2024 Conference Programme
We'll be updating these pages regularly as we finalise the conference programme.
Conference Highlights
Keynote Speaker: Dale Arvidsson
Curator, Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens and Arboreta.
Dale has a diverse background; not only as a botanic garden professional, but also in visual arts, design and tourism. During his career he has been inspired by the importance that botanic gardens have maintained throughout history, along with their ongoing drawcard as places of beauty with the ability to connect plants with people in modern and relevant ways. He will join us for the day on Saturday.
Friday Twilight Welcome Drinks
On the Lawn at the Arts and Ecology building at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens from 4 - 6pm. There will be ample opportunity to meet old Friends, make new Friends, and also meet your hosts - the Friends of MRBBG. A Mayoral welcome, and presentation of the 2024 Handbury Awards by AAFBG Patron Dr Judy West AO will complete the evening. Partners are welcome to join this event at a cost of $25.
MRBBG - A Changing Sub-Tropical Garden
Bill Haddrill, SCC Liveability and Natural Assets Group Leader, talks about our Sunshine Coast UNESCO Biosphere status and what it means in ensuring the ongoing biodiversity of a bushland botanic garden; with Michael Gilles, Garden manager discussing collaborative initiatives between the Friends volunteer group and Council staff.
Lawrie Smith AM, is a Landscape Architect, and Australian Native Plant Society (Aust)
Garden Design Study Group leader, and he will be talking about the growing importance of Regional Botanic Gardens and the future role of Friends groups; and we believe Lawrie will also be disclosing many excerpts from his colourful career in garden design.
How Friends Groups are Responding to Change
Presentations and workshops by attending Friends groups on Saturday and Sunday with the ever-popular Rapid Fire session highlighting special projects in select Botanic Gardens after lunch on Sunday.
The Conference Dinner
The Conference Dinner will be held on Saturday night with a chance to chat while overlooking the sun setting along the beach as platters of aperitifs are being served on the enclosed upstairs verandah (lift access provided) at Mooloolaba Surf Club, followed by a 2 course sit down dinner while we listen to some soothing music amongst the sounds of the breaking coastal waves. Lawrie Smith will tell us how his career brought him to become so involved with Botanic Gardens.
Monday ‘Bush Magic’ at MRBBG
FREE EVENT, MORNING TEA, AND LUNCH INCLUDED - Enjoy getting out into both the natural and the manmade areas of our Gardens - wild walks with wildlife followed by guided walks through the Sculpture Garden, Fern Glade, Children’s Nature Play garden, and some of the other specially designed display gardens within the inner garden area such as the newly created Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and Butterfly Discovery Garden adjacent to the Lagoon. An inspiring setting to draw butterflies and locals alike!
Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
23 to 26 August 2024
Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden
Palm Creek Rd, Tanawha, Sunshine Coast, Qld.
View FMRBBG on ABC
SERIES 30 | Episode 07
Jerry visits the Maroochy Botanic Garden, which comprises bushland and themed areas.
Broadcast Fri 15 Mar 2019 at 7:30 pm, Copyright ABC Gardening Australia.
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.