Overview
Buda's 2025 Josine McEwan fundraising dinner features a lecture about naturalistic approaches to designing vegetation in gardens and public landscapes with Associate Professor John Rayner.
Since 2007 an annual lecture and fundraising dinner has been conducted in Josine McEwan's memory.
Based at the Burnley Campus of the University of Melbourne for more than 35 years, John is a teaching and research academic with a focus in urban horticulture, particularly the design, use and management of plants. His research in green infrastructure has helped develop the industry in Australia and in collaboration with multiple industry and government partners produced more than 100 publications and reports. He is also a keen gardener and in his spare time, together with his wife, he nurtures and tortures plants on their one-hectare garden in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne. This year’s lecture focuses on naturalistic planting design incorporating gardens and landscapes he has visited internationally, then his work in Australia (woody meadows, flowery swards), concluding with work in his own garden applying these principles.
The dinner includes a glass of bubbly on arrival followed by a delicious and seasonal three-course winter meal.
