Latest News from the Friends

4 November, 2020
Welcome to the November Newsletter with all the latest from the Friends of Kings Park.

Find out about news at the Friends of Kings Park.

Read on for updates from 2020 AGM and upcoming Plant Sale!

In this issue

President’s Report

I have just returned from a wonderful holiday in the South West, a holiday planned over a year ago when I expected my son and partner from England to visit me! The picturesque karri forests, the landlocked Yeagarup Dunes and the acres of wildflowers at D’Entrecasteaux National Park were amazing. I recommend a visit.

What a change in the Friends Management Committee!  I am delighted to welcome new members Alisen Brooks, Kerry Staines, Kit Wignall and Max Crowhurst along with returning members, Pia Beukes, Ian Kerr (Vice President), and Vern McKay (Treasurer).  Interesting times are ahead ….

Lesley Hammersley (Director Horticulture and Conservation) and Grady Brand (Senior Curator), have decided to retire and spend time discovering and doing other things in their lives beyond work.  They have had a huge impact on Kings Park.  I found Lesley and Grady very supportive of me in my role as President and with the Growing Friends and I will miss them.  I know they will have a wonderful time exploring the world.

You may have heard of Containers for Change, a scheme which started on 1 October enabling communities to earn 10c per eligible container. We have registered the Friends and our unique scheme ID is

C10337607

If you would like to support us, please collect and take your eligible containers to your local Re-turn It Depot where you can deposit your containers and scan our unique identity. By scanning our unique ID, a credit will then show up in the Friends account. There is an amazing Re-turn It Depot at ParaQuad Industries in Shenton Park. They also receive funding for each container presented. Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a refund.

The Friends are negotiating with BGPA for a suitable site within Kings Park where volunteers and visitors may deposit containers.  Watch this space…

Don’t forget the Friend’s last plant sale of 2020 on Sunday, 8 November.

Best wishes.
Pippa.

November Native Plant Sale

Our last Native Plant Sale is this weekend and we look forward to seeing you there

Sunday 8 November 2020
9am – 11:30am
(please note earlier finish time)

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help, we will be sending out the roster later today, so please keep an eye on your emails.

2020 AGM

It was a fantastic turnout for our 2020 AGM in a new venue at Next Gen Kings Park. Thank you to our guest speaker, Belinda Davis, for her wonderful talk on the conservation of endangered orchids within Kings Park.

There was one nomination received for each of the office bearer positions, who were therefore elected unopposed:

President: Pippa Moodie
Vice-President: Ian Kerr
Treasurer: Vern McKay

There were more nominations received for Committee Members than positions available, so an election was held. The following people were elected:

Management Committee Members:
Pia Beukes
Alisen Brooks
Max Crowhurst
Kerry Staines
Kit Wignall

A big congratulations to everyone who nominated and to our newly elected committee.

Congratulations also to our newest Life Members who were announced at the AGM

Bob Bunney
Alex Hew
The late Ros Hew

Life Membership is awarded to members who have made a significant contribution to the Friends.

Outgoing President, Ian Kerr, with Alex Hew, Life Member, who also accepted Life Membership on behalf of his late wife Ros.

Michael Tichbon OAM, Patron of the Friends

The inaugural Patron of the Friends of Kings Park, Michael Tichbon OAM , was recognised at the AGM and presented with gifts on behalf of the Friends. Michael gave an acceptance speech, thanking the Friends for his appointment as Patron, reminiscing about his and his family’s early involvement with the Park, and warning of increased degradation of the bushland environment and threats to our native flora unless greater government funding was forthcoming

Michael’s full speech and photos can be found on our website here.

New email addresses for the Friends

Our staff and office bearers are moving to a suite of new emails so please update your address books as follows:

Office Admin (Helena): [email protected]
Events & Communications (Alex): [email protected]
President (Pippa): [email protected]
Vice President (Ian): [email protected]
Treasurer (Vern): [email protected]

The old “bgpa” email addresses will be phased out over the next few weeks. Phone numbers remain the same.

ClimateWatch Forrest Drive Trail Guided Walk

Come and join us for a ClimateWatch group walk on Forrest Drive Trail.

Let us show you how to use the free ClimateWatch app to collect data, to track the behaviour of specific species of trees and their response to climate change. Get involved in this important project.

Trail: Forrest Drive Trail, Kings Park
Date/Time: Wednesday 18/11/20 @ 8.30am
Meet point: Giant Boab tree, Kings Park
Parking: Forrest Car Park or at Wanju Marr

Please book your spot below. Look forward to seeing you there.

Book a place for the ClimateWatch walk here

What’s Happening around the Park

Community Programs
Have you seen the calendar of community programs on offer around the Park? Tickets are currently available for the very popular Native Bowl Workshop and Family Twilight Adventure and many more!

Book your tickets on the BGPA Booking site here

Science Seminars
Kings Park Science have also completed a series of Science webinars throughout September on topis such as fire research and seed spaghetti.

You can view all the seminars on Kings Park Science’s Youtube channel here

2021 Calendar

Our very popular Wildflower Calendar is now available, featuring a beautiful selection of native flowers and plants. It makes the perfect gift for locals and visitors alike.

The calendar can now be purchased on our website and will soon be available in Aspects. Friends members enter the discount coupon that was emailed to you to receive a 15% discount off the retail price.

Don’t forget, proceeds from the sale of the calendar go straight to the Friends, to support important projects within Kings Park.

Make sure you don’t miss out! Last year’s calendar sold faster than we anticipated and a few folks were left disappointed. Support the Friends of Kings Park by purchasing your calendar now!

Purchase the 2021 Calendar here