By Robyn Lawrence, Atlas of Living Australia
Dr Tim Entwisle, the Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, is on his way from Australia to take up the position of Director of Conservation, Living Collections and Estates, Kew Gardens, London.
Tim’s role as Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Sydney, included his responsibility for Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden in the Blue Mountains and the Mount Annan Botanic Garden near Camden.
As Tim writes on his blog, Talking Plants about his new appointment:
http://talkingplants.blogspot.com/2010/12/nothing-punny-about-kew.html
“My responsibilities include the botanic garden at Kew (its plants, landscapes and structures), the botanic garden at Wakehurst Place (ditto), the Millenium Seed Bank (at Wakehurst Place), infrastructure generally and conservation programs. I [will] look after about 400 of the 800 people who work at Kew …”.
Tim will be second in charge at the Kew Gardens, and is excited that his new boss is another former Australian colleague, Professor Stephen Hopper. Tim associated with Stephen for many years during the time Stephen worked at Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens in Perth.
An evening function held on Friday the 18th of March 2011 celebrated Tim’s achievements in his role in the Botanic Gardens Trust and wished him all the best in his new position as Director of Conservation, Living Collections and Estates, Kew Gardens, London.
Guests included Heads of various NSW State Government departments, the Director of the Australian Museum, Sydney City councillors, past and present state Environment ministers (three out of the six that Tim has reported to over the years) and other eminent Sydney people. Such a diverse crowd of notable people, from both sides of the political divide demonstrates the esteem that Tim is held in. The former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally and the former NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell sent messages of praise for Tim’s work. The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, also sent her best wishes.
John Tann and Robyn Lawrence represented the Atlas of Living Australia at this event. After the speeches, they gave Dr Karl Kruszelnicki – the TV and radio science communicator extraordinaire – a run-down on the work of the Atlas.
The speeches given by the Director General of DECCW, Lisa Corbyn, the Director of Science and Public Programs at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Dr Brett Summerell, and the Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth, and Tim himself spoke not just of Tim’s work at the Gardens, but gave interesting insights into the man himself.
Tim has a great passion for rock music, loves kayaking on the Sydney Harbour and is probably the one and only proud owner of a car bumper sticker that says: “I brake for algae”, an acknowledgement to Tim’s background in freshwater algae.
Tim Entwisle the social media aficionado is still going to be out there on the world wide web. Tim is taking his popular blog, Talking Plants with him (http://talkingplants.blogspot.com/). Just in the future, his botanical blog posts might be a little more northern-hemisphere centric.
The Grey-headed Flying-foxes besieging the trees of the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, may think they have won the day. Tim has gone and they remain in residence. However after many years, the battle is almost over. Tim’s finally been granted the appropriate permissions for the Gardens to start moving the bats on.
Farewell Tim and Lynda. All the best in your new ventures in London.