Feature - Gardens of happiness

 “Garden clubs bring the gardeners together.” Diana Colpoys.

By Rebecca Mugridge

Nambour is home to the Nambour Garden Club (NGC) currently with over 120 active members, but where did it all begin?

NGC’s Noelene Hughes shares, “In 1979 two Nambour women who were associated with Buderim Garden Club and the Nambour Red Cross Chelsea Flower Show were invited by Garden Clubs of Australia (GCA) to investigate forming a club for Nambour. They were Mrs Gloria Boyle and Mrs Audrey Ledger.”

There was immediate interest with 32 people showing up to that first meeting, and on Monday, November 12, 1979, the Nambour Garden Club was officially inaugurated and Mr Jim Curtis became the Foundation President. 

The very first meeting was hosted by Mr and Mrs Doug Terrey in their garden on Towen Mountain road, Nambour. This was followed by a second meeting in February 1980 at a garden on Netherton Street belonging to Mr and Mrs Jasper Bentley.”

And so it continued, with subsequent meetings held each month in members’ gardens, church halls and the Rotary Village Hall. Pre-Covid, the club was blooming with over 250 members, a large size for a Queensland club. 

The sun is shining when the NGC group meet at Nambour RSL sharing combined knowledge of the club and why they love gardening. I like them immediately and know the club must be an extension of them, welcoming and interesting. 

Club President, Anita Bruce, reinforces the friendliness, saying the club offers three free visits and social activities like Friendship Days.

“It’s a traditional thing [Friendship Days]. In Queensland most garden clubs have a Friendship Day where they invite one or two representatives from other garden clubs and it’s a real social event.”

“I always liked going to the one in Peachester, as it was in the middle of winter and you’d arrive and they would have this lovely hot soup waiting for you,” smiles NGC member Diana Colpoys. 

“It’s a good thing to foster, friendship between clubs,” continues Anita. “NGC is a large, vibrant club, with lots happening. Before Covid we ran bus tours, even to the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Maryborough and Canberra…fabulous days.”  

Diana tells of the NGC library. “One of our main purposes is to educate people in the fine arts of gardening – especially gardening responsibly. We have a comprehensive library that supports this.” 

The club even produced its own cookbook in 2005 - The Aussie Gardeners’ Tasty Treats - a collection of recipes from members of garden clubs compiled by NGC, Pearl Spiller and Fay Thorogood with illustrations by Pauline Jack. With recipes like Marshmallow Dream Cake, Seafood Lasagne, Pineapple Salad, Pumpkin Bake and Smoked Chicken & Mango Salad. It’s a tantalising read!

The Garden Club also encourages native planting to benefit local wildlife. 

“At a recent meeting we enjoyed a presentation from WILVOS member Roslyn, on the care of injured wildlife,” says Anita. “Our members tend to be very aware of the environment and wildlife.”

There has been some incredible gardeners over the years.

“That is a real value of a garden club,” says Anita. “People who are experts in their field that are willing to share.”

“You can have Robbie, here, bring in beautiful natives and then someone bring something incredible from the Himalayas, it really is fascinating,” says Diana. “And, of course, people grow in different types of soil, like parts of Flaxton has beautiful, rich volcanic soil.”

Does Nambour have good soil? “Parts of it have and other parts are a bit more of a challenge,” says Anita.“I have clay,” laughs member Robbie. 

“I have builders’ rubble,” laughs Diana.

“You can tap into all this collective knowledge,” says Anita. “People are very generous with their knowledge.”

Anita blames her mother for her gardening obsession. “She came to our first house and we were merrily living there doing nothing to do the garden whatsoever. We had grass this high [gestures] and Jeff would mow a line to the clothes line.

“My mother came to visit when the first child was born and started gardening and cleaning things up, and we had to keep it up then!”

Robbie’s garden has a need for plants to be resilient. “We are on an old cane farm, my garden is quite extensive. I planted all grevilleas and natives. I started off with around 70 roses but have that down to about 10 now as we go away.”

Anita has a shaded, largely potted garden. “I find with my gardening it varies very much with where I am. I was really into permaculture in the ‘80s.”

Diana grows vegetables and herbs and is looking to include more fruit trees. “I was looking at adding a lychee tree until I saw the next door neighbour’s tree the first time it fruited. It was just absolutely full of scrub turkeys!” she laughs.

A variety of gardens, a variety of people and a common connection – no wonder the Nambour Garden Club continues to thrive.

The Nambour Garden Club meets on the first Monday of the month at the Uniting Church Hall, and you can find them on Facebook for updates/information, or email nambourgardenclub@gmail.com