Our People

“If asked to give a brief summary of how we came to be, it would have to be the story of PEOPLE. From the small band in the beginning it has snowballed, over the years, to a multitude of enthusiastic people doing extraordinary things with a generosity and interest that has been so overwhelming.”

— Maurie Kupsch - Curator emeritas

Volunteers have made an amazing contribution to the creation and maintenance of the garden, and have built life-long friendships along the way.

See below for Life Members who have been recognised for their immense support and contributions made to the development of our Garden.

If you would like to volunteer with us, there are many ways that you can participate:

Cafe Service
Catering for Functions
Garden Tour Guides or Buggy Driving
Garden Maintenance
Infrastructure
Fundraising and Events

You can find more information, by downloading our information pack.

Also below is a link to our Diversity Inclusion and Action Plan 2025-2030

Volunteer Pack

D I A P 2025-2030

Ant

Ant was born in Zimbabwe and is now a proud Australian citizen. He is almost a Burnie local, having lived here for 20 years and was voted Senior Citizen of the Year for 2025. He is also a Tassie Tourism Ambassador.

Married with four children, Ant holds a Degree in Economics, is a Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

In Zimbabwe he was the co-owner of a company that held several motor franchises including Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, and Great Wall. He is currently Chairperson of the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden and has been associated with the garden in a voluntary capacity for 9 years.

He is also the Deputy Chairman of the Respect Group which owns and runs close to fifty aged care facilities around Australia, and Treasurer and Vice President of Business Northwest (Burnie Chamber of Commerce).

Chairperson and Acting General Manager

Juanita

I began working at Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden on the 11th of January 2010 as a trainee horticulturalist, completing my Diploma in 2015 and my Diploma in Leadership and Management shortly after.

Emu Valley is a magical place with a big heart surrounded by a dedicated team of volunteers. I feel very fortunate to be part of this exciting journey and even though I have been here for many years already, my time here has only just begun. There are so many more projects to achieve, along with managing and maintaining what we already have established.

Quirky facts:

I am mad about AFL and my beloved team is Richmond Tigers.
I have recently taken up roller derby and my derby name is ‘Road Runner Neet-Neet’.

Horticultural Manager

Horticulturists

Emmi (L) & Kazz (R)

I’m Kazz, an ex‑pat from London who has called NW Tasmania home since 2017. I’ve completed a Cert III in Conservation Land Management (2021), a Diploma in Sustainable Living with UTAS (2023), and am soon to finish a B.Sc. in Geography and Environment. I’m also undertaking a Cert III in Horticulture at TAFE.

As part of the EVRG team, I combine horticulture with my passion for biogeography—mapping flora, fauna and landscape features, observing environmental change, and contributing to assessments that guide garden projects. I’m a strong advocate for community involvement in conservation and climate resilience, regularly engaging with local groups alongside family and friends.

Life Members