About Us

The Friends is a volunteer-based association united by our desire to support the Gardens and ensure it continues to flourish.

We are a community organisation, incorporated under the ACT Associations Incorporations Act 1991 and registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

Our administering body is the Friends’ Council, which consists of 9 elected members and ex officio (non-voting) members. Council members are elected at our Annual General Meeting; the most recent was on 16 October 2025. Current Council members are:

Executive Members
President	Linda Beveridge
Vice President	Darrell Porter
Secretary	Kerry Olsson
Treasurer	Roderick King

Non-executive members
Beth Tyerman
John Barrow
John Pilbeam
Maxine Cooper
Richard Arculus

Ex Officio Members
Branch Head, Science and ANBG	Rebecca Pirzl
Director ANBG	Matt Parker
Friends Liaison	Helen McHugh
Friends’ Past President	Neville Page

A number of sub-groups arrange activities for the Friends, and various committees are appointed by Council. Key members are:

Special Interest Groups
Botanic Art Group	Vivienne Howe Schneider (botanicart@friendsanbg.org.au)
e-Bulletin	Beth Tyerman, Doris Kordes (bulletin@friendsanbg.org.au)
Flowers, Fruit & Foliage	Ben and Ros Walcott (benwalcott5@gmail.com)
Fronds Newsletter	Barbara Podger, Cathy Robertson, Sharon Abrahams, Denis Warne (newsletter@friendsanbg.org.au)
Growing Friends	Debbie Dennis (Convenor), Bronwyn Houlden (Secretary) (growingfriends@friendsanbg.org.au)
Guides	Sue Allen (guides@friendsanbg.org.au), Lynn Hay (booked walks) (bookedtours@anbg.gov.au)
IT Advisers	David More, Beth Tyerman (techsupport@friendsanbg.org.au)
Membership	Beth Tyerman, Evelyn Jacobsen, Janelle Chalker, Margaret Smythe (memberteam@friendsanbg.org.au)
Nature Journaling Group	Lesley Page (naturejournal@friendsanbg.org.au)
Photographic Group	Phil Green (Convenor), Kevin Gale (Secretary), Paul Bainton (Membership Secretary), Simone Slater, Stephen Hunter (Publicity Officer), Wendy Shelton (General Members) (photo@friendsanbg.org.au)
Plant Recognition Group	Julia Newton-Howes (Convenor), John Vranjic, Leonie Jones, Linda Beveridge, Susan Ford (plantname@friendsanbg.org.au)
Plant Science Group	Lesley Harland (plantscience@friendsanbg.org.au)
Projects Committee	Alan Henderson (Convenor), Sharon Abrahams, David Coutts, Lynne Curran, Wanda Filsell, Kristiane Herrmann, Ian Primrose
Student Photo Competition	Email schoolphoto@friendsanbg.org.au
Social Events and Activities	Barbara Podger, Liz Hall, Ute Wegener, Sue Chambers, John Barrow (events@friendsanbg.org.au)
Thursday Talks	Sharon Abrahams (Convenor), Barbara Hamburger, Elaine Staples, John Vranjic, Kathy Eyles, Kate King, Linda Beveridge (talks@friendsanbg.org.au)
Website	Beth Tyerman (Convenor), Anne Lange, Brian Moir (website@friendsanbg.org.au)