Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Nursery
OUR HISTORY 2009-2020
Jan MacIntyre
The Nursery logo designed by Erin Downs
Introduction
A chance meeting between Margrit Lack and Diane Binstead at Diane’s front yard whilst Diane raked pandanus seeds resulted in a discussion uncovering a mutual wonderment about germination and growth[i]. The Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Nursery Association Inc of today has evolved from this discussion in 2009.
Margrit and Diane began growing seeds by trial and error, changing their ignorance to awareness with each success and failure, later using books and people with more expertise to advance their own competence, creating a reserve of knowledge. They came together in Diane’s backyard on a casual basis to indulge their passion and on occasions they were joined by Carolyn Brammer[ii]. The first signs of life and the Aldi greenhouses can be seen below.
New growth
Margrit Lack
Getting established
Margrit and Diane were members of Bushcare along with part-time member Olive Walters[i]. When Olive came to live permanently on the Island, she was able to join Bushcare full time. Olive had a history of weekly attendance at a nursery in Melbourne run by Friends of Warrandyte State Park so she was overjoyed when she was invited to join the activities of the Coochie group such as pricking out, sowing seeds and putting in cuttings[ii]. Margrit tells the story of Olive coming with seeds and her, Margrit, realising that there was another person fascinated by growing native plant seeds with a store of knowledge ready to share. As other people joined, the group began to meet weekly but still on a casual basis: come when you can and do what you want. Members encouraged each other to bring seeds and cuttings of their own thus enlarging the reserve of knowledge. Olive records in her personal notes what all the members still feel in 2020 that “Tuesdays at the Nursery have become the highlight of my week”.
Expansion
The number of seedlings grew, and the group decided that they would grow Australian native plants indigenous to Coochiemudlo and give to Bushcare to plant. The growth of the population of the Island and a denuding of flora that is native to both the Island and Redland City was becoming very evident. This group decided that they would work at planting native species on all of Coochiemudlo Island. They began calling themselves “The Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Propagation Group” and working bees grew from on a casual basis to a weekly commitment[i]. Later Carolyn Brammer took to calling the group the “Hot House Girls” and this became their name for some time and is still occasionally used.
Margrit and Diane had bought 2 plastic greenhouses from Aldi for $45.00 each, joining them together as they set up in Diane’s backyard. Many visits to the tip were made to scrounge pots, useful containers for pots, tables and such but as the community heard about the project, spare tables and benches were donated[ii]. More members and more knowledge led to more material needs. Further equipment was bought over time and the community continued to give, but larger facilities were needed. In April 2016, a hot house was purchased to replace the old green houses and a shed to store tools was bought in 2019. The opening of the hot house is seen celebrated below.
L to R. Jan MacIntyre, Rae Wear, Dennis Lack, Margrit Lack, Lee Steindl, Olive Walters
Gaining Authority
In February 2010 Diane applied for and received a permit from the Queensland State Government, “Authorisation to Propagate under Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006” giving her and thus the group a licence to harvest seeds and other propagating material. The permit was for “propagating protected plants for trade” for all native plants other than certain restricted plants. The permit was renewed by Margrit in 2013. On applying for a renewal of the permit in 2018 Margrit was informed that most of the plants the Nursery grows are classified as “least concern plant” and do not need a permit but must be taken using the Code of Practice. “Restricted plants” may be taken for conservation purposes, not usually for trade, and “special least concern plants” may be taken and traded if the Code of Practice is followed[i]. Gathering seeds and cuttings can be seen below, following the Code by not taking all seeds from a plant and not denuding a plant by taking too many cuttings.
Gathering seeds: Margrit Lack, Annette Drennan, Olive Walters
Evolution
Growing plants for the Emerald Fringe was ever the focus with emphasis on seed collection. A prioritised seed list was established from an extensive list developed by the ecologist Lyn Roberts who leads occasional botany walks on Coochiemudlo Island. This list expanded the knowledge of the plants that are indigenous to Coochiemudlo[i]. Nursery members continued to look out for seeds and cuttings from their own gardens and on walks around the Island along with periodic searches as a group within the Emerald Fringe.
The relationship with Bushcare remained intact and the group became aligned with Coastcare coming under that organisation for insurance as well as supplying it plants. The Nursery has continued to evolve, responding to need, gathering members and a solid reputation along the way, selling to the community and giving away plants suitable for regrowth on the Emerald Fringe, see a stall below at the local Coochie markets where the group sold plants and gave advice.
At the markets: Annette Drennan and Margrit Lack
In December 2015, the members formally established the group called “Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Nursery” with the aim of “greening Coochiemudlo Island with indigenous plants”[i]. Members were: Margrit Lack, Lee Steindl, Olive Walters, Carolyn Brammer, Rae Wear, Jan MacIntyre. Although non-incorporated, this separated the Nursery from other groups.
A few years later the members of the non-incorporated group decided that the group should be a stand-alone entity, with its own insurance to enable a concerted search for another home. To this end in 2019, the “Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Nursery Association Inc” came into being[ii] with Margrit Lack, President, Rae Wear, Treasurer and Jan MacIntyre, Secretary with members, Carolyn Brammer, Annette Drennan, Lee Steindl, Olive Walters. All members are part of the management committee and decisions are made by consensus in a considered manner with all contributing. The Nursery formally developed polices, a risk management tool and incident report form. The members of the new entity continued with the same wish that was there at the beginning with Margrit and Diane, to work to green the Island.
Permanent Place
Since Diane’s death in 2012 her husband, Des, has graciously encouraged the Nursery to continue operating in his yard, paying for the water, accepting the Nursery’s use of his garden shed and happily empowering the Nursery to expand. See the group at work in Des’s backyard below.
Early days : L- R. Jan MacIntyre, Lee Steindl, Margrit Lack, Olive Walters
Des's backyard: L-R, Rae Wear, Olive Walters, Lee Steindl, Jan MacIntyre, Margrit Lack
In 2018 concern was being raised about the sustainability of the Nursery in that location with insurance issues, the growth of the number of plants stored, and the public coming occasionally to purchase plants. Des was assured that the Nursery came under his house insurance, but this was not sustainable for long term nor was keeping the Nursery behind his house sustainable. In early 2019 talks began with Redland City Council (RCC) to find a suitable place.
Community Involvement
From the early beginnings the group reached out to work in cooperation with others giving plants to be planted on the Fringe, initially to Bushcare, then Coastcare, the Golf Club and independent weeders. In January 2019 at the AGM the President reported that in the previous year the Nursery had supplied approximately 1850 plants to Bushcare, Coastcare, Golf Club, individual weeders and the community.
The group reached beyond the Nursery to support other organisations. The Doug Morton Reserve was planted under an Anzac grant with the Heritage Society thus earning money for the Nursery but also giving plants and work in-kind. The Nursery supported Coastcare in its application for a grant for the Steam Weeder, supplying plants and receiving potting mix and seed raising. In 2018 concerns were raised that not enough planting was being done on the Bushcare sites so the Nursery purchased a number of plants for Bushcare to plant out in the Bushcare blocks on the Emerald Fringe; these plants could be used later as stock plants.
Through market days and encouraging visits to the Nursery on working bee Tuesdays the members of the Nursery have conducted continuous low-key education programs with the Coochiemudlo community on the value of Australia native plants in the garden. For a time, it was a struggle to get positive responses but over the years many members of the community have become more receptive as the Nursery becomes successful in its education.
Finance
As the Nursery evolved its needs grew and it has much to thank the RCC and the Division 4 Councillor, Lance Hewlett, for support. Grants from the RCC have purchased a plant trolley, a hot house and a garden shed. Community organisations have given much support; the Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society auspiced the hot house and the Coochiemudlo Island Recreation Club auspiced the garden shed. The proceeds from the sale of the calendars produced by Peter Wear and Gary Sheehy contributed towards the cost of the hot house. Community members were and are very generous with donations of money and in-kind. Plants are sold to the community at markets and through other venues including the Tuesday working bees to raise funds to buy the potting mix and other necessary materials as well as encouraging the community to grow native plants.
Conclusion
Coochiemudlo Island Native Plant Nursery Inc members are proud of the Nursery’s contribution to the Coochie community and the manner the Nursery has evolved in response to the community’s needs. The members are grateful for the financial and other support from the Coochie community, Coochie Island organisations, the RCC, Lance Hewlett, Peter Wear and Gary Sheehy.
Between them the members have a large reserve of knowledge of native plants, of storage and growing of seeds, as well as knowledge of ideal situations to plant seedlings out. The members believe that by sharing with those who ask they continue to work towards the greening of Coochie with native plants. They look forward to a large space to facilitate their service to the Coochie environment even more.
Members
Margrit Lack 2009 -
Diane Binstead 2009 – 2012
Carolyn Brammer 2009 –
Olive Walters 2012 -
Lee Steindl 2012 -
Jan MacIntyre 2013 –
Rae Wear 2015 -
Veronica McCabe 2016 –
Daveen O’Pray 2017 - 2017
Annette Drennan 2017 –
Erin Downs 2019 – 2020
Endnotes
[1] Lack Margrit (personal interview May 1, 2020)
[1] (Lack 2020)
[1] (Lack 2020)
[1] Waters Olive (personal notes June 16, 2020)
[1] Coochiemudlo Island Plant Propagation Group finance book 2011
[1] (Lack 2020)
[1] (Lack 2020) and Code of Practice 2017
[1] Minutes Special Meeting 14.03.2017
[1] Minutes Special Meeting 15.12.15
[1] Incorporation Certificate 15.03.2019