Visitors to the Gardens now have a high tech way of donating funds to assist the volunteer team in our maintenance and development work.
The volunteers have added QR code technology to allow willing visitors to use their smart phones to make online donations. The code is a major part of new signs beside the four bright yellow donation boxes around the Gardens lake.
Gardens President Denby Browning said: “Donations are a vital source of income for the our organisation. Visitors can open the camera on their phone, direct it at the QR code and then click on the web link. It is simple, quick and secure. Of course, we continue to offer visitors the chance to donate cash through the donation boxes.
“We all became used to QR codes during the early days of Covid. Now we use them to buy products and services as we carry less and less cash.”
The code technology has been provided by the not-for-profit division of ANZ Bank.
This new technology continues the Gardens’ 21st century focus. In 2021 the volunteers added card payment facilities for visitors wishing to purchase plants. In the same year a high technology irrigation system with internet connection to monitor and respond to weather was deployed throughout the Gardens
The new signs also continue the roll-out of high quality and more informative signage throughout the Gardens. The new design was first implemented along the Upper Hillside Walk and has now replaced most of the signs in Sooty Owl’s Creekside Trail. They have been developed and built by local designer Corey Davison.