David Young: 'Magic of the Galapagos Islands: their flora and fauna'

Darwin was fascinated by the Galapagos Islands’ flora and fauna, and this fascination still attracts many visitors from all parts of the world.

David Young attended Burnley Horticultural College in Melbourne, after which his first job was at King's Park in Perth.  From there he headed to Canberra and took up a position with the Forest Research Institute in their Seed Centre.  Travel all over Australia followed.  In 1974 he moved to the Canberra Botanic Gardens.  He lived in one of the cottages at the top of the gardens while working during the day in the Seed Store and evaluating plants for registration by the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority.

In 1979, David headed to Nepal with the Nepal-Australia Forestry Project.  In his two years in Nepal he was involved in community forestry work and the construction of the National Seed Store. On his return to Canberra he was appointed "Garden Adviser" with the then City Parks organisation.  He managed a telephone answering service, gave countless talks to interested groups and became involved in radio and television.

David was involved in the formation of the Friends of the ANBG in 1990, was a member of Friends Council, and was Patron of the Friends for many years.