Friends of the gardens grow stronger

AHEAD of their fortieth anniversary next year, the Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens met at the Robert Clark Conservatory last week to toast their growth and achievement in 2021.

FBBG passed 400 members recently and has seen as many as five people join up within one day.

President Terry O’Brien has been a Friend for more than a decade, and attributes the 2020 to 2021 boom to the community rediscovering a love of the outdoors throughout the pandemic.

“The membership shows the deepening local appreciation for these Gardens… in a year that’s been very hard for people,” he said.

“A lot of people value this local environment perhaps more than they used to. During COVID times, the Gardens have been an important way for many to cope, as they move through this beautiful, relaxing, uplifting space.

“The Gardens will also be important for Ballarat’s economic recovery from COVID’s impact, with its ability to attract visitors and tourists.”

The FBBG community invites people of all ages to become a proactive volunteer in one or many areas of the Gardens, or just be a financial supporter.

Friends can get involved in the Gardens’ plant nursery, leading public tours, history and hospitality groups, the BotaniKIDS program, and advocacy for the broader Lake Wendouree precinct, including fairyland and the wetlands.

Regular presentations from guest speakers are also accessible to group members, and those interested in joining FBBG can commit for a short term, or for years at a time.

“Some people who join the Friends are keen to involve themselves in many of the social groups and activities,” Mr O’Brien said.

“For others, their membership is just a way they can show their support for an organisation working to ensure these gardens thrive.

“But strong community support through FBBG membership adds strength to our lobbying position to ensure these Gardens remain a high priority for Ballarat.”

As FBBG’s 40th birthday celebrations approach, the committee is brainstorming ideas for the community to get involved in anniversary activities and events, and ways they can engage a greater number of young people into the future.