ONCE a month a group of men, women and children congregate along Main Western Road tending to what is believed to be Queensland’s largest collection of New Zealand Flax, or Harakeke in Māori.
The group, led by caretaker, Violetta Horsford, come to maintain, propagate, weave, learn about and share traditional Maori practices.
Violetta said people come to experience the important plant from all over the region, with about 500 members on the Facebook page Pa Harakeke Mt Tamborine – Brisbane.
“People come up for all sorts of different reason some have lived here for a while and want to reconnect with their culture. We give them those first steps to learn about cultural practices which we call, Tikanga the rules or protocols, around the plant,” she explained.
“A family might come and visit if a grandmother comes from New Zealand and wants to teach her grandchildren.
“You never know who is going to turn up and there is always someone new.”
She said the New Zealand Flax has been used traditionally in New Zealand to make a huge variety of things including baskets, fishing nets and rope and the fibre is extracted to make clothing.
The roots are used for medicine and the stalks for making rafts.
“Every part of the plant was used for day to living and survival,” Violetta said.
“It’s shaped like a fan representing the family. The centre leaf represents the baby and either side of it are the parents and then the grandparents.
“You always cut the older leaves away from the plant.
“We never burn it. We don’t step over it but always walk around it, giving it the respect it deserves.”
Violetta said the plant is found across the mountain in private gardens which would have all originated from those on Main Western Road planted by the Westerman’s about 40 years ago along their boundary fence.
Vanessa Bull, who now owns the property, is keen to preserve the collection of flax and has since welcomed the regular gatherings.
“Violetta is amazing. She makes sure it is not over harvested and looks after the health of the plants,” Vanessa explained.
However, she stressed that pruning of the Flax was only to be done through the group.
There is New Zealand Flax around the mountain which would have originated from that garden.
The group meet on the second Sunday of every month, unless it’s raining.
They welcome anyone in the community keen to learn about propagation, care and maintenance as well as understanding and learning the traditional cultural practices as well as network and meet other weavers.
“It’s a great location. We are very lucky. Vanessa and her husband have been so wonderful letting us use it,” Violetta said.
