Wattle Day 2001

Australian National Botanic Gardens Growing, studying and promoting Australian plants
GPO Box 1777 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA	Telephone (02) 62509450 Facsimile (02) 62509599 Media enquiries: Anne Joyce 6250 9538

Celebrate the Australian Spirit in the Nation’s Garden, Saturday 1^st September

All ways to acknowledge Wattle Day in this Centenary of Federation year, and what better location than the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Black Mountain in Canberra.

Since Federation in 1901, the Golden Wattle has enjoyed popular acceptance as the national floral emblem. Wattle Day dates from 1913 when a Federal Constitution for an association known as the Wattle Day League was established. The League’s aims included the wearing of wattle blossom on 1 September.

The Wattle Day Association invites everyone to join in the special program of events planned to celebrate this national day.

Be part of the 666 ABC Canberra’s Gardening Show with Alex Sloan and Mark Carmody, in a live broadcast from 8.30 to 11 am in the Gardens’ Education Centre.

At 11 am we host a citizenship ceremony officiated by ACT Chief Minister Gary Humphries and Senator Kate Lundy, whilst Farrer Primary School Choir will be on hand to welcome the newest Australians with their mix of old and new Australian songs.

Later other entertainment will be provided by Mulligan’s Bush Band and the Molonglo Mayhem Morris dancers, with Cassidy’s Ceili treating us to their unique brand of folk and traditional music for the balance of the program.

Other activities on offer include exploring the new inter-active wattle identification key, launched by the Australian Biological Resources Survey as part of the Flora of Australia series, taking a wattle walk with our Volunteer Guides, sampling wattle seed ice cream and biscuits, and even making your own Wattle Day badge.

And don’t forget to visit the Visitor Centre to learn about Australia’s national floral emblem at the Floral Emblems exhibition. Visitor Centre open 9.30am to 4.30pm. Phone: (02) 6250 9540.