By Natasha Fujimoto
IMAGINE a native botanical garden situated on the confluence of two great rivers, offering picturesque walks, themed gardens that honour cultural diversity and provides an arresting landscape to promote art, horticulture and a love of nature.
The Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton (ABGS), located in Kialla is such a place, and was once, inconceivably, a rubbish tip.
With the indominable spirit and drive of community volunteers, later culminating into the Friends of the Australian Botanical Gardens (FABGS), in conjunction with Council appointed committees, the tip was transformed into breath-taking native gardens after a decade of remediation, planning and sheer hard work.
A beacon of sustainable practice and utilising recyclable materials, the gardens today represent the power of community collaboration as well as the realization of an envisaged space generating both an awareness and appreciation of the native environment.
Without town water, electricity and a whole host of other challenges inherent in the Council site, ABGS advisory committee member Jenny Houlihan said that the difficulties from the start were treated as opportunities rather than hindrances.
“Ten years ago, when the site was allocated for botanical gardens, we necessarily had to see problems as opportunities. We envisioned, during planning, a place that would combine the natural elements of the bush, displaying natives in all their glory as well as attract birds and animals.
“But it has been these challenges which have in a way forced the very uniqueness of the gardens, which draws everyone from bush kinder kids to entertainment groups, artists, naturalists and tourists.
“Once you create a useful and interesting space, people just want to use it.” Jenny said.
If you would like to become a member of FABGS, partaking in working bees, propagation or a whole host of other activities in support of the ABGS, head to www.fabgs. org.au
