Australian Succulents

Mt Gambier Blue Lake

Mt Gambier Blue Lake, South Australia

Date : May 2021

A couple of close friends from our Cactus and Succulent Society,  Barby and Tony Alston just returned from a short holiday to Mt Gambier, South Australia. Naturally they visited all the natural attractions of the town which included the  famous Blue Lake - a large and deep crater lake of volcanic origin that seasonally turns a vibrant cobalt blue colour.  This lake is situated in the Mt Gambier town itself, offering locals and tourists easy access to viewing it while also enjoying the gardens at or near its perimeter. Here Barby and Tony found an established, very old cactus and succulent garden that was dedicated to a woman. It is called the G.A. Dodd Memorial Cactus Garden and it can be found on John Watson Drive, Mt Gambier, SA. GPS Lat.-37.846025.Long.140.770897. Barby and Tony found this garden by surprise and also knew of my interest in  women-related succulent stories. Tony phoned to tell me while he was still standing there as Barby took some pics for me. There is also a large rock with a plaque dedication. It reads: IN MEMORY OF MRS. G. A. DODD, A PIONEER CACTI GROWER, MAINTAINED BY THE CACTI AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY, SOUTH EAST BRANCH. No dates are shown??    I have been in this industry for long enough to know most significant cacti and succulent growers, yet I have never heard of  G. A. Dodd before. I didn't even know of the existence of the SOUTH EAST BRANCH OF THE CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY,  so there you go! I dont know much after all. I must really live in a bubble!   Mrs G. A. DODD must have been quite a lady to have a town garden and a memorial plaque in her honour. Wow I would have loved to have met her and heard her life story with cacti and succulents.  I have looked her up online, as well as the succulent society mentioned and found little so far. But one day I will track down some of her life and share it here. More to come some day...

In the meantime, a big THANK YOU to Barby and Tony for sharing their find (and pics) with me.

A further article can be found about women on the following page below.

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