I REMEMBER visiting the late Kath Sedgwick in the 1990s and can still remember the sheer delight and pride in her voice when she spoke about Mount Annan Botanic Garden.

It was, after all, her family's dairy farm for generations.

She told me it was originally slated to become ``yet another'' sea of suburban roof tops.

But then, in the 1980s, plans changed and it instead became the native plant garden of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Mrs Sedgwick whose husband was the mayor of Campbelltown in the 1950s told me about how exciting it was when Premier Neville Wran flew in by helicopter one day to inform them of the grand decision.

Many of us can still clearly remember the day in 1988 when the Garden was officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of York (also known as Andrew and Fergie).

It was a moonscape just rolling grassy hills, a few trees and construction sites.

Well, from little things big things grow.

For those of you who haven't been to the Garden recently, or at all, please grab the chance to wander in and explore.

Yes, I know it costs almost $10 a car to enter, but when you consider how much that money is stretched to improve and enhance this local gem, I reckon it's worth it.

I don't want to give a blatant free plug to the guided tours, education classes for students, seedbanking, conservation projects such as the Wollemi pine, restaurant and nursery, and the endless walking tracks, picnic areas and arboretums ... but I think I just did.

My own favourite spots are the Ridge Walk, Banskia Garden and the hilltop near the Mallee eucalypts which offers a stunning view over our city.

Happy 21st, Mount Annan Botanic Garden.

(And for those pedants who claim the Garden is a ``Camden attraction'' well, in truth the council boundary zig-zags down the middle, and the Sedgwick family always regarded themselves as Campbelltonians. So there.)

*I'm off for a bit of family time for the school holidays, returning in time for the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer on October 17-18. See you then.

jmcgill@fairfaxmedi a.com.au