Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
Friends is a non-profit, member-based, community organisation whose mission is to help care for, enhance and showcase the unique 82 hectares that make up the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden on Kabi Kabi Country working closely with the Sunshine Coast Council.
'To support the establishment and continued development of a unique world-class Regional 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 buying 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.
Friends contribute to the Gardens in many and varied ways. Many actively work in the Garden as council volunteers (to volunteer, apply to the Sunshine Coast Council). Others volunteer their time working on Friends’ projects or are supporting members only.
Participation 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; and others like a wide variety of volunteering experiences and working with different people each week.
The Friends have financed many projects within the Garden and continue to do so.
For most ofhistory, man [humanity] 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
Held at 1pm on the 2nd Thursday of every 2nd month starting February.
All Friends welcome.
The Friends’ Management Committee provides over-arching direction of day-to-day activities and long-term planning towards achieving goals and our mission to support the continued development of a unique, world-class botanic garden.
Contact the Secretary by email for more information.
The Library and 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 design and/or help mount displays in the Arts & Ecology Centre and other public events.
We help promote the Gardens, organise special events, workshops and exhibitions. We advocate for the Gardens with government bodies, seek government funding and community donations for new and ongoing projects. We also sponsor students undertaking environment-based research at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and so much more!
