The garden was created by Wendy Whiteley, what a lovely alliterative name, a widow who had lost her husband Brett, a famous Australian artist, and her daughter who later died of cancer.
The Secret Garden. Picture from Wikipedia article on Brett Whiteley.
For years the garden overlooking Sydney Harbour was a secret. Now it is known and public but the secret is that it has nooks where you are surprised and can sit in secret.
What did I learn from reading their life story (in the BBC article)? First, what's in it for you as a tourist to Sydney? That on the hottest day in Sydney, you have an alternative to sitting by the sea and sipping cold drinks. You can get exercise for the body and soothe your soul by walking in a secret garden.
Second, what are the life lessons?
Obvious lessons which should not have to be repeated but before reading this article I read about a girl who was a member of the Kennedy family who appears (to me from reading just one article) to have suffered from drugs and depression.
Which came first, the drugs or the depresssion?
People are deluded when they think they can crack addiction to drugs. It eventually gets you.
Drug adicts are told it is dangerous. They are told by experts, experienced people such as doctors who see not just one person but large numbers of people.
The family would rather have you alive than dead.
The lady who created this garden, Wendy Whiteley, (notice the name starts White, and has a second e) seemed to have everything. She and her husband Brett had fame and money. She had looks, fame and a family. Daughter Arkie who became an actress. Why did they need drugs as well? Many people think to themselves, if only I had looks, or money, or fame, or love, or a family, I would be happy.
She lost her husband to drugs.
The final conclusion, the final lesson, is that instead of drugs you can find yourself a project. She did not have land. She did not have a garden to visit. From a wasteland which was not hers she created a garden. It was railway property, public land.
Through her initiative she persuaded government officials to preserve it for the people of Sydney, for everybody. Why is it preserved for only thirty years? Why not in perpetuity?
Never mind. For the next thirty years, if you ever visit Sydney, you can visit the Secret Garden.
She lost her husband, she lost her child, she looked out on wasteland, but she created a garden. Now it provides employment for gardeners and opportunities for volunteers and pleasure for many.
If you want more pleasure in your life, you can create a garden. Or just enjoy one created by somebody else.
Check out the Secret Garden festival. And sculptures by Brett and the Brett Gallery.
TO VISIT CHECKLIST
Global Whiteley Artist Trail
AUSTRALIA
National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, art by Brett
Secret Garden, Sydney, Australia.
Brett Gallery.
UK
The Tate Gallery in London and
USA
Museum of Modern Art in New York.
SECRET GARDEN
Secret Garden
Lavender Bay
Sydney
Australia
Useful Websites
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48456259
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Garden_Festival
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Whiteley
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/brettwhiteley/
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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