When the gorgeous Japanese Gardens at Katie Rose Cottage Hospice officially opened on 21 September, five years after the idea was first conceived, they formed a tapestry of vibrant colour with many of the plants in full bloom.
The Japanese Garden was opened by Japanese Consul-General Gomakubo Junji, and Katie Rose Cottage Hospice Board member, Glen Elmes, joined by Japanese Vice-Consul Tomohiro Koyama.
Fellow Board Members in attendance included Simon Gamble, Claire Middleton, Jill Morley, CEO John Gabrielson, KRCH gardening and maintenance volunteers and hospice staff.
The concept for the Japanese Gardens, replete with a waterfall, bridges, ponds, a walkthrough mandala, and Japanese teahouse, was put forward to Katie Rose Cottage Hospice (KRCH) by volunteer gardener Kathleen Bolt in 2018, building on suggested early garden designs.
“Susan had designs for a zen garden and a labyrinth garden and I thought a Japanese garden would complement those two ideas well,” Kathleen explained.
“There was a lot of research into what type of sub-tropical plants could be used to substitute for Japanese cold climate plants. Another volunteer, Phil, who is an engineer, had visited Japan more than once and used his knowledge to draw up the plans for the site.”
The KRCH nursery team propagated most of the plants for the garden, while the remaining plants were either donated or purchased.
The ambitious project was completed in September 2022 and is lovingly maintained by the Hospice Garden Team.
The KRCH Japanese Gardens were financed by Noosa Council, Eumundi Rotary, Brett and Sheryl Hill and a successful application for a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
KRCH Acting Chair Acting Les Godwin, said the Japanese Gardens are a place of calm and tranquillity for guests and their families and friends.
“We have been very lucky to have such dedicated and talented volunteers work so hard to create something truly special here at Katie Rose Cottage,” he added. “We simply could not have developed the Japanese Gardens without their work, their ideas and commitment.”
