Liz Douglass and Hayley Manning (2019)

The Meander Valley Gazette has published Nell’s popular garden column every month since January 2014.

But now, Nell has finally decided to retire from writing her column and we must say goodbye to a grand lady of the Meander Valley.

Two years ago, Nell Carr became a Paul Harris Fellow at a surprise Deloraine Rotary presentation at the Bush Inn on 12 August.

The Gazette story at the time, written by Hayley Manning, paid tribute to a remarkable woman, who at 93, was showing no signs of slowing down.

The award was presented to Nell in acknowledgement of a lifetime of volunteer work, with Meals on Wheels, Deloraine Film Society, Deloraine House Community Garden and Days for Girls, to name a few.

She began her career as a garden writer for the Western Tiers, Deloraine and Meander Valley News, which was published from 1980 to 2004.

In her own words, ‘I wrote for the Western Tiers, the paper published and edited by the headmaster of Meander school, Geoff Woods.’ 

‘I volunteered to write a gardening column. I did not know a great deal about gardening at that time, but it was an easy learn for me, and I learned as I went along. If I wanted to see my article in print, I had to pay $1 for the privilege.’

Nell tended the Great Western Tiers Visitor Centre garden with the Garden Girls for many years, and became their garden consultant. 

Nell also introduced and coordinated Adult Education courses in Deloraine, including short gardening courses with Peter Cundall, the former host of Gardening Australia.

The third of six children, Nell Carr grew up on the Dunorlan farm founded by her soldier settler father. Her mother was the daughter of a neighbouring farmer. Nell, her husband and first two children returned to Tasmania from Scotland in 1953 and she has lived on the farm ever since.

As a mature age student, Nell completed an Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Politics, when university courses came to Launceston.

Nell credits her robust resilience to her active life on the farm where she was born, only now choosing to slow down.

‘At 95, I think I am justified in my decision to call it a day. I value the Gazette for its coverage of local news and events, so I wish it a long and successful life.’

Thank you, Nell.