7th February 1989. Bill Bullard, President of the Revesby Workers’ Club, gathered a group of club members together with an interest in gardening, for the purpose of forming a Garden Club. These members were Bill Maher, Bob Downey, Joy Fiveash, Phyllis Johnstone, Phoebe Bowden, Bill Pemberton, Olive Mclean, Robyn Elmer and Phyl Kinsey. Phyllis Johnstone wrote to the Garden Club of Australia seeking information and any literature that would assist with the forming of the Revesby Workers’ Garden Club and to affiliate it with the Garden Club of Australia.
22nd February 1989. A letter was received containing suggestions which would assist in making the new club attractive to members.
4th March 1989. The first meeting of the Revesby Workers’ Garden Club was held. A decision was made to meet on the first Saturday of the month except January. Elections were held with Joy Fiveash as President, Bob Downey as Vice President, Phyllis Johnstone as Treasurer, and Bob Downey as Social Secretary. Phoebe Bowden and Bill Pemberton were willing to act as delegates to the Garden Club of Australia with Bill Bullard as Liaison Director. The Revesby Workers’ Club donated $250.00 for early expenses and provided a pigeon hole at Club Reception for correspondence. At the suggestion of Bob Downey, a library was begun and plans were put into place to open a bank account. Plant cuttings were sold at the meeting and a Membership Fee of $3.00 per annum was set.
1st April 1989. Books were donated for the Library and it was agreed that these would be loaned to members for a 4 week period. A tour to the Rhododendron Park at Wollongong was contemplated and Bob Downey accepted esponsibility for the arrangements. Speakers for the next meeting were discussed and Bob agreed to act as Secretary until one was officially appointed.
6th May 1989. The first plant stall, arranged by Joy Fiveash, was held in conjunction with a local Fun Run. The Garden Club was awarded a trophy for the best decorated stall.
3rd June 1989. Bob Downey wrote the first Garden Club article to appear in the Revesby Workers’ Club journal. The Bank balance stood at $308.20. Phoebe Bowden was appointed Publicity Officer. At this meeting it was decided to meet on the 1st and 3rd Saturday each month – the first Saturday for business and the third Saturday for guest speakers. Correspondence was received from the parent body advising that Executive Members of any interclub must also be members of the Revesby Worker’s Club. Mrs. Isobel Dale was elected Secretary.
July 1989. The Constitution was planned, an Attendance book and Library register commenced and guest speakers were suggested. Mr. David Lee was invited to speak at the September meeting. A Christmas function and fund raising activities were also suggested. The draft Constitution was presented to the parent body and to the Garden Club members.
5th August 1989. Membership had grown to 18. Tours were suggested and the Constitution was finalised. The Christmas function, a barbeque, to be held at the RWC Sport and Recreation Club on 16th December commencing at 1.00pm. A visit to a Japanese Garden was scheduled for Monday 28th August.
September 1989. Plans were made for an AGM in November. The Constitution was printed and distributed to the members who decided to cater for the Christmas barbeque.
October 1989. General business was discussed and nominations for positions were made for the AGM.
4th November 1989.The inaugural Annual General Meeting held. Name badges were suggested. Bank balance was approx. $500
December 1989. Christmas barbeque was held. It was decided to hold charity raffles at each monthly meeting to support the Revesby Workers’ Club charity. Funds from the sale of plants were to go directly to the Garden Club.
1997 The Revesby Workers Garden Club MEMORIAL GARDEN AND PLAQUE, dedicated to deceased members of the Garden Club, was planted with weeping cherries and assorted flowers.
It was later vandalized and in the interests of safety was taken down to be set up at a later date.
1999 OLIVE McLEAN was nominated to the GARDEN CLUBS OF AUSTRALIA for her services as Vice President and Publicity Officer to the Revesby Workers Garden Club.
2005 The GARDEN CLUBS OF AUSTRALIA INC. presented their 2005 “LALLIE COOMBES AWARD” to PHYLLIS JOHNSTONE ‘for service to an area by a club member conducted by the Garden Clubs of Australia Inc. as well as continuous work done for the charities we support’.
2006 PHYLLIS JOHNSTONE was awarded a LIFE MEMBERSHIP of REVESBY WORKERS GARDEN CLUB for her length of membership, as a founding member, and her service through various positions as President, Vice President, Secretary, Ass. Secretary, and Treasurer of the Garden Club.
2011 On behalf of BANKSTOWN COUNCIL, the REVESBY WORKERS CLUB, the REVESBY WORKERS AUSTRALIAN NATIVE ORCHID CLUB, and in conjunction with REVESBY WORKERS GARDEN CLUB, a SENIORS MORNING TEA was instigated which will be held during SENIORS WEEK in March every year.
2014 A CELEBRATION, with cake cutting, of the 25th ANNIVERSARY of the founding of Revesby Workers Garden Club, was held in March at the Mooney Mooney Club. During this ceremony, a LIFE MEMBERSHIP was bestowed upon Noreen Nolan and Jean Apter, for their length of service, and dedication in many areas of service to the Garden Club.
2017 Our Garden Club participated in the Senior’s Morning Tea.
2018 Life Membership was awarded – MAUREEN CABRAL, JUDITH COLOGON and ROMA FLYNN. The Anne Williams Medallion was awarded to – LEILA SMITH. A Bus Tour was arranged for North Head. Our Club made a donation of 20 Farmer Hampers (due to drought) amounting to $1,050.
2019 Celebrated our 30th Birthday. Minutes of the 1st meeting held in 1989 were read to reminisce. Retirement of Priscilla Duncan as President. Bus Tours were to Bowral and to the Welby Garden Centre. Esteemed member Noreen Nolan passed away. In September we reported on the passing of another significant Life Member, Jean Apter. Our Guest Speaker in October was George Hoad, President of Garden Clubs of Australia. GCA Convention on Norfolk Island. $2000 donated to CWA in Tamworth (Drought Assistance).
2020 Gardens experienced traumatic conditions with bushfires, heat, smoke and dust, water restrictions. And on top of all that COVID came upon us and we were unable to hold meetings from April – July as well as other restrictions. CWA Tamworth sent a thank you note in appreciation of our donation of $2000. Bus trip to Geranium Cottage luckily took place before COVID restrictions came into play. Commenced bringing our Club into the 21st Century – Minutes were emailed to members. Baby/Toddler photo guessing competition was held. Because of COVID no Guest Speakers were able to come. Christine Butters was awarded Life Membership of Revesby Workers’ Club.
2021 We were locked down again from July – October due to COVID. At our 32nd Birthday – Life Membership was awarded to PRISCILLA DUNCAN and MARILYN MEIER. Marilyn was also awarded a Long Service Award together with LOIS WARD. We were so fortunate that we had Christine Turner for our Secretary and her skills with the computer and with the suggestion of Carol, our Vice President, each day Christine would put up photos of things we loved in our gardens. In June we reflected on the passing of ROMA FLYNN Life Member and much loved former President.
2022 At our 33rd Birthday meeting Life Membership was bestowed on CAROL GRIFFITHS & LEILA SMITH and Long Service Award to MARIE MCDONALD. We celebrated our first Friendship Day and invited Holroyd Garden Club to visit. We began our working bees at Biyani House. GCA Convention was at Townsville. Bus Tour to Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens.
2023 In April we farewelled PRISCILLA DUNCAN, Life Member and former President who passed away on 23rd March. In Eugowra the town had suffered significant damage in a flood and we elected to send $1,000 to their Garden Club. We had 2 Bus Tours – First to Red Cow Farm and then to the Blue Mountains/Everglades. We had a Friendship Day with Concord Garden Club. Internet banking commenced. Our Membership fees increased from $15 to $20. GCA Convention was at Lake Macquarie (Toronto). Five members attended. In June our much loved member, JUDITH COLOGON, Life Member and for years the organiser of our Bus Tours passed away.
2024 Celebrated our 35th Birthday and invited Fairfield Garden Club for Friendship Day. Changed the format of our meetings and invited the Guest Speaker to speak first. The Bus Tour to Wollongong Botanic Gardens was cancelled. Oasis foam was banned due to its carcinogenic elements. Bus Trip to Bowral Corbett Tulip Gardens was a great success.
2025 Life Membership was awarded to President, Val Kennedy. Bus Tour to Camellia Grove Gardens. Biyani House was closed for renovations. A Photo Competition was held and it was a great success with more than 100 entries. Bus Tour to Wildwood Gardens, Bilpin was cancelled. GCA Convention was held in Albury in October. Five of our members attended the week long convention.
