Loder Cup Recognises Local Achievements

Forest and Bird, Issue 308, 1 May 2003, Page 9

Loder Cup Recognises Local Achievements

—MALCOLM PULLMAN

onservation stalwarts agree: it would be very difficult to find another person like Northland’s Margie Maddren. Recently awarded the country’s premier botanical award, the Loder Cup, Margie Maddren is the long-term president and inspirational leader of the Whangarei Native Forest and Bird Protection Society. This ‘stand-alone’ local organisation grew from a conference of sawmillers in the town in 1936. Among the delegates to that meeting was Margie’s father, a kauri bushman, who had seen first hand the ravages of development and wanted to help save at least some of the region’s special bush and birds. ‘That is what makes us unique, explains Margie Maddren. "The very people who were chopping the trees down brought us into the world’ Since then the Whangareibased society with its core of dedicated followers has grown to a membership of more than 1000, with supporters throughout the country. In addition to planting many thousands of native trees, especially coastal pohutukawa, and engaging the community in planting and education projects, the society has provided financial backing for many long-term conservation initiatives in Northland. In particular they have stumped up with funds to help fence National Trust covenants, purchase land for Native Forest Restoration Trust projects, assist the Department of Conservation purchase reserves, construct a kiwi house, build a canopy walkway at the A.H. Reed Kauri Memorial Park, and establish the Margie Maddren Fernery — a district councilmanaged complex that houses what is probably the country’s most complete collection of ferns. Much of their fundraising has consisted of growing plants

and selling seedlings in the same place downtown on Vine Street every Friday for the last few decades. Most days of the week, as the world whips by on the nearby Western Hills Bypass, at least some of Margie’s gang can be seen potting up and pottering around among the racks of plants, seedbeds and nursery paraphernalia that is the front and back yards of her house. It is the same site where her bushman father set up home. She has never been a great traveller. Her one major trip outside the region was to Wellington in 1980 when friends whisked her south to see the Queen and receive a QSM for services to conservation. But Wellington has heard from Margie on more than one occasion. She has a reputation for reminding politicians of their promises. Within Northland travel is not an issue — there are few forests, parks, reserves or covenants in the Whangarei District that have not been explored by ‘Margie and Co.

At 80 years old, the winner of the Loder Cup recalls she has been dedicated to plants and wildlife since she was four. As a toddler, one morning she left the family home on the fringe of the bush, crossed Waiarohia stream and clambered up the opposite hill to a house in Powhiri Avenue, then on the edge of town. ‘What are you doing here little girl?’ a bemused Mrs Gibbons asked when she appeared. ‘Tve come to see your lovely garden, Margie replied and after tea and cakes took up the offer of a trowel to help weeding. From this encounter Mrs Gibbons began taking Margie to Ladies’ Gardening Club meetings all around the district and the rest is history.