eNews 27 September 2024

Banksias at Kings Park, WA. Credit: Jorja Cenin

In this week's eNews:

• BGANZ Early Career & Professional Development Awards applications now open
• Last call for articles for The BOTANIC GARDENer
• BCARM webinar, professional development opportunities, recording available
• BARB webinar, the $ value of your trees, recording and 'how to' guide available
• Hortis webinar, 2 Oct
• BGANZ Congress, 3–5 Nov 2025
• Funding opportunities, including a grant for emerging gardens in regional areas
• The Australian Garden History Society 44th Conference, 18–20 Oct
• Vacancies: Senior Horticulturist, Mayfield Garden; Curator, Botanic and Kershaw Gardens, Rockhampton.

BGANZ Award applications now open

There are two awards available in 2024:

• A Professional Development Award, of up to AU$2,000.
• An Early Career Award, of up to AU$500. This award is open to all BGANZ Institutional Members who are within the first three years of their employment.

The awards are open to all BGANZ Institutional Members (remember: if your organisation is a member of BGANZ – so are all its employees) from any department or role within the organisation, e.g. education, marketing, research, admin, horticulture, etc.  

Applications are now open online. The deadline for both awards is Friday 1 November 2024.

Please follow the links above for the award guidelines and to apply.

The award details are also available on our website.

Any questions please email Rebecca, media@bganz.org.au.

Last call for articles for the summer issue of The BOTANIC GARDENer, BGANZ's magazine for botanic garden professionals

Deadline: 14 October 2024

This issue's theme is Botanic gardens – people and plants for a sustainable future.

This is the same theme as that of the 8th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Singapore - perhaps you could turn your presentation into an article, or if you were lucky enough to attend, share your experience with other BGANZ members?

We are looking for:

• short contributions of staff, garden and science news
• any news, events and professional items to share with your network
• articles that 'pollinate great ideas'
• feature articles around the theme.

Share your innovations, aspirations, or frustrations with your colleagues. We'd love to hear from our botanic gardens community.



Please contact Rebecca Harcourt, media@bganz.org.au, if you have an idea for an article, or any questions about the magazine.

BCARM Forum: Developing our Living Collections through professional development opportunities, scholarships and staff exchange

If you missed this webinar, you can view it on our YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/AF3tJ8r9iog.

BARB Forum: Assessing the economic benefits provided by the trees in our botanic gardens

If you missed this webinar, you can view it on our YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/M2YF4TyzEZE.

Ian Allan's 'how to' guide to the i-Tree Canopy rapid assessment tool can be found here.

Upcoming webinar: Drawing garden beds - a new era for mapping plants

Webinar 1: Pacific Region 2 October 16:00 AEST

Click here to register.

Save the date! BGANZ Congress 3–5 November 2025, Canberra

Key dates

Call for Abstracts

Open: 1 December 2024 Close: 30 April 2025

Registration

Open: 1 December 2024 Earlybird close: 31 July 2025

Visit the 2025 BGANZ Congress website for more details.

Current funding opportunities

Here are links to some funding opportunities available for gardens:

• https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/regional-precincts-and-partnerships-program-precinct-delivery An important grant for any emerging gardens in regional areas. 
• https://australianorchidfoundation.org.au/grant-applications-the-australian-orchid-foundation/. Work must be performed in Australia and/or must relate to orchids in Australasia.
• https://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/pacific-development-and-conservation-trust-2/. The Trust makes grants to projects that promote sustainable development in the Pacific and New Zealand, while conserving the natural environment and cultural heritage of its people.
• https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/growing-regions-program-round-2. The Program will run over 3 years from 2024–25 to 2026–27 and will provide investment in community-focused infrastructure that creates and enhances amenity, liveability and social cohesion throughout regional Australia. This is a large infrastructure grant, so good for emerging gardens. Closing 10 Oct.

The Australian Garden History Society 44th Conference



Bunbury, Western Australia, Friday 18 – Sunday 20 October 2024



The Western Australia branch invites interstate members to come west for the 44th Annual National Conference in the coastal city of Bunbury, about two hours’ drive south of Perth. (Non-members can Zoom into the lectures from around the world.)

Visits during the conference will include places of early settlement when the colony saw its future in the hands of Hesperus, the god of the west wind.

Register here.

Vacancy: Senior Horticulturist, Mayfield Garden, Oberon, NSW

• Full-time position - five days, 38 hours per week.
• Remuneration commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Come and work at one of Australia’s most significant horticultural destinations…

Mayfield Garden is one of Australia’s most spectacular private gardens and last year attracted more than 80,000 visitors. It is located close to the towns of Bathurst and Oberon in the NSW Central Tablelands. 

 At 65-hectares Mayfield is the largest cool climate garden in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most prestigious horticultural destinations in Australia. 

We are seeking an experienced horticulturist to play a significant role in what is a passionate team of gardeners.  

We are looking for a person with great work ethic and attention to detail. 

For more details, click here.

All interested applicants should email their application to info@mayfieldgarden.com.au.

Vacancy: Curator Botanic and Kershaw Gardens, Rockhampton Botanic Gardens, QLD

• Contract Full Time (4 years)
• Supportive Work/Life Balance
• Attractive salary package circa $163,000 (including superannuation and vehicle).

Your new role

The Council is looking for a dedicated and experienced leader to oversee the operational management of Rockhampton's renowned gardens, ensuring the preservation and appreciation of their natural, cultural, and historical significance.

In this key role, you will safeguard the gardens' local flora, fauna, and cultural heritage, while developing conservation plans to support their ongoing protection and preservation.

Extensive Botanic collection planning has been undertaken and the Curator will lead a collaborative and multidisciplinary team toward implementing the plan and shape a legacy for generations to come.

Your expertise will drive design and delivery of projects of both horticultural collection and built form.

Your experience managing a team will allow you to successfully lead the horticultural and landscape management for the gardens ensuring outcomes, targets and regulatory responsibilities are met with optimum efficiency and effectiveness.

Applications close: Monday 30 September 2024 at midnight (AEST)

Click here for more details.

Thanks to our Diamond Sponsors

Join BGANZ as a member

Benefits may include:

• belonging to the Australasian peak body
• the opportunity to join specialist advisory groups
• the opportunity to join regional and specialist networking groups
• discounts to the BGANZ congress
• member resources, e.g. plant record management database and living collections toolkit
• access to training and professional development
• attendance at regional conferences
• e-news and member communication
• subscription to the BOTANIC GARDENer magazine
• global alliances
• government and industry advocacy.

Click here for more information and to join.

BGANZ acknowledges the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past, present and emerging.