Garden club visits Marbachs' eden
The Monto Garden Club ventured to Roy and Bev Marbach's sprawling 4500-acre Ventnor property at the weekend for their monthly horticultural excursion.
Central & North Burnett
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central & North Burnett. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE MONTO Garden Club ventured to Roy and Bev Marbach's sprawling 4500-acre Ventnor property at the weekend for their monthly horticultural excursion.
The Marbachs share an intimate connection with the land that Bev's father selected in 1931.
Their families have lived there ever since.
The exquisite garden is 26 years in the making and would rival any in the North Burnett.
"I'm very proud of my garden,” Mrs Marbach said.
"There were only a few trees here when I came and I've planted the rest.
"It's relaxing to work in and beautiful to look at.
"I like being outside and a part of nature.”
Over more than a quarter of a century Mrs Marbach has created her own personal rainforest, nurturing native trees and installing a full irrigation and lighting system.
The "low maintenance” garden is complemented by natural rocks and wood, and has a full ground covering of bedding violet and a cushioning of gravel around its borders to stop weeds creeping in, reducing much of the work.
Even then, it takes six hours on a ride-on just to mow the lawn.
After 40 years running cattle on the land, the Marbachs have begrudgingly put their property up for sale and are in the process of downsizing to a smaller block closer to town.
A lifetime on the land, however low maintenance, has taken its toll.
"It's sad but one must be a realist,” Mr Marbach said.
"I'm almost 81 and can't continue to do this, it's too much work.
"We're very lucky to live out here and we have put all our money back into our property.”
The Monto Horticultural Society was conceived by Joan Farrell in 1995 and has grown to become the town's largest club.
Club president Barry Wait said the meetings are a social occasion, and an opportunity to explore the best gardens the region has to offer.
"We live in the best place in Queensland and it's great to get out and have a look at people's gardens,” Mr Wait said.
"Most of our members are over 70, so it's a nice social day for everyone.
"What a magnificent garden we have today.
"It really is a credit to Bev and Roy.”
Originally published as Garden club visits Marbachs' eden
Person fighting for life, highway closed after horror crash on D’Aguilar Hwy
The D’Aguilar Highway was closed for two hours while a person trapped in the wreckage of a vehicle was extricated and airlifted to Brisbane after a crash involving four people Friday morning.
K’gari dingoes not relocated to Bunya Mountains, Mayor says
An increase in close encounters and dingo sightings in the Bunya Mountains had raised concerns among some South Burnett residents that dingoes from Fraser Island were being relocated to the mainland.
‘We bought a f**kin’ pub’: Meet the outback publicans of Qld
Welcome to the wild, wild west. Sit down, grab a beer and say g’day to the outback publicans behind Queensland’s most remote pubs.
‘Burn the kids alive’: Tradie unmasked as monster who ‘gets off’ on cruelty
A terrified Qld mum, controlled down to every drink of water, hid in a bush for days from her sadistic partner who masterfully disguised his brutality and murderous threats- until now.
Why power prices could surge by 60 per cent
New modelling predicts Queenslanders will pay a significantly higher cost for electricity by 2035 without a replacement for a scrapped major project.
LifeFlight welcomes new doctors at Toowoomba and Roma bases
LifeFlight doctors face unique challenges, which is why their preparation involves white-knuckling training, like being submerged underwater in a helicopter.