The new Friends Lawn alongside the expanded cafe deck stretches out invitingly - but is still behind barriers while the new turf establishes itself!
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2021 Annual General Meeting - update and papers
A reminder to all members of the Friends that our 33rd Annual General Meeting is fast approaching.
Friday 29 October 2021 at 3.15 pm for 3.30pm at the Ian Wark Theatre, Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, ACTON
The Ian Wark Theatre is now accessible through the front entrance of the Shine Dome, and Friends may use the main car park.
Masks must be worn. Participants are required to use the Check In CBR app and show a printed or digital copy of your vaccination record when entering.
Dr Judy West, ANBG Executive Director, will be our guest speaker.
The agenda and meeting papers can be downloaded from these links. Please ensure that you check these, as we will not be providing hard copies to everyone at the meeting.
2021 Annual General Meeting - change of date
The 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the ANBG will be held on 29 October 2021, at 3.15 pm for 3.30pm.
Ian Wark Theatre at the Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton ACT OR via Zoom, if COVID restrictions prevent assembly.
Should a Zoom meeting be required, details will be published on the Friends’ website and in the Friends’ e-newsletter.
2021 Schools Photographic Competition – cancelled
The 2021 Schools Photographic Competition has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Sadly, the extended ACT lockdown and the closure of the Gardens have made it impossible for young photographers to visit the ANBG, and for the competition organisers to arrange for the judging, awards and exhibition of prizewinners.
The Friends understand how disappointing this decision will be for students, schools, and the wider community of photographers and supporters of the Gardens. We remain determined to hold the competition as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

LOTE team May and July fieldwork sessions (all places taken)

Enlighten Festival at the Gardens
This year's Enlighten Festival event at the ANBG, Symbiosis, is accompanied by free daytime guided walks on the theme of symbiotic plant relationships in nature.
Summer break for the Membership team
The Membership Team volunteers are taking a well-earned break over the Christmas / New Year period.
- The last applications / renewals will be picked up from the Gardens at 9.30am, Tuesday 22nd December.
- Application/renewals will not be picked up again until 9.30am, Tuesday 5th January 2021.
- Items received by email after Monday 21st December will not be actioned until Tuesday 5th January.
Growing Friends Spring plant sale
Due to the difficulties of maintaining COVID-safe personal spacing and sanitising, Growing Friends will not be holding a Spring public plant sale this year. When it is possible to run another public sale, the details will be widely advertised.

Help look out for plant pests and disease by taking part in the botanic gardens biosecurity blitzes
The Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network is calling on visitors, friends, volunteers and staff of botanic gardens to take part in three targeted biosecurity pest blitzes between September and November this year, conducting surveillance for Myrtle Rust, Brown marmorated stink bug and Tree of Heaven.

New Eucalypt newsletter from the AAFBG
In Adelaide in March, as part of the Adelaide Festival, you could witness giant fire orbs, flickering urns and fiery pits at the Botanic Gardens, and thousands of people did. But the east of the country was already on fire.