Vale: Horticulturalist and parks manager John Brandenburg

John Brandenburg, a horticulturist and parks manager over a career spanning almost five decades, has died.

Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Nunawading for almost 20 years, John was a recipient of the Prime Ministers Medal for his service to the Horticulture Industry and Fellow and long time member of the former Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation (RAIPR).

An educator in horticulture, land management and parks and recreation management, in 2013 John was awarded the prestigious Ifpra (Interntional Federation of Parks and Recreation Administrations) Gold Medal “in recognition of significant and dedicated service to furthering the values and ideals of the Ifpra vision” over a period of more than two decades.

John also drove a range of Ifpra activities in Australia including the 1998 Ifpra Congress in Melbourne as the first Secretary of the Ifpra Asia Pacific Region for 16 years (1992-2008), developing the Region’s financial and communications systems including a regular newsletter and Ifpra’s first website to keep the region’s members engaged in Ifpra’s international activities.

Born in 1948, after studying horticulture John began his professional career in Canberra in 1969 with the Parks and Gardens Section of the Australian Government’s Department of Interior, then from 1976 to 1994 at the City of Nunawading that included leading the way with Australia’s first community allotment gardens and receiving the Prime Ministers Award, and other awards, for his work designing and establishing a horticultural recreation centre.

John subsequently served significant periods with the cities of Rockdale (12 years) as well as with other cities through private practice, including Botany Bay.

John was also a life member of Parks and Leisure Australia receiving that organisation’s Frank Stewart Award in 2011 (pictured above).

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