AGM review

Thank you to those who attended the Annual General Meeting and the film `Botanical Visions’ on August 26th at the Social Foundry. Despite the weather about 50 people attended.

The General Business Resolutions considered and voted on by FKBG members were all passed, namely:

- that the Financial Report for year ending 31 March, 2025 be accepted

- that the End-of-Financial-Year be moved to June 30 in 2026 and thereafter

- that the registered name be amended to `Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens’

- the Annual Membership Fees remain at $20 single / $30 Family

The President, Michael Warner, delivered his Report to Members re-capping the previous year’s achievements and outlining the work currently underway and planned for the year ahead. Highlights include the reworking of several garden beds in the central section of the gardens, well attended monthly working bees, establishing a positive working relationship with MRSC Horticulture staff resulting in key aspects of the Master Plan being addressed, the very successful Botanic Gardens Day in May, the Standard Suite of Design Protocols and the Tree Planting projects completed plus the upgrading of the front entrance scheduled for this month. Michael also thanked committee members and working bee volunteers for their contribution during the year, including Rob Hardy and Carol Douglas who stood down as Treasurer and Secretary prior to the AGM.

The Election of Office Bearers: Michael Warner was re-elected as President, Margot McDonald was elected as Vice President, Helen Sutherland Frost as Secretary and Rick Tolson as Treasurer. Our General Committee Member is Keran Miller.

What’s happening in the Gardens

During August Head Gardener, John, and his team worked hard preparing the four large garden beds along the main pathway for new plantings. A lot of overgrown and inappropriate plants were removed and re-located, the area was rotary-hoed, irrigated and mulched in readiness for the new plants. A team of working bee volunteers, together with John and his team, then planted out hundreds of new plants. With recent rain and some Spring growth they will hopefully be taking off soon. Check out this new work when you next take a walk through the gardens.