Whether you know him as Captain Compost, A Tree Musketeer or as the ghost of Courtney Puckey, if you’ve been to one of the Wollongong Botanic Garden’s educative theatre shows, chances are you’ve seen Michael Connor strut his theatrical stuff.
Now, after more than 30 years at the Gardens’ Discovery Centre, Mr Connor is hanging up his costumes and leaving behind a legacy of education through play.
This week’s school holiday program will be his last, with Mr Connor returning to his ever-popular flowerpot costume as part of a program that celebrates the value and importance of greening our urban environment.
“I am sad to be retiring from a job that I absolutely love but I feel excited by the legacy that I’m leaving behind,” Mr Connor said.
“There is something about the work that we do that inspires people and activates their imaginations. While I wouldn’t dream of claiming all the credit, but I know of one young man who came to the show many years ago with his grandmother. I remember him telling me his grandmother had brought him to the end of the world to learn about nature – he is now a permaculture teacher helping to establish sustainable gardens in the Pacific region. I’d like to think something he learnt that day thanks to his grandmother’s interest and our work inspired him in his career.
“I also know of a young bride who insisted on planting an Illawarra Flame Tree in her new garden – just like the one she had nurtured from seed to maturity in her parent’s garden. The seed was one she was given during a school holiday propagation activity some 20 years earlier.
“It is stories like these that keep you inspired and working on the next school holiday program, the next engagement activity and the next event. I will miss that.”
Mr Connor said educational activities in the Garden had really grown over the years, with the Discovery Centre established in the 1980s for school excursions and activities targeting school-aged children.
These programs have grown across the decades to cater to preschool, tertiary and international students, as well as offering community presentations, and walk and talks for seniors and those with special needs. Over the past few years, due to COVID-19, the programs have also taken a virtual turn and opened up the world of environmental education to new audiences.
“Michael is a leading example of the sort of passion we see in our staff here at Wollongong City Council. He is so proud of the work he does, and how it provides a benefit to our community,” Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said.
“Michael’s method of educating people of all ages on important plant conservation, home-based sustainability and climate change topics through theatrical performance has been recognised by the international botanic garden community, with many educators seeking his advice on program delivery and adopting his method of using outdoor theatre to deliver important messages.
“His energy, enthusiasm and determination to try new things has helped establish our Gardens as an industry leader when it comes to targeted educational opportunities. He has represented our community at conferences both in Australia and overseas where people have sought his advice and direction on environmental education practices, and he has his team have won awards for their efforts.”
While Michael is stepping back, the Garden’s popular school holiday program, which is targeted at children aged 5 to 10 years, will continue. This holiday’s program The Magic of Trees includes the talking tree show, cool trees treasure hunt and grow a small food forest activity.
Caption: Michael Connor (far right) at this week’s show.
“The Garden’s education programs are in safe hands,” Mr Connor said.
“Things have changed so much in 30 years and the kids are now so much more aware of the importance of our environment, what recycling is all about and the challenges of climate change. I think us adults could certainly learn a few things from them!
“It does not seem that long ago that our kids had never heard of FOGO – or Food Organics Garden Organics – but through our program we’re seeing smart, involved and educated kids who are determined to make a difference in their world. The outside-of-classroom education opportunities that our programming provides really supports that knowledge and awareness.”
