Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
The Friends is a non-profit, voluntary, community organisation whose mission is to care for, enhance and showcase the unique 82 hectares which make up the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens (MRBBG). We work in close collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council.
'To support the establishment & development of a unique world-class Bushland Botanic Garden for the Sunshine Coast’.
'To experience the harmony between people and the living environment’.
'To establish a vibrant and responsive Friends organisation known for enthusiasm, participation and initiative’.
The Gardens were started at the urging of the initial Friends in 1996 with the then Maroochy Council purchasing the land for a botanic garden in 1997.
In 1998, a master plan was developed and major development work began in 2000. The Governor of Queensland, Major General Peter Arnison, opened the Gardens on 1 December 2001.
The Friends contribute to the Gardens in many and varied ways. Some of our members are supporting members only. Others volunteer their time working on Friends’ projects off-site. A large group of Friends actively work in the Gardens (on-site volunteering requires application to the Sunshine Coast Council via their website).
Our core functions are organised in groups. Membership of these teams/crews is very flexible; some people stay with a team until a task or project is complete, others fill in where their interests take them or their prior skill or experience is needed and valued, while others like a wide variety of volunteering experiences and working with different people each week.
The Gardening Group is onsite every Tuesday unless the weather is extremely unpleasant and except for a three-week break over Christmas/New Year. Starting time is nominally 7:30 am, but start and finish times are flexible. Morning tea is at 9.30am, lunch at 12.30pm, and people finish when they want. Within this Tuesday Group we have:
Smaller gardening groups get together on Thursday and Friday mornings, and are mainly involved in garden bed development and maintenance.
For most ofhistory, man hashad to fight natureto survive;in this century, he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive,he must protect it.Jacques-Yves Cousteau
The Guides Group consists of trained volunteers who provide visitors with regular guided walks; themed walks, booked tailored group walks; and walks at special events in the Gardens. Each guide shares their unique insight into particular areas of the Gardens and the conservation of Australian bushland environments. Upcoming guided walks are advertised here. Bookings can be made for larger groups upon request. More information can be found here.
The Visitor Information Group welcome and help visitors in any way possible. They provide a selection of environmental information and can recommend areas of the Gardens to visit according to your interests.
The Management Committee provides over-arching direction of day to day activities and long-term planning towards achieving goals and the mission of the Friends to support the continued development of a unique, world-class botanic garden.
Held on the 2nd Thursday of each month. 1pm at the Shed.
All members of the Friends are welcome to be involved.
(Members join in discussion but do not vote at committee meetings).
Contact the Secretary by email for more information.
The Library/Media Group keeps us in touch with each other and with the general community. They produce our quarterly newsletter, update our website and social media pages, catalogue plant and environmental information, and file photographs of plants and activities. They also craft and/or assist with mounting displays in the Arts & Ecology Centre and other public events.
The Friends’ BushCare Group volunteer on the 2nd Saturday of each month. They assist in maintaining bushland areas of the Gardens and both Tall Gums Environmental Reserves adjacent to the Gardens. You do not need to be a member of the Friends to join in the fun. More information on BushCare can be found here.
The Friends are involved in promoting the Gardens to the community, organising special events, advocating for the Gardens with government bodies, seeking government funding and community donations to support new and ongoing projects, sponsorship of students undertaking environmentally based research at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and so much more!
The Friends of MRBBG are a very inclusive group who welcome new members to join them in all their volunteer labours. If you would like to know more about the Friends look through our website, email us or come and introduce yourself when you see us working at the Gardens. For more details on joining and membership, visit our Join Us page.
