Buderim Garden Club

The Doris Killian Award was awarded to Laurel Asimus this year, and the plaque was presented to her at the Garden Festival presentation by our patron Marjorie Van Roy.    Below is Laurel's citation that Monika prepared for this award.

Laurel Asimus- Life member Buderim Garden Club : A teacher, mentor, organiser, friend and visionary.

1. joined Buderim Garden Club 1981, and soon became an active club member
2. committee member 2000-2002, 2005-2014
3. the club go-to person, managing Buderim Garden Club history, social events, catering etc.
4. with Peter, her husband, helped to organise many club tours, locally, interstate and overseas to wonderful gardens for over 10 years
5. represented Buderim Garden Club on the Buderim War Memorial Community Association, always promoting gardening and the Club's position on issues.
6. 2010 onwards organised club workshops, sharing her vast knowledge and using her teaching skills to ensure that all could chat about their gardens, and learn from each other.
7. Convenor of the Buderim Garden Festival, including Spring Flower Show and Open Gardens. A role she carried out almost single-handedly for many years.
   
8.  Tirelessly managed the gardens at Buderim Pioneer Cottage, bringing these back to life in the style reminiscent of the Cottage era. Encouraging many volunteers to learn about cottage gardens.
9. Worked diligently on the Pioneer Cottage committee, to maintain and enhance the museum.
10.  Ensured that all Buderim garden Club history was files and stored at the museum, especially the Newsletters.
11. A leading member of the working party which maintains the gardens around Buderim War Memorial Hall.
    
12. Mentored new members of these working parties, to ensure that each garden is maintained in the style appropriate to the site
13. Provided the annual thank you breakfast for all the members of the Edna Walling group who maintain the Edna Walling Gardens, in Buderim, for many years.
14. Always ready to assist new members, share her vast gardening knowledge, plants and cuttings to enhance the recipients’ gardens,
15. Always ready to lend a hand for whatever community or garden project needing support,
16. Member of Committee that managed Buderim Garden Club's 70 anniversary with prominent guest speaker, Ross McKinnon, Curator of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.
17. Was instrumental in starting the process to honour Colin Campbell. This was then progressed by others to what finally was created, the seat with a plaque honouring him  for his contribution to gardening, and as  Patron of Buderim Garden Club.

HISTORY OF AWARD

The Doris Killian Award was originally established in 1997 by the GCA Committee to recognize ‘A person who has made an outstanding effort in furthering the aims and objectives of the Garden Clubs of Australia’. In 2011 the Award  was altered to its current status “for outstanding service by an individual to the community.”Doris Killian passed away on 19th December 2012, aged 92 years.

2019 President’s Report: 8th November 2019

As president of the Buderim Garden Club (BGC) I would like to welcome, our members and visitors to this the 73rd AGM of the Buderim Garden Club and present the Annual General Report of the Management Committee for 2019. This year has again been packed with activities and it has been wonderful to see so many new members join our club.

Membership

We had 50 new members join this year but sadly 1 member (Di Robinson) passed away. The current membership is 17 life members and 271 ordinary members which makes a total of 288.

The BGC Management committee for 2019 has done a wonderful job and I especially would like to thank all the committee on behalf of BGC for their service and dedication during the year, with special thanks going to our hard-working secretary Monika and minute secretary Kim, and our very efficient treasurer Lesley and Vice President John Sargaison.

All the Co-opted members have done a wonderful job during the year, many thanks for your work and dedication to the BGC.

Our general meetings have been well attended (100/120 plus members or more on average) and I thank the members for your attendance and support during 2019. At the meetings the Hall Stage/Flowers competition has always looked great, thanks to Shirley and her helpers. The plant sales have had a great variety available for all members, at very reasonable prices. Great raffle prizes featuring the Manawee plant of month & lucky door prize. Thank you to Lois and her team for managing the raffle.

This year a highlight was our first Friendship Day for many years combined with Patron's Day, our guest speaker was our patron Marjorie Van Roy. The day had nearly 200 seats filled by members and our visiting friends - Marjorie held a rapt audience with her very interesting talk. Marjorie has been gardening on, and advising Buderim and Sunshine Coast people for 30 years. “Manawee” is the go-to place if you want healthy and happy plants, plus all things gardening, and I thank Manawee for their sponsorship and support to the BGC.

The high-profile guest speakers have been interesting and with lots of enthusiasm and goodies to share with BGC members or for sale.

The members’ talks have all been well received and interesting, especially the sessions by the 3 Amigos (Ken Evans, Robin Porter & Steve Wikman). I’d like to thank all the members that have given talks this year, thanks to Jenni Campbell for organising the great array of guest speakers.

Our newsletter has again been well received by our members, with format of monthly editions, and thanks to Patricia James for keeping us informed and educated again for another year.

Edna Walling Garden, Garden Shedders & Pioneer Cottage.

These are monthly working bees carried out by dedicated Club Volunteers, at the “Edna Walling Garden”, Leanne Crowe and her new team of helpers maintain the garden again this year, with change of day to third Monday morning of month.

The "Garden Shedders" work in the gardens adjacent to the Buderim Memorial Hall (on 4th Friday of month). I thank Teddy Gove who has been the coordinator of the group this year.

A new group this year (on 1st Wednesday of month) has been helping volunteers from Pioneer Cottage (PC) maintain the PC gardens especially with the PC being one of the BGC Open Gardens this year.

I’d like to thank all the volunteers who have worked on the above gardens during the year.

Workshops

This year we have had a number of interesting and informative workshops, organised by Steve Wikman. The highlight would have to be the return workshop at Caryll Beck’s and @ Elizabeth and Jim Hales place. Thanks for opening your gardens for the wonderful workshops. Many thanks Steve, for your hard work in organising all of the workshops.

Seedbank

Ken Evans has continued his seed bank this year. Many members have benefited from the seeds that Ken and others have gathered and shared. Thank you, Ken.

Library

Helen Wallace has continued to run the BGC library, giving members the opportunity to borrow gardening books & magazines. This year some of the older books were withdrawn from library and some sold @ garden festival. Thank you, Helen.

New Members Morning Teas

These are held twice a year to introduce new members to the committee and the various activities of the club. They have been very well attended and special thanks to Kathy my wife, for hosting these at our home.

Bus Tours.

This year our tour coordinator Karen O’Conner organised 4 great bus trips: Government House, Sean Morrows Pomona farm, Xmas in July to Maleny and Edible Rose Farm @ Eudlo (late change from Kathleen MacArthur Wild Flower Reserve (no wild flowers due hot dry weather). Special thanks to Karen for organising all the bus trips. The disappointment being the lack of numbers attending some trips, please give us your feedback on what you want with tours, only day trips or longer overnight trips?

BGC Events Attended.

Other great events attended by the BGC were the Australia Day Parade, Anzac Parade, Queensland Garden Expo at Nambour. Remembrance Day at Foote Sanctuary, Footloose in the Park and the Buderim Street Party. The BGC is gaining a bit of a reputation for handing out so many plants, particularly the Broms & herb posies and people seem genuinely pleased to receive them. I must say a special thanks to those members that supplied plants & helped @ events.

Garden Festival.

The Buderim Garden Festival is our major event for year (full report to members available). This year, the colour “yellow” was featured, as exemplified by the Wattle flowers on our flyer/poster.

The Festival featured 6 Open Gardens. The Spring Flower Show featured cut flowers, novelty arrangements, hanging baskets, bonsai plants, Our Chief Steward and Convenor John Sargaison has once again done a wonderful job. Thank you, John.

Adjacent to the Hall, there was the annual Quality Plant Markets, thanks to Vonnie and Robin for organising the Plant Market. Our Club plant stall did exceedingly well (record sales) and we thank all members who donated plants. The success of BGC stall is due to Shirley McDonald and her team, many thanks. Thanks, Monika, for arranging post stall sales.  The standard and quality of donated plants from our members was very high this year (Steve your messages have gotten through).

This year we trailed a Twilight Quality Plant Market (and opened Hall), from 5pm-7:00 pm on Friday 18th as well as the usual Saturday and Sunday plant markets & Hall flower/photographic shows & Open Gardens. The feedback was very heartening from all.

This year the Photography Exhibition was expanded and located in the hall foyer with specially arranged display boards, with 5 classes, 207 entries were received. The closing date for entries was 4pm on Friday 11 October, which then gave judge time to do online judging and Merryn to print/display photographs. Our Convenor Merryn Jooste and her helpers have done a wonderful job arranging the display. Thank you, Merryn.

One of the significant changes this year was with the Children’s section.  This year Milford Lodge Day-care Centre were enthusiastic participants again. Also, this year the New Little Village Day-care Centre also joined the Children’s Section.  We had 50 great entries from the children at Milford Lodge based on the theme of a “Small World Potted Plant”, and Little Village had “Zoned Entries” each done to a theme by groups of children in aged group zones.

The weather in June/July/August & September was hot & dry, but start October saw some much need rain leading up to the Festival, ideal weather conditions for open gardens & flower show; the Festival weekend had great sunny weather on Friday & Sunday with rain during Saturday, but this did not seem to deter visitors, with great visitor numbers over the whole festival.

The quality and presentation of our Flower/Photographic Competitions & Open Gardens were outstanding.

I’d like to thank all the members who volunteered to help as garden sitters, hall attendants & plant sales assistants and especially all who helped set up & pack up the hall.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

On Saturday at the Garden Festival, Laurel Asimus was awarded the Gardens Club of Australia - The Doris Killian Award by our Patron Marjorie Van Roy. The award is for Outstanding service by an individual to their local Community. Laurel was absolutely delighted and she well deserved to receive the award. The BGC had nominated Laurel for this award in June and received notification in September that Laurel was the successful nominee for the award. It was hard to keep it secret.

Christmas Lunch.

We now all look forward to our final function for 2019, our Christmas Lunch, this year being held at the Buderim Tavern. We're hoping to fill the function room with lots of celebrating members.

I wish all our members good health and happiness for the coming year.

John Lyon President