Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens Inc, the association set up recently to manage the Gardens, held its inaugural General Meeting of Members in late February.

The meeting at the Gardens during the weekly working bee heard that the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club had voted without dissent to cede management of the Gardens to the new entity.

The Tamborine Mountain Garden Club had managed the Gardens since its foundation in 1983.

Scenic Rim Regional Council has also agreed to transfer its funding agreement to the new entity.

Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens Inc Chairman Roger Bell said membership of the association was open to all members of the community who wish to join in working at the Gardens.

“Volunteering at the Gardens provides a great reward,” he said. “We work together every Thursday morning on a variety of relatively light duties to maintain and develop the 11-hectare site,” he said.

Mr Bell also announced to the meeting that an affiliate, to be called Friends of the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens, would be set up to embrace residents who wish to contribute to the improvement of the Gardens without being able to volunteer time to work in the Gardens.

“We are delighted that we have already been approached by members of our community asking how they may assist us,” he said. “We will detail our plans for the Friends at an open general meeting to be held soon.  Being a part of this wonderful resource for our Mountain community will be its own reward for many who have enjoyed this facility over the years. Now you can be involved through a regular newsletter, invitations to events at the Gardens and closer involvement with the volunteers.”

If you would like to learn more about the Friends of the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens, please phone Denby Browning on 0427 213 698.