Kennedy palm) and the wonderful King ferns.

The other area of interest to birders is Cattana Wetlands. I do not do public walks in this area but visit regularly on my own or with visiting birders. This location continues to improve with the rapid growth of the tree-plantings. This is still one of the few places to see the White-Browed

Crake, Green Pygmy Goose and the Comb Crested Jacana in the Cairns area. The species list has reached to approx 160. After the Esplanade and the Gardens/lakes, Cattana is number three on the list of Cairns Birdwatching hot-spots.

- John Seale

VOLUNTEER COMMENTS

emblem?

9. Why don’t we put 2. What is the family with green mulch on garden the following three genus beds?

- Callistemon, Syzygium, Melaleuca?

5. Which part of the flower becomes the fruit?

6. What is the botanical name for the Titum arum?

7. What plant was the children’s nature activities program ‘Little Taccas’ named after?

8. What is Cairns’ floral

Answers:

4. When pruning, why do we cut close to the node?

1. 7 2. Myrtaceae 3. Ray Church & Mary Gandini 4. If cut too far from the node dead wood is created encouraing fungal pathogens 5. Ovary 6. Amorphophallus titanum 7. The ‘Bat Plant’ - Tacca 8. Golden Penda, Xanthostemon chrysanthus.

9. It causes nitrogen drawdown, starving the garden of nitrogen.

3. Who has been with the Gardeneers the longest?

THANK YOU SUSAN JACUPS “I am working full-time now so won’t be returning in the immediate future. I would like to say a huge thank you for all your enthusiasm and good company that makes volunteering at the gardens so pleasant.

I will certainly be in touch should my work situation change again.”

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Volunteers Voice

What’s On

• Friends 25th Anniversary Garden Party - Saturday 11 October 2014 on the Garden’s back lawn from 10am to noon.

All members past and present will be invited to this free event, but entry tickets will be required. Awards will be made in recognition of those who have been members for 25 years.

• The 2014 BGANZ Queensland Biennial Conference, hosted by Cairns Regional Council, will be held at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Thursday 2 October to Saturday 4 October with the theme “Cultivating Connections”.

Download the program from the Cairns Botanic Gardens website.

• Gardeneers Plant Sale - Sunday 7 December, Gardens back lawn from 8am until noon. There will be variety of plants for sale including the Aristolochia tagala (butterfly vine), Strongylodon macrobotrys (Jade Vine) and Medinilla sps. Other nurseries are invited to sell plants also.

• Friends’ Wednesday Supper Talks are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm and the Saturday ‘Walk & Talks’ are held every 3rd Saturday of the month from 9am until noon at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre.

Members and non-members welcome.

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

Keep up to date with all events Cairns Botanic Gardens and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns are on the Web and Facebook

Cairns’ floral emblem, Xanthostemon chrysanthus, Golden Penda Interested in Volunteering?

There is something to suit everyone. 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 in the Friends’ House • 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 November for the next quarterly publication in December.

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