From the President, Lynn Vlismas, Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
...... And perhaps a further subtext which should read – what are Friends for if not to get together for a chat, to put our heads together, share our collective ranges of experiences and knowledge, and to come up with a positive way to respond to the ongoing need for change.
This will be the topic that the Friends of Botanic Gardens discuss as they come together from around Australia at the end of August 2024 for the AAFBG CONFERENCE 2024.
As we all know, we all need to continue to respond to change and adapt to differing circumstances.
These are some of the topics that will continue to affect Friends groups in their supporting roles in Gardens throughout Australia. To help get some discussion going between our Friends here at MRBBG, listed below are some potential expansions on those initial thoughts and what they might lead us to:
- How can volunteering be made more attractive to draw in and maintain an ongoing range of expertise for Friends groups to thrive?
- What relationships do we need to develop and nurture further – governing bodies, other Friends groups, the local community, and other like-minded community groups; and how best to do this?
- Unfolding climatic impacts will determine future Collections and Maintenance Policies as well as public access to various collections – where do we start?
- What sort of role is there for technology in assisting with education, information and plant material storage, plant propagation techniques and the means for finding new sources of rare/ or threatened species to add to Collections.
The Conference Working Group is currently looking for suggestions on the expansion of some of these general topics as we look to develop the Conference Programme and appoint an appropriate range of speakers. If you would like to add your ideas and thoughts on this theme please email the friendsofmrbbg@gmail.com and mark it: Attention Conference Conveners.
This is a topic with the potential to provide a large impact. So let us know your thoughts to add to the discussion for the AAFBG Conference 2024.
We will continue to keep you all up to date with our Conference program as it evolves, and we will also be asking for help from our membership with a range of “helping out” tasks from food and refreshment service over the 2 days of Conference, setting up marquees, tables and chairs, and being available for the “day at the Gardens” currently being programmed for the Monday 26th August after the Conference wraps up.
If you’d like to be involved let us know.
Contact friendsofmrbbg@gmail.com
Conference contacts
E: bgfriends2024@gmail.com
W: www.friendsofmaroochybotanicgardens.org.au
The AAFBG acknowledges the Sunshine Coast Country, home of the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples, the Traditional Custodians, whose lands and waters we all now share.