Blue Mountains World Heritage Turns Ten - One Picture for Every 20 Eucalypt Species

Nearly 300 people packed into the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden Vistor Centre yesterday for the opening of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Exhibition Centre. I've posted twice on this already (yesterday and last month) so today I'm just providing a few pictures from the event.

Rob Smith, Branch Director of Mount Tomah Botanic Garden and was MC. Rob and the staff at Tomah worked flat out for many weeks to get the landscape (including an artifical creek and lots of local plantings) ready for the launch. Mothers Art did the internal design and fit-out, in partnership with Botanic Gardens and National Parks staff.

Jaime Plaza took a series of seriously good photographs, beautifully stiched together into a 'show' that runs for about eight minutes before the screen rises and you look out over the majestic Blue Mountains. Something like this, but not always through mist and rain.

Uncle Jeff Cooper welcomed us to Darug land then Sally Barnes and I spoke about how this Centre was good Parks and good for Gardens. Bob Debus, recently (last Monday) and ex-member of Federal Parliament and previously Environment Minister in New South Wales, spoke about the nomination of the Blue Mountains on the World Heritage list and how it was the most widely acclaimed announcement he made during his time as NSW Minister.

Jack Thompson, here to the right of Rob Smith, spoke briefly but eloquently about the importance of the Blue Mountains and its Aboriginal history. His words were poetic, including in part an actual poem, and evocotive.

Then everyone (some of whom are below) could view the exhibition and visit the garden in the gentle rain. Bob Debus and Jack Thompson planted eucalypts to celebrate the occasion. This is Jack with his specimen of Eucalyptus copulans, a rare and evocatively named species.

Susan Templeton, Labour candidate for the seat of Blue Mountains accompanied Bob Debus and joined Greg Martin, Chair of the Botanic Gardens Trust and one of three Trustees in attendance, myself and Bob Debus for this picture.