Read the Friend`s History Part Two (pdf link)

Volunteer Groups
Volunteers from the begininng
From the beginning volunteers have played a very important support role, to the Gardens and staff. Most
of the volunteers came from the Friends and were most eager to get stuck in and assist this new Botanic
Garden. Fund raising was one of the objects of the Friends, so things like plant sales quickly became a
regular event. During the early eighties the evaluation panels were established from the experts among the
Friends. Panelists were eager to give their time to be on one of the three panels which assisted with the
evaluation of plants growing at the Gardens so the information gathered could be produced in the Advisory
Leaflets.
Another group was keen to assist in the Information Centre. Sue Davison organised the roster for many
years so members were able to assist Roger Price in managing the Centre. Many did the front desk on a
regular basis none more so then the late Dawn Hight who in her retirement found it was her niche to be
helping the public with information about the Gardens. I think it is fair to say that Dawn was our most
regular volunteer in the Centre coming in every week because she enjoyed it so much.
By 1985 the Friends were becoming very active and during that year assisted the garden staff in planting
the Magnolia collection. This trend continued and in April 1988 a very enthusiastic band of volunteers
planted 1000 daffodil bulbs in the Spring Blossom Valley. Later in that year they planted roses for the first
stage of the New Zealand Rose trial in conjunction with the Rose Introducers of New Zealand under the
leadership of the international rosarian Sam McGredy.
As the rose trial became established another group became eager to help and became known as the "Rose
Deheaders" this group are regular helpers on a weekly basis during the rose season.
In the late 1980s the nursery was developing growing annuals and perennials for the Gardens and also
raising native plants for planting in the regional parks. This saw a need for help in the nursery, so a note in
the newsletter and Wayne Dymond had his extra help.
The Garden Rambles and plant sales became a regular monthly event during the eighties and nineties. The
plant sales quickly became a popular way of fund raising for various projects, with enthusiastic people like,
Joan Dingley , Sue Davison and the late Jean Veal they were always a huge success.
From the plant sales grew the Growing Friends, a small band who raised many plants for sale and from this,
grew two major plants sales per year spring and autumn. As the Growing Friends became more active it
was necessary to develop a small nursery within the Botanic Gardens nursery. This has now become a very
important fund raiser for the Friends, raising several thousand dollars per year. They sell plants from their
nursery every Thursday afternoon and on the First Sunday of the month.
As the membership grew so did the need for more newsletters to be posted out to members, this became a
major job. It was suggested that Elmwood Rest Home be approached to see if there were any willing
helpers. The response was immediate and Alice McNaughton got together a group of ladies, who became
known as the `Elmwood Ladies' and for many years folded and prepared the newsletter for posting.
Following the opening of the Friends Horticultural Reference Library it 1992 it was necessary to have the
library staffed. There was no shortage of willing volunteers who made themselves available on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11 am to 3pm. These were in addition to members who made up the
Library Management Group. During the past 17 years this group has assisted Roger Price to maintain the
books and library to a very high standard. As the journal library grew it became necessary to index
important articles and have the information entered into the database for easy access by the public. Sue
Davison has been doing the indexing for many years and the first entries were done by Shirley Finnel and
then Glenys Hawkins.
Putting data into the plant database also became a vital volunteer job, Eleanor Lane and Gene Holdsworth
helped Steve Benham to keep the plant records up to date, and on occasions helping with plant census.
By 1999 visitations were increasing, so a suggestion was put to the Friends that some type of internal
transport would be of a huge benefit to the visitors, and would enable the less mobile people to see more
of the Gardens. The Friends applied to the Wiri Licensing Trust for carriages, and to the Lion Foundation for
the tractor both were successful. Sri Benham was asked to do the paintings on the carriages and by August
2000 Judith Tizard cut the ribbon on the Wiri Rambler and all was set for another fundraiser. The name
'Wiri Rambler' came about as a result of a competition run by the Friends, there were 50 names submitted
and the winner was Rod Bieleski. There are now a group of volunteer guides and drivers who regularly do
guided tours on a Sunday afternoons, weather permitting, and also the service has extended to wedding
parties being taken to their site and group tours.
Throughout the years the amount of hours given by the volunteers has been enormous and in appreciation
the garden staff have provide special familiarisation tours of the gardens and also the annual Xmas Party
which has always been highly successful and enjoyable.
Well done the volunteers
Complied by Roger Price
Education Officer and Coordinator of volunteer programmes
Volunteers Christmas Lunch
The Plant Group Volunteers 1991 - 2007
Mr Brian Buchanan and others arranged that a bi-monthly meeting be held where Friends could share their
love of plants and the first of these was held in the Logan Campbell building. Later, meetings were held in
the Friends' new building. The format was to be lunch at 12.00 noon, a speaker at 12.30 and finishing at
2.00pm. Those first meetings were chaired by Miss Joan Dingley and there was a 50c charge.
Some of the speakers over that time were Joy Amos, Keith Hammett, Noel Scotting, Ormonde Foster, Betty
Gross, John Meyer, Terry Sibley, George Rainey, Sue Davison, Bromly West Steve Benham, Tony Murrell,
Doug Hunt, Neville Haydon, Stuart Robertson, Eleanor Lane, Bev Wade, Joy Carter, Caroline Chitty, Rod
Bieleski, Paula Lollback, Andrew Tills(Camellia Haven), Terry Hatch, Rose Weir, Roger Price, Gordon Nolan,
Ian Baldick and Wayne Dymond.
A huge range of interesting topics has been covered; proteas, fuchsias, Vietnam and the hill country forests,
cactus, Christmas flowers, begonias, shrubs, miniature narcissus, roses in the Botanic Gardens, herbs, lilies,
Madagascar, vegetables, South African bulbsm palms, salvias in the Gardens, mini camellias, the history of
the Botanic gardens, Christmas decorations and designs, pollinating clivias and setting seed, heritage seeds,
the International Camellia Show in China, potting mixes, hellebores, magnolias, hanging baskets and
miniature bulbs. Visits were made, too, to the Friends" library, to Maggie Burrill's garden and to the
Children's Garden.
Many of the members also spoke on their specialist topics of interest. Those who have not been
mentioned so far include; Joan Dingley, Jean Veal, Wendy Hickmott, Mary Colquhoun, John and Molly
Rogers, Maggie Burrill, Margaret Matthews, Myra Price, Joyce Cleary, Jo Gamble, Val Bieleski, Marjory
Oakes, Neville Miller, Onah Redpath, Marion Jones, Judith Hunt and Graeme Hauer.
Convenors for the Group have been; Joan Dingley, Maggie Burrill, Sue Davison and Mary Colquhoun.
Mary Colquhoun
Plant Group Coordinator
Some snippets from early Plant Group meetings
1994 - Mary Colquhoun..... The most colourful shrubs at present are the vireya
rhododendrons, 30 odd, repeat bloomers and always giving colour all year. Shocking
puggy soil, but I dug two spits deep, filled with all sorts of fibre, pine needles, stable
manure, barks of various sizes, hay, rotted silage, plus sheep and deer manure (nice
worms). Perimeter shade, but much light .....
1995 - Noel Scotting addressed the group, explaining her philosophy and approach to
gardening. The emphasis is on all-year-round colour of flower and foliage, diversity of
form, texture and size. The palms, as well as foliage, produce a range of flower and seed
over the year
Members plant sharing - members presented plants from their gardens. These included
shrubby fuchsias with contrasting racemes of pink and white.....and red flowers. ... There
were also examples of Caryopteris incana, Campanula, Macleaya cordata , Plectranthus
argentatus, Hibiscus, Echeveria, Salvia cardinalis, Corydalis and Delphinium.
Later in 1995 Joy Moffit spoke on Chrysanthemums, and members shared a range of
salvias, showing the diversity of the genus in turn reflecting its geographical range and
consequently its garden and landscaping use and cultural requirements’
‘Members also brought along a range of vireya rhododendrons and commented on the
better flower colour in the autumn....
In spring of the same year, Joan Dingley spoke on evergreen azaleas and members
presented a good range of plants, including camellias and primulas.
In August 1997, Robin Brown, President of the Auckland Lily Society, talked about
daffodils and showed blooms of the different classes. He emphasised that daffodils do
best in a light soil, poor in nitrogen, but with an adequate supply of phosphate and
potash. When growing daffodils in pots, he incorporates bone dust, bone meal or bone
flakes, or old-fashioned basic slag in the potting mix, repotting the bulb every two or
three years.
Members brought examples of Rhodochiton astrosanguineum and Lithops..
The Growing Friends Volunteer Group
Since the beginning the Friends have sold plants to raise funds, but for the early years this was done on an
informal basis.
Plants came from several sources. Some came from the Botanic Gardens nursery when staff had grown
more than they required. Others were grown by members at home or were donated by commercial
nurseries.
In the early years the mid winter soup day was usually connected with the winter sale of the gardens
perennials. The gardens staff regularly dug up their perennials to divide and replant and gave us plants that
were surplus to their requirements. They were divided into large clumps and sold for a couple of dollars.
They were plants that grew well in Auckland gardens, and were popular with members wanting to fill up
their gardens. Members also brought along plants and cutting materials which were also sold.
It became customary to try to have plants for sale at the Sunday morning rambles.
For several years Margaret Dooley brought plants that she had grown in her own back garden. Margaret
did not have a car so she relied on her sister-in-law Betty Ford to bring her. Having driven Margaret, Betty
sat back to relax with a smoke, while Margaret set up her stall. There were always interesting things, in all
sorts of recycled containers. She loved chatting to her customers and always served people with a smile.
Other members often brought plants as well but no one as often and as many as Margaret.
Brian Buchanan had seen Friends at other Botanic Gardens growing plants for sale and had suggested that
we do the same. Members of the Friends wanted a regular supply of plants and the Gardens staff wanted
to ensure that the standard reflected that it was a Botanic Gardens, and consideration was given to the
Friends growing their own.
At the end of my 2 years as President in 1995 I decided I would see if we could start a group to grow the
plants. With the support of Maggie Burrell, the President and staff at the Botanic gardens, we made a start.
Most of the early members came from the Gardens Plant group
The gardens nursery allowed us to have an area in the nursery. We worked in their potting shed, and had to
try not to get too much in their way. At first there was no set day to meet. I just called for volunteers to
come on one of my days off work, usually a Thursday. Soon I was able to leave the running of this group to
John Meyer who was helped by Bev Wade and Mary Colquhoun, and settled to meeting on the third
Thursday of the month.
The group produced plants that were able to be sold at the monthly rambles. Donna Jarman then stepped
forward to help organise the volunteers to sell the plants. She has continued with this job for sometime.
Plants were put into trays usually the Friday before sales although on numerous occasions they were made
ready early Sunday morning.
Each sale we had to move a couple of trailer loads of plants from the gardens nursery over to the courtyard
where the rambles were held. The garden staff usually helped with this until some members learned to
drive the golf cart. Volunteers Bruce and Shona Pitcaithly took on the responsibility of moving the plants.
As well as having the plant sales at the ramble, we started a Spring and an Autumn sale instead of the mid
winter sale. This became an important event, with many people coming especially for the sale. We always
seemed to have a problem with the starting time. Every year no matter what time we specified, someone
would get it wrong, and we were told but X said 9 am on the radio, or else we would be shown a printed ad
with last years time on it. As we were setting up in a public area, it was hard to keep spectators out. Even
though we explained to people it wasn't open to the public yet, some refused to move out of the area until
opening time. Eventually Doug came with his electric fence which we put up to keep people out. It seemed
to work fairly well even though it was never live. We were always dependent on the weather and some
years it just did not co-operate. One year, when we had moved most of the plants over to the covered area,
I was soaked to the skin and freezing so I decided to go home and get changed. Fortunately by the time I
was soaked the second time, the sale was almost finished and we had put most of the left-over plants in
the nursery.
Preparation for these sales took a while. Not only did all the plants need weeding and tidying, but they had
to be labelled with the scientific and common names as well as the price. This was usually done the
weekend before the sale and the plants were then put into trays. We were fortunate that we had Steve
Benham help from the beginning in getting the right names. As we were selling plants as of Friends of the
Botanic Gardens, the right scientific name was essential. Originally all the names had to be handwritten.
Sometimes if we did not sell the plant at one sale, by the next one the name had washed off and we had to
write it again, and hopefully someone knew what it was.
When Ormond Foster took over the leadership of the group he developed the system of labels we still use
today. Descriptions were prepared, and then checked by Steve Benham and entered on a computer database. Then Mary Lewin printed the labels and stuck them to the tags. This has resulted in us having good
long-lasting labels.
Setting up the tables and moving the trays over to the courtyard was another mammoth job. We could
usually get volunteers to help with the selling, but most were women of mature years, not really able to put
out big tables and lift trays of plants. It was usually left to a few regulars. Tidying away was almost worse as
the helpers were by then tired.
One of the most popular items were tuberous Begonias. The gardens had ordered some small seedlings for
display, and we arranged to have some extras sent to us. These were grown-on and eventually they were
sold at different Friends’ events as well as by members at other clubs and events. That year the Growing
Friends had a very healthy profit.
Another popular item was spare Dahlia tubers, from when the gardens divided their displays.
Unfortunately, after a few years, the gardens decided that the tubers were almost certainly too infected by
virus to allow us to sell them.
For a couple of years we had a trolley of plants by the Visitors Centre from which we sold plants. This was
popular with visitors to the gardens. Volunteers came regularly to look after the plants and replace ones
that were sold.
For a few years we used old bread trays. Finding trays was always a problem. We no sooner had collected a
number for our use than they seemed to disappear. I thought we had finally found a good supply when a
nurseryman friend gave me the phone number of a supplier. Great, he would sell us bread trays at $3 each.
I did wonder as most prices I had been quoted were over $10. I had been told by at least one bread
company that they used all their trays and any broken ones were ground down for recycling. The supplier
explained that these were trays that had been contaminated, for example by animals or something so they
could not be used for bread etc. This was reasonable and we brought several lots, until I got a phone call
from a private detective. Our supplier was under investigation. The local bread companies, annoyed at the
regular theft of their trays had decided to act. It ended up with us losing all our trays (as did several other
plant growers) and our supplier ended up in court. We later found that old bulb trays could be bought –
totally legitimately- and they were a smaller size and were easier for the volunteers to carry if full of plants.
Over the years various people have been leaders of this group.
• John Meyer took over leadership from the early days. He established a lot of the practices that
continue to this day. Plants were propagated from selected plants in the Gardens, especially those for
which the Gardens had large collections.
• Mary Colquhoun and Bev Wade grew a wide range of plants good for cut flowers, many of which
were propagated from their own garden. They worked tirelessly to propagate large numbers of plants.
• Ormond Foster developed the system of labels that we still use today. Modelling them on ones used
in a local nursery he experimented until he found a system that produced good quality long lasting
labels. In producing the labels he was helped by Mary Lewin who still prints labels as required. Ormond
believed best cuttings from plants came from growth that received the early morning sun. His sudden
death left a large gap in the group.
• Doug Hunt took over the leadership. He had joined the group at Steve Benham's suggestion to help
check we had labelled the plants with the correct scientific names. It was Doug who started the system
of members taking responsibility for a particular type of plant. It was a big loss when he moved to the
South Island for family reasons.
• When Margaret Vincent took over the leadership, the group was meeting once a month. Dawn Hight
would ring around to get 4-5 people to come and help. Margaret decided to try to have more working
days. After speaking to Wayne Dymond (Manager of the Gardens nursery) members began meeting
every Thursday. Wayne arranged for a green-house to be made available for us, prepared a suitable
working area as well as moving our growing-on area next to the green-house. As people were no longer
working in the nursery potting shed, there was no need to restrict the number of people who could
come. As the shop was opening in the new visitors centre Margaret realised that we could no longer sell
plants from our trolley. With Wayne's agreement the plant sales were held in our growing area. This was
the spring and autumn sales, but we also began to sell plants during the Thursday working bees.
Margaret advertised for equipment and we received a wheel barrow and cupboard/bench.
• Sue Davison took over running the group for a couple of years and has ensured that our standards
remained high.
• Sue then handed over the reins to Graeme Hauer, who carries on the fine tradition of the successful
growing and sales of high quality plants.
Over the years we have worked at the Gardens nursery we have always had cooperation and help from the
staff, especially in the nursery. For a number of years they made room for us in their potting shed. They
have given us their excess plants, and were always helpful with advice and encouragement. It was to say
thank you that the Growing Friends wanted one of the birthday gifts to be especially for the nursery. We
were pleased that we could donate the bench solar heater for the glass house.
Many different members have helped with the Growing Friends and the plant sales over the years. They are
too many to name and thank individually. Not only have they contributed to the Friends, however most
have enjoyed the time they helped and have made some good friendships. The Growing Friends still meet
every Thursday 9.30-12 at the nursery. If you want to join a friendly group of people and learn about how
to propagate and grow plants, come and meet us.
Kathrina Muller
President, 1993 – 1995
Trustee, 1993 – 1995
Life Member, 2003
An additional service now offered by the Growing Friends is their Summer Sunday Sales – run on the first
Sunday of each month from September to May, 10.00 am to 2.00pm
Growing Friends Lunch
The Wiri Rambler Volunteer Group
Brian Herbert describes the long road to Rambling
The Wiri Rambler began life in October 2000, it was given its name after a successful application to the Wiri
Licensing Trust for funds for the building of the two carriages. The main reason for the Wiri Rambler was to
make sure that the older persons can still get around the gardens. The floral decoration was designed and
painted by Sri Benham. The train at the Auckland Zoo owned and operated by Kevin Magness who was
commissioned to get two carriages built exactly like his own, plus he also arranged for the sound system to
be purchased from Magness Sound. With the carriages built the next thing we needed was pulling power
which came in the form of borrowing the small tractor from the Botanic Gardens at weekends.
I have been a member of Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens for around 12 years, but it was not until I
retired in 1999 that I could be more involved in the activites during the day time. The first group I joined
was the Garden Group on a Thursday morning which I enjoyed immensely, then in December 2000 I was
approached by Marion Hendry to see if I would like to be a driver on the Wiri Rambler and join a very keen
group of volunteers who operated the Rambler at weekends. I thought this would be something different
and was passed out for driving the tractor by the garden staff. By March 2001 I was again approached by
Marion to see if I would take over running the roster as she was so busy with the Secretary's job for the
Friends, once more I said OK. Then the next move was would I represent the Wiri Ramber on the Friends
Executive Committee and before I knew where I was I was the co-ordinator of the Wiri Rambler. Let me say
now that I had 5 years in that position with quite a few frustrations but over all I enjoyed the time, the
people, our team and the gardens.
Over the first few weeks as co-ordinator I had to meet the team as there were a few of the drivers that I did
not know but most of the guides I had already worked with. At this time we tried to attract a few more of
the Friends into being drivers or guides, we built a team of around 20 people which kept me quite busy
with the roster for Saturdays and Sundays.
One of my first memories was the day about 2 months after becoming co-ordinator there came a knock on
my front door and there stood Kevin Magness, he gave me a form and told me it was to get the registration
certificate from OSH needed for the Wiri Rambler. I found out that we had been operating for over 6
months illegally also on top of that we should have had a permit from Manukau City Council. I gave the bad
news to the committee at the next meeting and it was decided that the Wiri Rambler would stay in the
shed until I had both registration and permit sorted out.
This was quite an eye opener for me never having had anything to do with OSHS or Councils. I filled in the
form and took it to OSH in Manukau City only to be told it had to go to Wellington, also I could not get a
permit from the Council until I had the Registration Certificate to accompany my permit application. Well
after about 2 months with the Wiri Rambler shut away in the shed I received the registration Certificate
back from Wellington, so off to the Council for the permit but it's not that easy I am told by the Council that
the Wiri Rambler must be inspected and certified by a certified engineer. I cannot remember how I found
him but I eventually found Mr Forrest who was a semi-retired certified engineer who lived in Manurewa
and who was willing to do the inspection and paper work for free, as he was a lover of the Gardens and
thought we were doing a great job. I used Mr Forrest to renew the permit for the next 3 years until he
retired altogether.
We had a few teething problems at the beginning with the new sound system, our No.2 speaker would stop
operating after an hour or so making it quite difficult for the guide to make herself heard. We tried all
things, new batteries, had the speaker's checked out by Magness Sound, all to no avail in the end Magness
replaced it with a new one – problem solved.
After a while we started operating the Rambler for special bookings on weekdays, over the years we have
taken all sorts of different clubs and groups on our tour of the Gardens. Our weekday specials take a full
hour where as our weekend public tours take 20 minutes. We also started bookings for weddings where we
take the guest's and sometimes the bride from the car park to the various venues in the gardens. I never
had trouble getting a guide for a wedding I wonder why!
The only trouble with specials at the beginning was our need to borrow the tractor during the garden staffs
working hours which was not always convenient so sometimes we had to change days and times to fit in
with their work. This started us thinking about how to obtain our own pulling power. At the next committee
meeting it was decided we would look at electric power as it would suit the environment in the gardens
better. I arranged with E-Z-GO to test one of their electric carts over the Easter period. On the Saturday we
didn't get many passengers and managed to get round the circuit OK, but on the Sunday with a full load on
it refused to climb the hill by the South African garden, we had explained to the passengers before we
started about the trial and although they had to walk back I am sure they enjoyed it.
So back to committee – it was decided to try and purchase a secondhand tractor, after Rod Bieleski and
myself had looked at about half a dozen what with the price and condition it soon became clear we would
be better off trying to raise the money to purchase a new one. We applied to one or two Trusts for a grant
and were very lucky when the Lion Foundation granted us about 90% of the price of a new Kubota, that
would give us more freedom to operate as we like, plus a nice new tractor would look good on the
Rambler.
The new tractor arrived early 2004 and of course it had to be registered and certified before we could
operate it. For the certification we had to have a jack knife test carried out on the steepest hill in the
gardens with a full load of passengers on board. Mr Forrest was only available on Monday afternoons so my
problem was where to find 16 people to make a full load. Jack Hobbs came to my rescue with him and 15
garden staff who all thought it a big joke, but we passed the test and received the certification.
The Wiri Rambler has been involved in some of the big events at the Gardens such as the Ellerslie Flower
Show, the opening of the Potters Childrens Garden, we didn't manage to get Prince Charles to board the
Rambler, but we did transport all the duty police on that day from the car park down to the Childrens
Garden, it pays to keep on the right side of the law.
The Wiri Rambler would be nothing without our great team of volunteer guides who have done a
wonderful job over the years sharing their knowledge of the gardens with all the different people, local and
overseas visitors who have really enjoyed the tour around the garden, not forgetting the drivers who
without them we would go nowhere.
There are a few people I would like to thank who gave me and the Wiri Rambler great support during my 5
years as co-ordinator – Byrdie Ayres, Rod Bieleski, Margaret & Neil Brown, Marion Hendry, Jeanine White,
Val & Fred Simpson Norma & Sid Leivers, Pat & Fred Shaddick (Sid & Fred are now sadly deceased),
Thanks again for all your help. All the best for the Wiri Ramblers future in the Botanic Gardens.
Brian Herbert
Rambler Coordinator, 2000 - 2005
Some Rambler tales
On the morning of the 13th May, Mothers Day, we did a Special for an extended Samoan family. It was a
glorious day and the Gardens were very busy. On the first trip we took the Mothers, Grandmothers and
great Grandmothers, which included the head of the family. All the ladies were wearing leis and had
flowers in their hair - a very colourful and happy party. On the second trip the train was full of children
ranging in age from about two to teenagers, plus some adults. One of the older children had a guitar which
resulted in a sing-song and he also had a go at doing the commentary! On the way round the young
children were calling out "HAPPY MOTHERS DAY" to every female we passed regardless of age and also
HAPPY GRANDFATHERS DAY to one of their Grandfathers walking round. By the time we got back we felt
everyone in the Gardens would be smiling and then the cameras came out and we were asked to smile too.
The whole trip was most enjoyable for us all and one that makes the voluntary job on the Wiri Rambler so
worthwhile.
Pat Shaddick and Trixie Gurney Wiri Rambler Volunteers
The Ride of the Valkyries
It is probably worth recording the story of how the Wiri Rambler carried out its very first assignment. It
came about this way. In the preliminary stages, we drivers were doing training runs to make sure we were
competent to drive the beast. It was at that “learner driver” stage when Parks Committee of the ARC was
visiting the Gardens, partly to have a general look but particularly to check out the Ellerslie Flower Show
site. Jack thought it would be a great idea to pull out the Wiri Rambler (then known as something ugly like
the ‘internal transport system’) and park it in front of the courtyard so the Parks Committee could see this
new contribution of the Friends to life in the Gardens, and I undertook to do the job. We got more than we
bargained for. After some admiring clucking, someone (and I deeply suspect it was Bill Burrill, Parks
Chairman at the time and longstanding friend of the Gardens) said “could we ride on this down to the
Ellerslie Flower Show site?” Well, what do you say? “Oh yes” I said airily, “no problem, that’s the sort of
thing it will be for”. In short order the Parks Committee boarded the Rambler, chattering like a bunch of
schoolchildren. The first part was eminently successful. We cruised around the main road at a nice brisk
walking pace, with the beauty of the Gardens unfolding at just the right speed. But then things turned a bit
interesting when we got to the rose garden, where the gates didn’t permit passage of the Rambler to the
Ellerslie site. “No problemo” I thought, “we can cut through the workshop area.” And that’s what we did.
But what I hadn’t allowed for was that the surface there has the general texture of a river bed, and the
Rambler doesn’t have springs. It wasn’t so bad up on the tractor with its big tyres and sprung seat, but the
carriages really bounced and jounced, and I could envisage the Park Committee losing breakfasts. But I
have to tell you the members of the Parks Committee were no wimps, didn’t ask to be let off, and treated it
all as a huge piece of fun. We went out the other end, across a flat bit of lawn, and down the nice smooth
road into the Ellerslie Flower Show site, where I parked up while they did their thing.
I guess I assumed that the one-way trip would be enough for the Parks Committee, but no way. With the
inspection finished, they piled back on the Rambler with the clear expectation of making the return trip. At
that point, I registered a slight problem. I hadn’t learned how to back the Rambler (I never did), and I
couldn’t see a loop in the road where we could turn around. The pasture was recently mown, the ground
was dry, and with the mighty Kubota saying “I know I can, I know I can”, we went in a broad sweep across
the pasture and back onto the road. The trip back was pretty much a repeat of the trip there. A
boneshaking spell through the workshop area, a gentle amble around the other side of the lake, back to the
Library, and the debouching of some very satisfied customers. Without doubt, the very first trip of the
Rambler had been a huge success. Jack was chuffed, I was chuffed, and the Rambler smiled gently.
It was only later that the euphoria died a bit, and I thought “wasn’t that a bit adventurous, going on the
workshop road and having the excursion through the pasture? Shouldn’t I have worked up to it all
gradually?” And it was quite a bit later that, through Brian Herbert, we started hearing of all the OSH
regulations we must have contravened. So in case there are any OSH eagle eyes reading this piece, and any
OSH legal beagles contemplating court action, let me say that this story is just that - a story. Not a word of
truth in it. The product of a deranged mind. Pure fiction.
Or is it?
Rod Bieleski
Since Brian Herbert stood down as Wiri Rambler coordinator in 2009, the role has been taken up by Biddy
Mitchell, then Jill Groves and currently by Kate Moodie. Managing the maintenance and licensing has fallen
to Terry Becher, Neil McCarthy and John Yelavich.
Some major improvements have been made in that time – the introduction of a walkie-talkie system for
ease of communication between the guide and the driver has improved safety and waterproof screening
had added to everyone’s comfort.
The Rambler continues to be a popular feature of the Gardens with increasing weekend running and
weekday “Specials”
The Botanical Painting Group
In the late 1990s a workshop introducing botanical painting was given by Sri Benham in the Friends building
at the Gardens, followed by another six months later. Many who attended the first course came again to
the second. Maggie Burrill's idea of a regular group meeting was eagerly received. Sri was happy to be our
tutor. So began the Gardens' Painting Group.
Sri, originally from Malaysia, had trained in botanical art in Belguim and later in Britain. Her work is highly
regarded. She won competitions in the USA and here in New Zealand her botanical paintings have been
reproduced by card manufacturers. Her meticulously accurate paintings have a marvellously distinct style .
She set high standards for herself and yet was always gentle and encouraging to the members of the group.
After some years the group was invited to stage an exhibition. This, a first for the group, was in a tent in the
Gardens! Then came exhibitions of our work in the covered space and, excitingly, some of the work was
sold! The next displays were held in the Library foyer with the assistance of Roger Price and his trusty
hammer. Also, some members of the group were on display actually painting. After our initial trepidation
we quite enjoyed talking to the public about our work. The new Visitor Centre building was opened in April
2005 and we really had a ball with the largest exhibition to date. Exhibitions there continue in conjunction
with special events at the Gardens.
We wish to pay a special tribute to Sri for her wonderfully helpful teaching over many years. Her
demonstrations were always carefully prepared and she was always truly delighted with our efforts.
Throughout the early exhibitions Sri was always on hand to help and give advice. She smiled and praised
and we were warmed by her love. Sri has now turned her remarkable talent to other styles of painting.
For these last years the group has continued painting together on the last Saturday of the month in the
Friends building. The group does not have a regular tutor but every second month various teachers of
painting are invited to give a lesson. Money is collected from each participant to pay the guest teacher. On
the intervening months the members meet to paint together, share ideas and discuss each other's work.
In 2006, we visited Blake Twigden to see the beautiful birds in the aviary and the stunning bird paintings in
the gallery. Brent McGuire's day with us resulted in several of the group attending the two-day workshop in
2007 with Brent and Ann Swan, a visiting British botanical artist. Both artists have won gold and silver
medals for their botanical art and work with colored pencils at the Royal Horticultural Society's exhibitions.
We thank the Friends of the Botanic Gardens for the use of their building - it is the hub of our efforts.
Doreen Briggs has been with the group since the beginning and has been a tower of strength throughout
and now with Helen Gunter keeps the group organised and continuing to flourish.
Through loving observation and patient study we aim to record in watercolour painting the wonderful,
ephemeral world of plants, leaves and flowers.
Muriel Maule
Botanical Painting Group
When Doreen Briggs stood down from her role as the Painting Group Coordinator the task was very ably
taken up by Janice Simons and Helen Gunter. The Group’s annual exhibition has become a popular feature
of the Gardens calendar and gives members an opportunity to show off their work to a wider public - and
often, to sell!
Sadly, we lost our lovely Doreen in 2015. She is remembered with great fondness by all who knew her.
The Library Volunteers
The Friends Horticultural Library was opened in 1992 and since that time has been staffed by volunteers,
initially on three days per week, expanding more recently to take in Fridays and Sundays. Coordination of
the Library Management Group which approves purchases, and of the volunteers, is by the Botanical
Records and Conservation Specialist, Emma Bodley.
Volunteers enjoy assisting the public with their gardening queries – the large selection of books and
journals on every horticultural topic means an answer can usually be found.
A recent development has been the Reading Room in the library foyer – a comfortable and attractive place
to sit and enjoy new home, garden and design magazines.
The library volunteers with Emma
The Gardens Volunteer groups
Roving team
Each Thursday the roving team meets from 9am-12pm to volunteer at the Gardens. The roving team gets
booked to do a different gardening task each week so it’s a fun and diverse role. The staff love having the
roving team to help in the garden because they get stuck in and complete big jobs in a short space of time.
The flexibility of the roving team works for many volunteers because it allows for intermittent volunteering
and the diversity of the tasks keep it interesting and constantly changing.
School holiday programme volunteers
Each school holidays a group of volunteers help deliver fun and exciting school holiday programmes based
on a seasonal theme. Volunteers help with setting up for the programme and delivering activities, getting
children and their parents involved. Activities range from scavenger hunts to planting seedlings, craft
activities and more. The volunteers love working with children and enjoy the range of activities each term.
Curator-led teams
Several curators at the Gardens have their own team of volunteers. Ranging from volunteers in the Edible
Garden, Native Collections, African Garden, Rose Garden and more, these curator-led volunteer teams are
invaluable at the Gardens. Volunteers commit to working on a specific day each week with the curator and
over time become very familiar with the collection and the tasks involved. Curators love having volunteers
to help with their collections and enjoy the relationship building that ensues.
Rose Garden Volunteers
When I became Curator of the Rose Garden in July 2000, I discovered that, as well as becoming
responsible for some 6500 roses, my inheritance included a group of rose "dead-heading"
volunteers from amongst the Friends. As the group was predominantly made of ladies, I was told it
had sometimes been referred to as "Doug's harem" – after my predecessor!
The contribution of our team of volunteers to the overall appearance of the Rose Garden
throughout the flowering season is huge. Certainly, without their assistance, it would be impossible
to achieve the same level of maintenance.
As with any group, over the years we have welcomed new members and said farewell to others.
Each person has made a special contribution and we have had a lot of fun and laughs along the way.
Working alongside our volunteers has been one of the most satisfying parts of my job. They have
provided a huge amount of support and encouragement during the gradual redevelopment of the
Rose Garden and their friendship has been greatly appreciated. They truly are an awesome bunch!
Paula Lollback
Collection Curator – Roses
The lovely Rose garden
volunteers with Paula
Maintaining the Plant Data Base and the Plant Census
In the Winter 1994 Newsletter, newly appointed Plants Records Officer, Steve Benham, wrote about the
importance of accurately recording the plants in the Gardens and entering the information onto the Plant
Data Base. A group of volunteers undertook this task, and Steve emphasised the need for expert help in
the complex task of preparing the information for entry.
Later that year, Steve called for an additional group of volunteers to undertake a census of the plants in the
Gardens . As he explained it ‘Every so often a botanic garden undertakes the task of stocktaking the Living
Plants Collections.....the BG Plant Census. .....The job involves recording the plant’s identity number from
thre accesion tag number attached to the plant, the current number of living plants, height and diameter of
woody plants and the condition of the plant label.’
Eleanor Lane describes the work
I started at the Botanic Gardens in1997 after seeing an advertisement in the Pohutukawa Post In it they
were asking for volunteers to start at 7am to 4pm! doing data entries on the computer. Having used a
computer a little at home, I thought I'd ring this Steve Benham to find out more about it. The children had
all grown up and we had only one 17 year old at home who didn't really need Mum, or so he told me! I was
a little concerned about the hours we were needed but Steve put my heart at rest when I rang and told me
that hours were flexible.
There were 2 of us who did this work. Gene Holdsworth worked on Tuesday morning and I worked
Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3.OOpm, so we never met for a long time.
At first the work was to put early plant records onto the computer. These dated back to 1975. There were
22 areas that plant records could be entered under. All perennial plants that came into the Gardens had to
be recorded. They started with an Accession Number, Date of Entry, Name they came in by, True Botanical
Name with plant authority attached, Vernacular Name, Plant Family, Geographical Region, Propagule,
Angiosperm/Gymnosperm, Plant Nursery/Source etc. The date they were planted in to the garden, number
of plants, and whereabouts in the garden was also important. From time to time the Germination book had
to be consulted and all the plants that had come in as seeds were recorded as Date sown, Date of
germination, how many had been planted out, and then when and where they were put eventually. Rare
New Zealand plants had a provenance attached and in recent times these had a GPS location. There were
always Deaths and Transfers to record too.
Before the Metallex machine entered the scene, we had to inscribe aluminium tags with a machine that
was horribly reminiscent of a dentist's drill. It needed a steady hand to do this and sometimes Steve asked
me to do this job. After Metallex arrived I often had the incredibly boring job of sorting out the tags as they
popped out of the machine and getting them into order so that they could be fixed by wire onto the plant.
Metallex had a mind of it's own, and lots of problems. It was very vexing and it spent long hours at the
Metallex doctor's place. At those times the dentist's machine came out again. Now if you go around the
Gardens and hear tinkly noises in the wind, you will know those are the tags I'm talking about. Each woody
plant has one of it's own and soft plants have one at intervals.
Steve made the job more interesting as we went out in Summer to do plant censuses. We did a Search of
the computer and print out of what was meant to be in that particular garden. Thankfully he knew what the
plants looked like. My knowledge of Botany never really existed. My job was to get down, crawl on hands
and knees and count the number of plants or ascertain as best I could how many were in a clump. Good
that I wasn't scared of insects as I often had a goodly number down every available crevice. We received
numerous gibes from passers by as to what they thought we were doing...counting weeds, checking soil
conditions, being an ostrich! I learnt to wear older, looser clothes when we did a census. It was easier to
shake out the bugs. I learnt how to kill mealy bugs on Maori potatoes with a paintbrush and meths, and
how to prune and trim little plants so that they would be just right in time for the Ellerslie Flower Show.
(Steve was very patient and long suffering but I did get the occasional snort from him, asking how on earth I
managed to do that on the data base? Well I just pushed some key somewhere accidentally and the
computer did it all by itself!!.My husband proved invaluable as I checked out computer functions with him
so that I didn't appear to be too foolish.) In fact I learnt heaps.
It's really hard to describe the job in a few short paragraphs, except to say that I had a marvellous ten years
doing all sorts of things that were much more interesting than housework. I met many people, did many
interesting things and a bit of Botany rubbed off in between. I would thoroughly recommend a voluntary
job at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
(Sounds like a testimonial!)
Eleanor Lane
Plant Data Base volunteer
Nursery Volunteers
I started my pool of volunteers in the nursery out of sheer desperation due to the increase in both the
revegetation plant orders required in the ever increasing ARC coastal parks and with the ongoing
development of our Botanic Garden.
We have a pool of four people which have been with us for years now which hopefully indicates that they
are a happy bunch. We had 6 but 2 moved away. One started anew career move and the other retired to
Waiheke.
Of the four we have it is a little hard to see them as anything else but a strong part of what makes a very
productive and entertaining crew. The one male we have in the group is to say the least, a very good
handyman who carries all his tasks out with extreme perfectionalism which is reflected in his work. I
cannot even begin to list the hundreds of repairs, replacements and structures Alan has built for us which
has saved us thousands over the years. Alan comes in 2 days a week and he says he likes it because it adds
to his interests in retirement,
Of the three ladies who come in one day each a week, they help out with all manner of nursery work from
propagation to pricking out to bagging and the dreaded weeding.Judi, Sue and Ngaire have worked with us
for years and hopefully the can look back on what they have contributed to improving Aucklands
environment.
From a purely selfish side here, as Nursery Manager, that have released me of the otherwise overburden
of plant production and have saved my sanity in more ways then one. They come in all optimistic, full of
exciting news both in travel and what they have been up to and this adds hugely to making the nursery
crew a cheery bunch.
From their point or view I would like to think they have gained knowledge in Horticulture and also been
entertained from the vast range of personalities there are at the Gardens. I am sure that over the years
they have gained experience in being social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists which they probably
had no idea would be part of their volunteer programme.
With our group of volunteers it equates to having another full time member of staff on board and I would
love to take this opportunity in thanking each individually:
Ngaire de Renzy - for your no nonsense approach to work and who takes her tasks by the horns and for
putting up with our sometimes crude jokes.
Alan Kitcheman - for all your projects which has made the nursery such a better and more productive
workplace.
Sue Mitchell - for all your hard work and having been shocked over the years on many occasions with what
goes on in peoples lives. I love seeing your facial expressions and would love to know if they are from real
shock or just pure entertainment.
Judi Hatfield - again for all your hardwork and all your wonderful stories and humour.
Collectively, I have to say I am very fortunate to have such a diverse bunch who know how to work, know
how to be broadminded, know how to laugh and know what working at the Botanic Gardens is all about in
the big picture of making Auckland a better place.
Life as a volunteer in the Botanic Gardens Nursery over several years has been a huge learning curve as
I have learned new skills of propagation from seed, growing plants from cuttings, pricking out of
seedlings and many other aspects of nursery work, including general maintenance, watering and
weeding.
Being involved in the growing of native plants from seed for the ARC coastal and parks
regeneration projects is both stimulating and exciting.
The nursery is a great place to volunteer, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. My weekly day in
that environment is one 1 look forward to.
Judi Hadfield