Newsletter December 2023

Flower of the Month

Flowering Gum

by Dr Bibiana Chan

Flowering Gum, scientifically known as Corymbia ficifolia, is a stunning Australian native tree celebrated for its vibrant and prolific blossoms. This evergreen beauty belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is widely cherished for its ornamental value.

Reaching heights of up to 10 meters, the Flowering Gum showcases a striking display of flowers in shades ranging from deep reds to pinks and oranges. These blossoms not only add a burst of color to the landscape but also attract a myriad of pollinators, including bees.

One fascinating fact about the Flowering Gum is its adaptability. It thrives in a variety of soil types and is resilient to both drought and frost. This hardiness makes it a favourite among gardeners and landscapers, contributing to its popularity not only in its native Australia but also in gardens around the world.

Another noteworthy aspect is its significance in Indigenous Australian culture. The Flowering Gum holds cultural importance for some Aboriginal groups, who have traditionally used parts of the tree for various purposes, such as making tools and medicines.

Interestingly, the Flowering Gum is a hybrid plant, resulting from the crossbreeding of two different eucalyptus species. This hybridization contributes to the tree’s unique characteristics, making it a distinctive and sought-after addition to gardens.

Gardeners and nature enthusiasts appreciate the low maintenance requirements of the Flowering Gum. It’s a relatively hassle-free tree, providing a dazzling spectacle with minimal effort. Watch this video clip to view the beautiful collection of flowering gum at Melton Botanical Garden, Melbourne.

The Flowering Gum stands out not only for its stunning aesthetics but also for its adaptability, cultural significance, and the intriguing story of its hybrid origins. Whether gracing the Australian landscape or adding a touch of Down Under to gardens worldwide, the Flowering Gum is a testament to the beauty and resilience of Australia’s native flora.

This YouTube is a ‘December Must See’, so ENJOY!

Plant of the Month

African Violets

Photos by Bibi

African Violets – a brief introduction and some fun facts about Africa Violets. Bibi is developing a Repotting Workshop for 2024. Please email her if you are interested to attend.

Splitting and repotting an African Violet!

Check out this very informative video on ‘How to care for African Violet’ (ABC Gardening Australia)

Recipe of the Month

Scottish Shortbread

by Geoff Turner

A timely recipe to make as home-made Christmas gifts! This recipe, from Geoff’s mum, is a tradition in the Turner household. Photos were taken at Bibi’s first attempt. You may like to try it too!

Ingredients:

375 g Flour

250 g butter

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

1 Tablespoon Corn flour

125 g caster sugar

Methods:

1. Sift together the all-purpose flour, corn flour, a pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder into a bowl.
2. In another bowl, add caster sugar and then add butter on top. Work the butter into the sugar until well combined.
3. Add the butter-sugar mixture to the flour mixture, a handful at a time, working it in well until all the flour is used up. This should take approximately 10 minutes.
4. Once well mixed, pour the dough into a tin measuring 30cm x 20cm. Spread the dough lightly all over the tin and use a ruler to draw two lines lightly down the length and 12 lines across. Prick the shortbread with a fork to form the traditional pattern.
5. Bake in a preheated 150°C (300°F) oven for 60 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
6. Cut through the baked shortbread while still warm.  Sprinkle with caster sugar. Then leave it in the tin until completely cold. Enjoy your delicious homemade shortbread!

Why do you Prick Shortbread?

Much the same as pricking the base of a pie crust, potato scones and other baked goods, pricking shortbread with a fork ensures that the biscuits don’t bubble up and bake uniformly. It also gives it the classic pattern, for which shortbread is known.

For your information, here is a simplified version of a 3 ingredient shortbread.

Book Review

By Kim Wilkins

Grace Tame – The ninth life of a diamond by Grace Tame

This is the autobiography of the very admirable Grace Tame. For those few who need reminding, this is the women who was seduced by one of her teachers at the age of 15 (which is rape), later led a successful campaign in Tasmania to publicise the names of such sexual predators and was named Australian of the Year. It is 342 pages and was published in 2022. It is a fascinating biography of a very open and colourful life and a deep insight into how seduction of a minor can occur.

It is worthwhile listing the 6 stages set out in pages 74 to 76 of the book- identifying a vulnerable target, gaining trust, filling a need, isolating, sexualising and maintaining control. She names and describes her predator and also discusses the very negative
effect on her own life. I was struck by the attitude of the management of the school where other teachers and students were aware of what this teacher was like but chose to ignore or tolerate the warning signs. Unfortunately for Mr Bester he was abusing a very intelligent and courageous woman. As well as describing in detail her own life, Grace does a lot of self analysing to see why this happened and can happens to others.

The book is not “heavy”, although perhaps there are a little too many descriptions and names of friends and relatives. This is the only criticism I have, as it is well- written and an easy read. I recommend this as a necessary read if you have a child at school and an interesting read for everyone.

From the Desk of Bibi

Paying tributes to a dear friend – Joyce Lewis

by Dr Bibiana Chan

I first met Joyce Lewis at a StreetWork Fundraising event in July 2019 before the Community Flower Studio (CFS) was founded. Someone introduced me to Joyce as the real estate agent who might be able to help me find a suitable shop front for CFS. Joyce gave me her business card. I then ran into her at Chatswood Chase’s food court one afternoon. We had a cuppa and a good chat. Both living in Willoughby, we said we should catch up regularly. Our next meeting was at StreetWork’s 2019 Christmas Dinner, where I was the guest speaker. CFS was just founded. She gave me some encouraging words and best wishes.

She invited me to a Chinese New Year Celebration at her place in Feb 2020. It was right at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and many guests sent their apologies. I had an earlier appointment and only arrived late in the afternoon on foot. There was a small group, but Joyce had prepared a lot of food to entertain her guests. I got to talk to her at a deeper level and met some of her other guests. It was quite dark when I made my way home. It was very kind of her husband to give me a lift back.

I hadn’t heard from Joyce for a little while when, out of the blue, she called me and asked whether I could host a floral arrangement workshop for her Singaporean friends. I spelled out the details for her on the phone and then put everything in writing via email. However, I hadn’t heard from Joyce. I was pre-occupied with hosting virtual terrarium workshops and forgot to follow-up. Two COVID-19 lockdowns really changed the way we connect with friends. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and SMS became our primary media of communication. Picking up the phone to share news seems like a thing of the past. Joyce regularly sent me greetings via WhatsApp – images with beautiful flowers and words of wisdom.

We reconnected face-to-face in October 2022 because I needed a JP to certify some photocopies as true copies of the originals. I walked to Joyce’s place with a Lilac Rose bouquet. She gave me a bear hug and the biggest smile! We were just returning to the practice of hugging each other after surviving 2 COVID-19 lockdowns. Having not seen each other face-to-face for a long while, we had a good chat about everything.

Joyce was a passionate supporter of all StreetWork Fundraising events. I often ran into her at these occasions now that in-person events were slowly finding their way back into our diary. On one occasion, I mentioned to her the CFS’ new initiative ‘Bushwalk of the Month’. She was keen to take part, so I sent her the monthly invitations. I also knew that she was interested in Orchids. When I hosted a Moth Orchid Repotting Workshop, she not only came along herself but also invited 2 friends to attend. She also signed up as a CFS member and encouraged her friends to do so. She came to CFS’ Laughter Yoga Class and helped me with the Mental Health Month pop-up stall.

Joyce went with me to the Flower Market together on 1/11 to get the raw materials for a FAME workshop. It was unfortunately the first and the last trip to the Flower Market for Joyce. She passed away tragically in a house fire on Sat 18/11.

At this Flower Market trip, I gave her a guided tour after I got the flowers needed for a floral arrangements workshop. I told her which stalls to buy what flowers to get the best qualities and values. She had never been to the flower market before our trip. She told me she couldn’t find it in the huge Flemington Market. She was so happy that she knew her way now and was keen to come back herself. That morning, out of all the beautiful blooms in the whole market, Joyce bought a mixed rose bunch to give to a friend. I am going to call it – Joyce’s Choice!

During the journey back to Willoughby, we touched on the subject about stigma attached to mental illness was still so high within the Asian communities. I told her e-Mental health offered an anonymous way of accessing services. This was one of the recommendations in my PhD thesis. I told Joyce that I would send her a few links on some of the resources I used when I was in a depression episode. I would recommend this e-Mental Health resources to anyone experiencing psychological distress. Before I found the time to do this, Joyce was gone!

On Wed 22/11, I headed to the Flower Market again for an order for an event. I bought 10 bunches (each with 10 stems of local roses) of ‘Joyce’s Choice’ after learning the sad news about the house fire. I arranged the 10 stems into 2 posies with Jasmine from my garden and White Geraldton (Natives) from a local farm. There is a PINK ROSE in the center representing Joyce. When I finished, I took these posies to Little Giant Roaster Cafe Willoughby the next day (23/11). I posted on Willoughby Living (a Facebook Group) and invited the local residents to pick 2 posies, one to keep and one to spread kindness. LET’S CELEBRATE JOYCE’S BIG HEART WITH A ‘PETAL-IT-FORWARD’ JOYCE’S CHOICE!”

Subscriber’s Corner

Winning entry of the

Cadi Jam Ora – Sydney Royal Botanical Garden Walk

by Ben K. (Year 9 student at Oakville College)

On the Weekend I walked through the Royal Botanical Gardens. On the walk I saw various herbs planted in an array along the Botanical Garden, it really opened up my view on how many herbs there are available.

As we ventured forward the group grasped the idea of the aboriginal saying: Cadi Jam Ora. Cadi Jam Ora or I am in Cadi is the local aboriginal name for the Sydney Harbour area.

The garden display in the Royal Botanical Gardens explores the life of the Cadigal (the area’s original occupants) through their use of plants and relationships with the land. From a period of 60,000 years to the present, the storyline highlights important events in Aboriginal history and places them in the context of long-term environmental changes and other world events. The design of the indigenous garden reflects the original landscape.

The Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens occupy the site that the Aboriginal people of Sydney knew as Wuganmagulya, and Governor Arthur Phillip later named Farm Cove. It was here that the British made their first attempts to grow crops. After many failed attempts, Phillip directed his men to find a more fertile area. It was this journey that led to a second settlement being established at Parramatta. Each Year on the 26th of January, the first official event of Sydney’s annual Australia Day is held at the Royal Botanical Gardens, with indigenous and non-indigenous people alike joining in the Woggan-ma-gule Morning Ceremony.

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Lifeline, Harbour to Hawkesbury) offers individual sessions are $35 (concessions available) or $45 for couples/families. Generally, a series of 8 to 10 sessions is most helpful, but this will vary with individual circumstances.

Online resources for Dealing with “Grief, loss and mental health”.

Factsheet on Dealing with Grief

I found this Wellbeing Plan very helpful in assisting me in working out my plans to stay well while grieving the loss of a great friend. Some kids and teens witnessed the house fire. The following suggestions for teenagers seem very useful.”

The Black Dog Institue also offers ‘My Compass’, an online self-help program which is reviewed by experts in the field to be ‘good’.

5 Ways to Cope When a Loved One Dies (For Teens)

1. Join in rituals. Memorial services and funerals are times to gather.
2. Accept your emotions. Don’t stop yourself from having a good cry if you feel one coming on.
3. Talk about it when you can.
4. Preserve memories.
5. Get the support you need.

I came across this page by ‘Better Health, Victoria Government, Australia. I summarised the key points. below, I hope they are great to put in your ‘Mental Health First Aid Toolbox’.

Looking after yourself when you are grieving

Experiencing the loss of a loved one is a deeply shattering event, affecting you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Prioritizing self-care becomes paramount during this challenging time. Attend to your physical well-being by focusing on a balanced diet, regular exercise, and seeking medical care when necessary. Grief often manifests in various ways, leading to symptoms like sleeplessness and anxiety. Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine, such as meditation, tai chi, or engaging in activities you love, can provide solace. Adequate sleep is crucial, as grief can be physically and emotionally draining.

Be cautious about turning to addictive substances like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs as coping mechanisms, as they may offer temporary relief but pose additional health and behavioral risks. If you find the need for medication, consult with your doctor for professional guidance. Above all, be gentle with yourself; embrace self-compassion and allow the natural process of grieving to unfold without judgment or comparison to perceived expectations.