Two of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority’s (BGPA’s) longest serving staff members, Lesley Hammersley and Grady Brand (pictured), are to retire this month.
Ms Hammersley is Director Horticulture and Conservation and Mr Brand is the Senior Curator.
After studying horticulture at TAFE, Mr Brand began as a trainee at Kings Park in 1978 working in all sections.
For the last 20 years he has been Senior Curator, responsible for more than 50 staff.
Mr Brand credits Kings Park Director, Stephen Hopper (1992 to 2004), with instilling a sense of excellence which continues to this day and sees the introduction of the month-long September Kings Park Festival in 2007 as one of the most significant developments under his watch.
“Everything we do in the park is carefully considered, the cultural heritage and all the sensitivities of this special place,” Mr Brand said.
“We understand we are building a legacy for future generations.”
Ms Hammersley was working as Manager, Horticulture and Land Management at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne in Victoria in 2000 and was involved in the early planning and development of its celebrated Australian Garden.
“I have always been passionate about Western Australian plants and had been on several field trips to WA,” Ms Hammersley said.
“My chance to move west came when I successfully applied for the job of Manager Biodiversity Conservation with BGPA, based at Bold Park.”
She was in charge of building the Western Australian Ecology Centre at Bold Park and constructing the Reabold Hill boardwalk and summit lookout.
She later moved to Kings Park and was appointed Director in 2010.
