Volunteers: Nancye Smith, Suzanne Zammit, Rhonda Dorgan, Jan Donchi, Sally Cuttriss and Fran Galvin are all part of the Friends of the Moama Botanic Gardens. Photo: Shannon Colee
Photo by
Shannon Colee
The tide is changing at Friends of Moama Echuca Botanic Gardens after they recently decided to wind up the registered association and become a volunteer group.
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Newly renamed the Volunteers of the Moama Botanic Gardens, the group will continue to meet each Monday to maintain the beautifully kept grounds.
Group organiser Fran Galvin said the decision was made because of their membership demographic.
“We were not attracting any younger people in the association, and we’re all getting older in the group,” she said.
“Also, while the gardens were being developed and in the early stages, there was a lot of community interest, but there’s just not the same level of interest in weeding and pruning and looking after everything.”
Garden lover: Fran Galvin has been part of the gardening group since it began. Photo: Shannon Colee
Photo by
Shannon Colee
The group was formed decades ago and has been a great place for Mrs Galvin to dedicate her time.
“I like to be outside most of the time, and it’s great meeting other people. You get to meet very interesting people who’ve done great things with gardens,” Mrs Galvin said.
“I also just love having the opportunity to be involved with building botanic gardens, which we all hope will be here for other generations.
“That’s why we’re a little bit worried about having more younger people come in so they can continue what we are doing, continue the gardens, and have them for their children as well.”
A love of gardening has motivated a lot of people to join the group, like Nancye Smith.
“I’m just a born gardener, I think. I just love gardening. I find if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by whatever’s going on in your life or whatever’s going on, go out in the garden. It just fixes everything,” she said.
“Everybody needs a garden. Even if it’s only a garden box. A garden is good for everyone.”
Any member of the community with an hour to spare between 9am and 11am on Mondays would be most welcome to join this group.
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