A LOCAL legend and renowned horticulturalist has been honoured with a new curation at the Sale Botanic Gardens.
Known as the Bill Cane Collection, the curation was officially unveiled to the public last Wednesday by family of the late Maffra resident.
The collection features 70 different native plant species, all chosen with input from the Cane family.
In his speech at the unveiling, Mr Cane’s eldest son – also named Bill – said the finalised collection was the result of 12 months’ worth of email communication between relatives.
“We all made lists of dad’s plants, and if we hadn’t culled it back… we would have had enough to go from here out to the gate,” Bill Jr said.
He also acknowledged Peta Hose, “whose idea it was from day one” to establish a garden in his father’s honour.
More than 60 people attended the unveiling, including members of Mr Cane’s extended family, Friends of the Sale Botanic Gardens, and representatives of Wellington Shire Council.
Mayor Ian Bye was among those who gave speeches, saying: “The Bill Cane Collection is such a great addition to the already impressive Sale Botanic Gardens.”
Another of Mr Cane’s sons, David, who also spoke at the event, told of how his father would freely provide samples and cuttings of plants to anybody who was seeking them.
David then got emotional as he announced that he was continuing that tradition, having donated 100 native plants for everybody in attendance to take home – with most readily accepting the offer.
Photo: Tom Parry
The late Bill Cane was a passionate nurseryman and apiarist who utilised his sharp eye and photographic memory to locate native flora.
He was also a pioneer in his field, introducing hybrid and grafted species.
His achievements have not gone unnoticed, with the Banksia canei – a species he himself discovered – and Bill Cane Court in Maffra both named in his honour.
Bill Cane Court leads to the entrance of Maffra Secondary College, whose school logo incorporates the Banksia canei into its design.
His influence was also felt internationally, with the likes of Russia and South Africa having grown bluegum plantations based on his practices, as Cr Bye noted on the day.
“Bill’s legacy is other countries have taken-up what he actually did,” he said
“That’s pretty powerful.”
Speaking after the event, Bill Jr said the family was “gobsmacked” by the number of people who attended the unveiling.
He also paid tribute to Wellington Shire’s parks and gardens team who “have done all the hard work” in planting and curating the new collection.
“And the other great thing is, so many of these plants have got so much new growth on them – they’re at home already,” he said.
He also revealed to the Gippsland Times his pick for the best plant in the collection: the Philotheca verrucosa or ‘Heyfield Double Wax’.
“When that grows, that’ll probably be one of the favourites of the garden,” Bill Jr said.
“With the pink and the green and the white, it’s something special.”
The Bill Cane Collection is located in the north-west corner of the Sale Botanic Gardens, and joins the eight existing Living Collections.
The Gardens are free for the public to view seven days a week.
