As I drove up to Hillcroft Park, I really didn’t know what to expect. South Morang was a part of greater Melbourne/Naarm I didn’t know particularly well. Turning off the main road, I found myself in a housing estate, with what seemed like houses in every direction.

Then, off to my right, I noticed an enormous tree. Beyond it were more ancient river red gums and a patch of bushland tucked among the streets and homes. It felt like a secret woodland hidden inside the suburb.

As I drove past, I spotted someone up on the hill, wearing gloves and a hat, with binoculars around her neck and a wheelbarrow nearby, pulling out weeds. It was Kyoko Imazu, an amazing artist and conservationist.

Walking through the reserve with her, I could hear the pride and excitement in her voice as she pointed out the plants, the new growth and the places she’d been working on. Here was a patch of Melbourne receiving care and attention because someone had noticed its possibilities and decided to do something.

Through the Friends of Hillcroft Park, Kyoko has brought neighbours and volunteers together to weed, plant and look after this place. She has a fantastic knowledge of the local plants and propagates indigenous species at home, including murnong, some of which end up in the reserve or with her neighbours. Along the way, she’s creating opportunities for others to experience the same joy she’s found in getting to know the landscape around her.

That growing connection also runs through her art. Working with printmaking, paper cutting and shadow puppetry, Kyoko draws inspiration from the plants and insects she’s getting to know. She sees a connection between making prints and propagating plants: starting with a printing plate or a seed, then creating something that can spread beyond it. Her art and conservation work have become increasingly intertwined.

In this episode, we walk through Hillcroft Park and talk about her journey as an artist and conservationist, her fascination with murnong, the people she’s learned from, and how caring for a local reserve can change the way you see the world around you.

https://kyokoimazu.com/

https://australiangalleries.com.au/collections/kyoko-imazu

https://www.instagram.com/kyokoimazu/

https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Services/Community-directory/Friends-of-Hillcroft-Park

https://www.instagram.com/friends_of_hillcroft_park/

https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/Things-to-see-and-do/Parks-trails-and-playgrounds/Local-parks-and-reserves/Hillcroft-Park