Davies, Fay E. (fl. 1981 - 2025)
In her own words, excerpts from Fay's retirement speech, 2003:
In 1981 I came to the Botanic Gardens armed with my Certificate of Horticulture and started temporary work in spring as a 'Seasonal'. The first person I saw was Peter Ollerenshaw who said I should go up to the Herbarium which was really the only place I wanted to work.
I saw Estelle Canning who was good enough to start me working with Joan Taylor who kindly eased this rusty person back into work.
I couldn't believe my luck when I got a permanent job working with Muriel Rafferty the next year.
Several people were so generous with their knowledge and help in those early days - particularly Ian Telford.
I've been on some great field trips. Ian took me on the first one along the slopes of Black Mountain. One that stands out was a two week trip to Tasmania with Peter Ollerenshaw. I think we collected about 500 specimens - most with propagation material.
On another trip I nearly killed Tim Mulcahy - "Get up a bit higher Tim - you might be able to reach that one".
Later, with a grant from the WWF I helped collect many rare and endangered plants with Mark Richardson and Barry Hadlow.
Another person I need to mention is Andrew Lyne who, with unbelievable patience eased me into the IT era - he must have cringed every time I said - "Andrew - what do I do here".
A big chunk of my work, about 12 years in fact, has been spent, with the help of Judith Curnow, Jo Palmer and Bronwyn Collins, co-ordinating the Volunteer Mounting Program. I've learnt such a lot from these generous people in the Program who come from such diverse backgrounds and I've thoroughly enjoyed their company. I'll probably come back at times and mount some specimens too as I'll miss them.
So...now it's 2003 and I'm leaving. It has been hard coming to this decision but once making up my mind I know it's the right one and I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life - spending more time with John, my family and friends, more time at Khancoban, dabbling with water colours, a bit more travel and many other things. I'd like to thank all of you for everything...
In retirement Fay returned to the Australian National Herbarium as a volunteer mounter and was active well into the 2020s.
Source: Extracted from:
https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/herbnews/cpbrnews53.html
M.Fagg pers.comm. (2026)
Portrait Photo: 2017, M.Fagg, ANBG Photo Collection DIG-49483.
Collecting localities for 'Davies, F.' & 'Davies, F.E.' from AVH (2026)
Data from 4,452 specimens
