Southern Cross University has named its unique medicinal garden in honour of two pioneers of naturopathic medicines and treatment.
The Marcus and Caroline Blackmore National Medicinal Plant Garden supports teaching and research at the Southern Cross National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine.
Blackmores is an iconic Australian brand and one of the country’s most successful vitamin and supplement companies.
The company was established by Maurice Blackmore, the father of Marcus, an English immigrant who pioneered natural medicines and naturopathy.
“My father had a vision for the future of naturopathy and this garden represents the essence of that vision, located on a university campus,” Marcus Blackmore said.
“We need continuous research and education into the profession and practice of naturopathy and I am delighted to see Southern Cross University continue this work.”
The garden, originally opened in 1999, is located at the university’s Northern Rivers campus and flanked by the Southern Cross University Herbarium which houses more than 6500 specimens from 3000 species.
The naming of the garden was marked with the planting of a frangipani cutting from Maurice Blackmore’s Naturopathic Rest Home in Rockhampton.
The National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine was established thanks to the initial gift of $10 million by the Blackmore Family Foundation in 2018. Earlier this year, the Foundation donated an additional $10 million.
The NCNM offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in naturopathic, integrative and lifestyle medicine. Southern Cross University was the first university in Australia to open a Naturopathy Clinic on campus, in 1998.
“The medicinal garden is an ideal teaching resource and home to some truly unique flora,” NCNM Director Professor Jon Wardle said.
“With the explosion of natural medicines and an increasing interest in the role plants play in human health, we believe the garden will continue to play a fundamental role for many years to come.”
