HELP SUPPORT THE GARDENS

• Make a Donation
• Projects Supported by the Friends
• 'Water Works, Water Wise' 
• Friends 25th Anniversary Scholarship
• Join the Friends 
• Volunteer 

Foliage effects in the RBG Melb

JOIN THE FRIENDS

CONTACT DETAILS

Make a Donation

Make a tax deductible donation to The Friends’ Trust Fund. The Friends have given support of over $1,500,000 to the Gardens.  Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible, or for more information on how to make a donation, please contact our office.

Projects Supported by the Friends   

Some Recent Projects Supported by the Friends

• $70,000 - Guilfoyle's Volcano Redevelopment Project
• $30,100 - Herbarium Interpretive Walk
• $52,000 - Misting of the Fern Gully
• $40,000 - upgrade facilities at Growing Friends Nursery (see nursery on Growing Friends Page)
• $25,000 - Rare and Threatened Species Bed
• $114,000 - Renovation of Gate Lodge and Garden
• $120,000 - De-silting of Central Lake
• $200,000 - New Facilities in the RBG Nursery

For more details of projects supported please download a complete list of all grants to the Gardens by the Friends

View of the Guilfoyle Volcano Redevelopment Project
- part-funded by the Friends

Water Works, Water Wise   

‘Water Works, Water Wise’

In 2002 the Friends launched Water Works, Water Wise, a long term project to finance the upgrading and completion of much of the RBG’s irrigation system.   Since then over $120,000 has been donated through this project. To date Water Works, Water Wise has funded -

• upgraded computerised irrigation infrastructure
• installation of irrigation to the Southern Cross (Theatre) Lawn
• installation of irrigation to Ian Potter Childrens’ Garden
• installation of irrigation to the Rare & Threatened Species Bed
• installation of irrigation and misting system in the Fern Gully

If you would like to make a donation to the Friends, and in particular to Water Works, Water Wise please contact the Friends' office

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Misting Irrigation in the Fern Gully

The Friends' 25th Anniversary Scholarship

In 2007, to celebrate their 25th Anniversay, The Friends announced the establishment of an annual scholarship to the value of $10,000 to be awarded to a member or members of the RBG staff.  

The recipients of the Friends' Scholarship for 2009 were announced at the Friends' AGM in November 2009.  They are -

• David Robbins, Co-ordinator, Nursery, RBG Melbourne for his project - attending the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) National Conference

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David Robbins

• Cali Salzmann, Horticultural Technician (Nursery), RBG Cranbourne for her project - Participation in the International Plant Propagators Society and Study Trip to Kings Park Botanic Gardens

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Cali Salzmann

• Val Stajsic for his project - Taxonomic resolution of Melicytus (Violaceae) in Australia

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Val Stajsic

Previous Winners of the Friends' Scholarship are -
2007

• Megan Hirst, of the Victorian Seedbank, for her project - Establishing germination protocols for 50 targeted Victorian native vascular plant species.
• Peter Symes, Curator, Environmental Horticulture, for his project - Diminishing water resources - strategic climate change adaptation for the RBG Melbourne.

2008

• Helen Jolley, Botanist, for her project - Systematics and biodiversity of the ecologically important moss family Pottiaceae in Australia
• Wayne Gebert, Curations Officer, Collections, for his project - Latin Language course - Latin 3 and Latin 4
• Philip Bowyer-Smyth, Horticultural Technician, for his project - Diploma in Irrigation (specialising in design)

Saguaro National Park
photo taken during Peter Symes' study tour to the US

Join the Friends to help Support the Gardens.

Membership of the Friends helps the Gardens. The Friends raise money to support special projects in the Gardens and the Herbarium. Since 1982 the Friends have donated over $1,500,000 to the Gardens. 

Give a Gift Membership to the Friends

In the last year the Friends have donated funds towards Misting the Fern Gully, The Establishment of a Rare and Threatened Species Bed, Upgrade of Growing Friends Nursery and Renewal of the Ornamental Lake Outlet Pipe, as well as award the inaugural Friends' Scholarship.

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National Herbarium

Volunteer 

Alternatively you can volunteer your time and skills to help the Friends.  Volunteers need to be Members of the Friends - go to our Join the Friends page for more information about joining the Friends

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Helping Hands volunteers at E Gate Lodge