By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A FRIEND of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne for many years, Valarie Tarrant has been awarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
“I’m delighted to get it but particularly pleased because I’m hoping it can bring attention to the local environment and our need to look after it.
“My main idea is to teach people to treasure the heritage of our bushland areas and beaches and to respect them,” Ms Tarrant said.
With a love of the Australian bushland and indigenous plants, Ms Tarrant said the Cranbourne gardens are world class.
“It’s a beautiful parkland and a particularly good breath of fresh air after living in closely built-up Melbourne. I like the bush, the walks and the restaurant- all of it,” she said.
Ms Tarrant watched on as the gardens were built from scratch.
“I was there when John Thwaites turned the first sod and attended the official opening of the gardens. I’ve seen it transform from natural vegetation to a world class garden,” she said.
Ms Tarrant from Black Rock first came across the bushland on her way to Wilsons Promontory and said she had been going back ever since.
“My mother was a great lover of the bush, and I go to the gardens quite regularly with my youngest son,” she said.
Having led tours around the gardens, Ms Tarrant knows them like the back of her hand, and said one of her favourite spots was the trig point.
“If you climb up this hill, you can see right across the gardens and on a clear day you can see Western Port Bay, The Otways, Mount Baw Baw and you can even see right through to Melbourne,” she said.
Ms Tarrant said when the letter arrived in the post she was very surprised and gratified.
“It’s recognition for our precious local environment,” she said, adding that she was looking forward to wearing her medal.
