Eleanor Dartnall
eleanor@dartnalladvisers.com.au
Chair:
Eleanor Dartnall
Vice-Chair:
Laurel Cheetham
Benoit Trudeau (alternate)
Treasurer:
Jane Clifford
Correspondence Secretary:
Sue Trudeau
Minute Secretary:
Catherine Burke
Editor, Web Site and Inflorescence:
Benoit Trudeau
Committee:
Helen Gates
Meg Hemming
Marika Schmidhofer
Maureen Shying
The Autumn-Winter 2010 edition of The Inflorescence was released on 19 July and mailed out to members in the days that followed. At 24 pages, the issue is a significant one. Whereas its predecessor offered a greater number of pages, a good deal of the content was taken up by photographs designed to communicate the visual charms of gardens in the Mounts Wilson and Irvine area, visited earlier as part of a three-day tour.
The current issue, by contrast, derives much of its attraction from the stories told, supported as they were by interviews and a deal of delving into primary and secondary sources. Some of the topics covered include a recounting of the effort associated with the recent decision by Wingecarribee Council to support the creation of Botanic Gardens in the Southern Highlands; a companion story, on the establishment of Canberra’s National Arboretum and Botanic Gardens; a reflective exploration of the gardens at Yarralumla; the retracing of Sydney Parkinson’s career and untimely death while in the service of Mr. James Cook, on board HMS Barque Endeavour; a conversation with Jenny Simons OAM; a survey of the Claude and Isobel Crowe papers now in the care of the Caroline Simpson Library of the Historic Houses Trust; and an insight into life as an apprentice under the tutelage of Mr. Paul Sorensen, between 1948 and 1951.
The issue will be uploaded to the Web site to take its place alongside her sisters (see Autumn/Winter 2009 and March 2009 editions. Planning is well-advanced already for the next edition, due out late in the year.
It is pleasing to be able to report progress with a number of the longer-term projects undertaken by the Branch.
At Rowes Hill Cemetery, high up on the hillside overlooking Mittagong along Old South Road, the Branch had, some years ago now, committed to erect a re-enforcing stone wall in order to protect the site from further erosion and degradation. As with many undertakings of this type, progress was slow. But wheels eventually turned: approvals were granted, monies set aside, a willing mason found and an adequate supply of stone secured. Work got underway.
That work was completed in July. To add to the success of the venture, Council has indicated its willingness to erect a companion wall along the other side of the entrance to the site, as well as to carve out a pull-in bay that will make visiting the site easier and safer. A plaque will commemorate the respective contributions of Council and of the Society.
The compilation of the Register of Significant Trees is now constituted as a proper project and making headway. Significantly, the endeavour is now a joint venture between two like-minded organisations, the Southern Highlands Branch of the AGHS and the Highlands Garden Society.
The collaboration not only makes sense by virtue of a community of interests: it is also an intelligent way of bringing to bear a greater number of resources on this substantial effort than any one party could, were it left to its own devices. On the Branch side, the project is led by Laurel Cheetham, our Deputy-Chair, supported by Jane Clifford, our Treasurer, and Eleanor Dartnall, our Chair. The two organisations have established a Project Management Group (‘PMG’) that held its first meeting in late June. The PMG will be calling on members of the two societies to assist with the execution of the many tasks that go to create a register of the trees deemed significant in our local towns and villages (including the identification and description of the nominated specimens). Mindful of the scope of the project, the PMG has given itself one year to fulfill its ambition: an accurate, fair and thus useful record of some of our greatest and irreplaceable assets.
Closer to home, the cherished project of Committee member Helen Gates, the Southern Highlands Cookbook (working title), is well underway.
Helen is pleased to advise that the venture has received the wholehearted support of the tens of invited contributors she has contacted so far. Recipes are flowing in, she says: not any recipes mind you, but cherished ones – some of them rare and all of them specialties or particularly successful dishes and confections. Release of the Cookbook is timed for Mother’s Day 2011.
The months to year end offer their share of activities and events for Branch members, their guests and our friends and supporters in the broader AGHS.
On Friday the 10th of September, we trek to Stratford House, the property of Bill and Gail Douglass in Tahmoor. Stratford House was built in 1888. The Douglasses have owned it since 1972 and since then have created a five-acre cold climate garden. In September we can expect to see japonica and reticulata camellias, along with the more unusual higo camellias – perhaps even maples coming into bud.
The afternoon will have us at Camden Park. The Camden Park House, which has become one of the great mansions of Australia, is still occupied by the Macarthur family, and is in fact thought to be one of the oldest residents in the country still occupied by descendants of its founder. The family burial ground, carefully established over the decades, is located nearby and is the last resting place of John Macarthur and his direct descendants.
Self-drive and ‘own-food’ picnic. For information, contact Sue Trudeau, Branch Secretary, on 02.4872.3887 or via email addressed to strudeau@trudeau.com.au.
Sunday the 17th of October will see us first at Mount Keira Scout Camp. As a Branch, we first visited that unusual location during the optional day of our 2008 National Conference programme. The site is visually stunning, with its majestic setting and resplendent trees. There is history to be had there as well, given the association the place has with Paul Sorensen and the Hoskins family. Members have been calling for an opportunity to return to the Camp, a wish that the occasion will satisfy.
In the afternoon, we will turn our attention to venerable Alne Bank, the historic estate with its eclectic formal garden and its permaculture garden, its two-storey house and barn – all perched on a rise within view of the Gerringong coastline in the distance. The day should prove a pleasant and particularly informative occasion.
Self-drive and ‘own-food’ picnic. For information, contact Sue Trudeau, Branch Secretary, on 02.4872.3887 or via email addressed to strudeau@trudeau.com.au.
November will be noteworthy for two reasons: a ramble in Kangaloon and Wildes Meadow that will see us visit a number of attractive gardens in that delightful area. As with other events listed above, the intention is that the affair will be a ‘self-drive’ one, with ‘own-food’ picnic.
Then, and for something a little different, the Branch will sponsor a photographic exhibition of the garden, rural and bush scapes captured by Benoit Trudeau, along with some of his more ‘botanical-art’ representations of much-loved plants. The exhibition will have a formal opening, with appropriate refreshments. A guest speaker will add to the evening’s attraction.
Dates for the ramble and the opening night of the exhibition will be advised shortly. For information, contact Sue Trudeau, Branch Secretary, on 02.4872.3887 or via email addressed to strudeau@trudeau.com.au.
On Friday, December 10th, the Branch will be holding its now traditional end-of-year function. Held last year at Allways, Eleanor and John Dartnall’s much-loved and much-tended property, the function will this year be held at the equally remarkable Summerlees, in Sutton Forest. To add to the cachet of the occasion, the gathering will take place under the roof of the old ballroom – some of you will no doubt remember the venue; it attracted much attention when we last visited it in 2008. Don’t miss this function!
More details will be released closer to the day. For information, contact Sue Trudeau, Branch Secretary, on 02.4872.3887 or via email addressed to strudeau@trudeau.com.au.
Earlier editions of The Inflorescence
The current and two earlier editions of The Inflorescence remain available via this Web site. They are as follows:
