About Our Society

When Brenda Nicholls wished to join a herb society in Perth in 1982, she found there was no society. She therefore called for interested people to meet at her home on Monday, 8 March 1982. The minutes of this meeting list the Chairman, Brenda Nicholls; Secretary, Jean Hogbin; Treasurer, Vye Dear; Editor, Bev Campbell and Rena Pinto (now Boland) to run the seed bank. The annual subscription was set at $6.00. A discussion on a name for the society or association was deferred until the following meeting. It was also suggested that a library be organised as quickly as possible, to be bought when funds became available or donated by members.

It was decided to call the official newsletter The Herbal Thymes, and edition No 1 was printed and posted in May 1982. The newsletter, Sage, of the Queensland Herb Society was taken as a very good example and our newsletter would also be printed on a bi-monthly basis. The purpose of the newsletter is not only to keep members informed of the Society’s activities and business, but also to print articles of interest contributed by our members.

The second meeting in April 1982 was held at the East Victoria Park Primary School. From there the Society moved to a Rotary Hall in Sandgate Street, South Perth and when numbers grew too large to be comfortable accommodated in that hall, we moved to the present location.

The efforts of just one person, Brenda Nicholls, started our Society, followed by other enthusiastic members, some of whom are still members today. We still bring herb plants for sale each month and a percentage of the money from sales is given to help with the cost of running the Society. We are still looking for herb seeds for our seed bank and our library of books and videos has grown to substantial proportions.

Twenty-five years on we still keep the interests of our members at the forefront of our planning and hope that the future will be as positive and successful as the past.