RHRS Grounds and Gardens report for 2019 AGM
The long drought that Robertson has been experiencing, along with many other parts of Australia, has taken some toll in the current state of our RHRS grounds and gardens.
Notwithstanding the drought, I believe it is fair to say that both the grounds and the gardens are in relatively good shape and present well to the viewer.
A good deal of the credit for this is due to the regular and much-valued assistance RHRS receives from the detainees administered by the NSW Department of Corrective Services Bowral office, who have been very well supervised over the last year by, firstly, Lindsay Fowler and, more recently, by Gavin Singleton. The work done by them is most appreciated by us at RHRS.
Typically, visits by the detainees to our grounds are scheduled just prior to a heritage train visit or a function such as ‘Classic Car day' or ‘waratah week’ to ensure the grounds are looking their best. To this end, the next visit has been organised for the morning of Saturday, 12 October 2019.
The above-mentioned maintenance work has been augmented by our regular RHRS garden working bees and by occasional watering of key plants by Neil Harvey and by Anne and Brett Wilson. Their contribution is also much appreciated.
Recent garden inspections have shown that, while waratah flower size is generally smaller than in a year of good rainfall, waratah flower numbers are quite good on most plants. They should look good during our “waratah week” in early October.
A very pleasing outcome for me has been the increased growth, despite the drought, of many of our waratah plants - which will necessitate some hard pruning later in Spring, after flowering, and the very welcome establishment and strong growth of many newly planted waratahs over the last year. Indeed, some of the newly planted waratahs (planted earlier this year) are already in bud and will flower this season.
Partly because of the interest they create amongst non-expert waratah admirers, I have purchased and planted several new varieties, including shades of pink, yellow and buff (all named varieties) along with several named varieties of red waratah, which have been planted into empty spaces in the overall garden complex. It is hoped that these will all establish well and provide both an attractive and varied spectacle in the future. Further, several waratah plants thought to be in danger of being lost - perhaps even dead or dying - have responded to some special TLC and are not only surviving but are apparently doing well. We will keep our fingers crossed regarding these.
On a less happy note, many of the well-established mature native shrubs have lost a lot of their former foliage due to the drought and will require some heavy pruning soon in the hope that they will respond to good falls of rain - when it comes. If they do not respond well, they will be replaced. Several mature native shrubs have either blown over by strong winds and been lost to our garden or have succumbed in other ways to the drought.
Several native shrub seedlings have been planted into empty spaces in the garden complex during the past year.
Disposal of garden waste has been by means of a recently-constructed compost bin facility constructed by the detainees to our design, or the larger waste (tree-trunks, branches, heavy prunings, etc) taken off-site for burning or to the tip, the latter at a cost to RHRS. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of those who have assisted in this endeavour.
Long may our grounds and gardens be a credit to our organisation and be valued by the community, particularly by the residents of Robertson.That is my objective, which I am sure is shared by many.
Ian Wallace
RHRS Grounds and Gardens Co-ordinator
25 September 2019
The long drought that Robertson has been experiencing, along with many other parts of Australia, has taken some toll in the current state of our RHRS grounds and gardens.
Notwithstanding the drought, I believe it is fair to say that both the grounds and the gardens are in relatively good shape and present well to the viewer.
A good deal of the credit for this is due to the regular and much-valued assistance RHRS receives from the detainees administered by the NSW Department of Corrective Services Bowral office, who have been very well supervised over the last year by, firstly, Lindsay Fowler and, more recently, by Gavin Singleton. The work done by them is most appreciated by us at RHRS.
Typically, visits by the detainees to our grounds are scheduled just prior to a heritage train visit or a function such as ‘Classic Car day' or ‘waratah week’ to ensure the grounds are looking their best. To this end, the next visit has been organised for the morning of Saturday, 12 October 2019.
The above-mentioned maintenance work has been augmented by our regular RHRS garden working bees and by occasional watering of key plants by Neil Harvey and by Anne and Brett Wilson. Their contribution is also much appreciated.
Recent garden inspections have shown that, while waratah flower size is generally smaller than in a year of good rainfall, waratah flower numbers are quite good on most plants. They should look good during our “waratah week” in early October.
A very pleasing outcome for me has been the increased growth, despite the drought, of many of our waratah plants - which will necessitate some hard pruning later in Spring, after flowering, and the very welcome establishment and strong growth of many newly planted waratahs over the last year. Indeed, some of the newly planted waratahs (planted earlier this year) are already in bud and will flower this season.
Partly because of the interest they create amongst non-expert waratah admirers, I have purchased and planted several new varieties, including shades of pink, yellow and buff (all named varieties) along with several named varieties of red waratah, which have been planted into empty spaces in the overall garden complex. It is hoped that these will all establish well and provide both an attractive and varied spectacle in the future. Further, several waratah plants thought to be in danger of being lost - perhaps even dead or dying - have responded to some special TLC and are not only surviving but are apparently doing well. We will keep our fingers crossed regarding these.
On a less happy note, many of the well-established mature native shrubs have lost a lot of their former foliage due to the drought and will require some heavy pruning soon in the hope that they will respond to good falls of rain - when it comes. If they do not respond well, they will be replaced. Several mature native shrubs have either blown over by strong winds and been lost to our garden or have succumbed in other ways to the drought.
Several native shrub seedlings have been planted into empty spaces in the garden complex during the past year.
Disposal of garden waste has been by means of a recently-constructed compost bin facility constructed by the detainees to our design, or the larger waste (tree-trunks, branches, heavy prunings, etc) taken off-site for burning or to the tip, the latter at a cost to RHRS. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of those who have assisted in this endeavour.
Long may our grounds and gardens be a credit to our organisation and be valued by the community, particularly by the residents of Robertson.That is my objective, which I am sure is shared by many.
Ian Wallace
RHRS Grounds and Gardens Co-ordinator
25 September 2019
History Group
The small but enthusiastic Robertson History Group continues to meet twice a month at the Fettlers Shed. Using our books, maps, donated material and, of course, Trove, we always seem to be able to discover further interesting and often entertaining facts from Robertson’s past. New members or occasional visitors would be very welcome to come join us at any of our meetings, whish are quite informal.
Helen Tranter
The small but enthusiastic Robertson History Group continues to meet twice a month at the Fettlers Shed. Using our books, maps, donated material and, of course, Trove, we always seem to be able to discover further interesting and often entertaining facts from Robertson’s past. New members or occasional visitors would be very welcome to come join us at any of our meetings, whish are quite informal.
Helen Tranter