The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc.
The Garden Clubs of Australia is an umbrella organisation for affiliated garden clubs with other kindred and like minded societies, associations and groups throughout Australia.
The Committee of the GCA is made up from members of Affiliates and are all volunteers.
Our motto is “Friendship Through Gardens.”
Who we are
- The primary and major object of the Club is to extend the culture of gardening into the wider community for the benefit of all citizens and, in particular:
- To promote and encourage various aspects of community based horticulture through the following types of activities:
(a) Community – through activities such as gardens for the aged, disabled or community beautification and
recognition of individual and group efforts.
(b) Private – through encouragement of open gardens and recognition of individual efforts.
(c) Civic – through activities such as horticulture regeneration following natural disasters and
establishment of roadside rest areas.
- To extend knowledge throughout the community of gardening, horticulture and its uses, and garden design:
(a) by organising seminars and training for members, members of affiliated and kindred organisations and
the general public,
(b) by organising and supporting the running of community garden projects,
(c) by encouraging and supporting the running of garden competitions, shows, and displays and involving
local residents in the management of such competitions and shows and displays,
(d) by conducting Judges’ Accreditation and Garden Appreciation Courses and establishing judging
standards and rules for horticultural displays and garden competitions,
(e) by producing and distributing information relating to horticulture and gardening.
- To educate the public in the protection and conservation of our natural resources:
(a) by developing skills in conservation and environmental preservation techniques,
(b) by preparing, printing and distributing publications to educate, encourage and promote conservation
and environmental preservation techniques,
(c) by organising and providing guest speakers and presentations,
(d) by encouraging programs and activities in educational institutions.
- To contribute to, encourage and participate in activities assisting Botanic Gardens and other like-minded
horticultural institutions:
(a) by assisting with research programs,
(b) by encouraging affiliates to assist with planting and propagation programs,
(c) by encouraging volunteering in other associated activities.
- To develop and co-ordinate the education of members and members of affiliated and kindred organisations through publications, conferences/workshops/seminars, correspondence and association/networking.
- To co-operate with other agencies to further the interests of horticulture and conservation:
(a) by providing financial assistance or personal effort,
(b) by providing horticulture expertise,
(c) by providing guest speakers and presentations,
(d) by publicly recognising and commending outstanding efforts.
- To promote and encourage areas of floral art:
(a) through use of floral art and its contribution to private and public appreciation,
(b) by providing awards for floral art efforts.
- To encourage assistance to charities and to engage in activities to promote and assist charities either by financial gifts and/or affiliates efforts.
- To be non-political and non-sectarian in all undertakings.
- The Garden Clubs of Australia Incorporated motto shall be
“Friendship Through Gardens”
Services & Affiliation
Membership (Affiliation) to The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc is available to any garden club or gardening oriented organisation. There are many benefits for affiliated clubs including a listing on the “Find a Club” pages on this site, and the right to advertise your event on the “Diary Dates” page.
The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc (GCA) is an umbrella organisation established to provide encouragement and support for the many autonomous local garden clubs functioning throughout Australia. A significant part of that support is the provision of affordable insurance at a national level which otherwise local clubs would find prohibitive.
Over 700 clubs are affiliated with the GCA and many community gardens are included. The majority of affiliates are garden clubs formed by people with a love of gardening, principally their own gardens, to share and further their experience. In recent years, community gardens have also joined in numbers, because of the insurance available.
The GCA provides help and assistance in setting up and the running of a club if required, as well as education, including a CD which is available to affiliates for $5 including postage. For further information and enquiries email the GCA Secretary. For enquiries on affiliation email the GCA Membership Secretary.
A very competitive and favourable insurance policy under The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc Master Insurance Scheme is available to affiliated clubs. The insurance Scheme offers Public Liability, Product Liability and Accident Insurance for its members, and is legal and effective across all Australian States and Territories. Two amendments to forms have been made as follows:
1. Trident Event Proposal Form Click here, and
2. Frequently Asked Questions Click here
An amendment to our Incident Report Form can also be downloaded here. Our Insurance Officer can be contacted for further details, email Rowena Margetts or telephone Rowena on 07 3285 6862 .
Judges Courses are arranged periodically through the GCA to train potential garden judges from members of Affiliated clubs.
Every two years (in the odd years) the GCA holds a Convention at a different location in Australia. The Convention runs for about 5 days and includes the GCA AGM for that year. The Convention provides an opportunity for members of affiliated clubs and their friends and families to enjoy socialising and visiting many interesting attractions at the location. Affiliated clubs can tender to organise a Convention and will receive complete support from the GCA. For details and enquiries contact the GCA Secretary.
List of committee members and positions
ZONE |
CO-ORDINATOR |
ACT |
Carolyn Dawes |
Adelaide & Northern Districts (SA) |
Dean Roberts |
Adelaide & Southern Districts (SA) |
Joy Stinson |
Ballarat & Bendigo (VIC) |
Lorraine Powell |
Blue Mountains (NSW) |
Walter Hitchell |
Brisbane North (QLD) |
Rowena Margetts |
Brisbane South (QLD) |
Robyn Waltisbuhl |
Central & Central South (QLD) |
VACANT |
Central Coast North (NSW) |
Julie Taylor |
Central Coast South (NSW |
Dot Kite |
Central West (NSW) |
VACANT |
Country Western District (Vic) |
VACANT |
Cumberland (NSW) |
John Graham |
Far North Coast (NSW) |
John Bennett |
Far North QLD Cairns/Atherton (QLD) |
Gabrielle Crema |
Far South Coast (NSW) |
Lindy Bonser |
Flinders & Eyre (SA) |
John Jonker |
Granite Belt/Darling Downs (QLD) |
VACANT |
Geelong/Belarine Peninsular (Vic) |
VACANT |
Hume Border (NSW) |
VACANT |
Hume Ovens (NSW) |
VACANT |
Hunter North (NSW) |
George Hoad |
Hunter South (NSW) |
Geoff Hicks; (Jeannette Lee) Assistant |
Illawarra North (NSW) |
Lindy Bonser |
Illawarra South (NSW) |
Graham Bevan |
Lockyer/Darling Downs (QLD) |
Craig Jurd |
Lower North Coast (NSW) |
George Hoad |
Macquarie (NSW) |
Jeanette Chown |
Melbourne East/Mornington Peninsular (VIC) |
Paul Lucas |
ZONE |
CO-ORDINATOR |
Mid North Coast (NSW) |
Marion Watts |
MID North Yorke (SA) |
Beryl Crabb |
New England (NSW) |
Dar Brookes |
North West (NSW) |
Sandra Holmes |
Northern Rivers (NSW) |
Michael West |
Perth North (WA) |
Jacqui Bateman |
Perth South (WA) |
Ericka Stean |
Riverina (NSW) |
Velia O’Hare |
Riverland/SE (SA) |
John Menzal |
Snowy Mountains (NSW) |
VACANT |
South Coast (NSW) |
Lindy Bonser |
South West (NSW) |
VACANT |
Southern Tablelands (NSW) |
Mary Willis |
Sunshine Coast (QLD) |
Glenys Bruun |
Sydney Eastern Suburbs (NSW) |
Jill Drevon |
Sydney Inner West (NSW) |
Lorraine Emerson |
Sydney North Shore (NSW) |
Margaret Levick |
Sydney Northern Beaches (NSW) |
Margaret Makin |
Sydney South West (NSW) |
Priscilla Duncan |
Sydney Sutherland (NSW) |
John Willis |
Tasmania North West (TAS) |
Lyn Smith |
Tasmania North & North East (TAS) |
Anne Masciantonio |
Tasmania South (TAS) |
Norma Gordon |
Tropical & Coral Coast (QLD) |
Joan Farrell |
Townsville/Bowen (QLD) |
Iris Bennett |
Upper Yarra/Goulburn Valley (VIC) |
Paul Lucas |
West Australia Southern (WA) |
Margaret Wright |
Postal Zone |
Glenys Bruun |