The Gordons O' Girnoc
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(1899-2001)
In 1985, David visited the Girnoc with his wife Dorothy, and they were accompanied by Donald Whyte, the genealogist that he had commissioned to research the 'Gordons of Upper Deeside.' Sadly just after this visit, his wife Dorothy was killed in a car accident.
In his lifetime David Gordon established what is now known as Myall Park Botanic Garden at Glenmorgan, with collections of Australian plants, seeds, pressed plant specimens, and a botanical library. His conservation foresight has given future generations' access to a valuable botanical gene pool, thus protecting the biodiversity of Australian flora. There are about 7000 specimens in this well recorded collection known to botanist's world wide. The Queensland herbarium received material from David Gordon over many years, and has assisted in the preservation of his collection.
In the 1960s David planted a group of grevilleas believing they would hybridise. He was rewarded with a red flowering grevillea that he named after his eldest daughter Robyn shortly before illness claimed her life. He named further hybrids after his other daughters, Sandra and Merinda. Both Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon' and Grevillea 'Sandra Gordon' shared the title of "best selling Australian shrub" on several occasions. Dave gave cuttings of these plants freely to nurseries receiving no remuneration from them at any stage. As a result of the development of Grevillea 'Robyn Gordon', a native plant that flowers almost continuously, he swayed the opinion of the average gardener towards including native plants in their home gardens and public parks.
David encouraged his artist wife, Dorothy, to paint the plants she saw, resulting in a collection of 48 botanical wildflower paintings now housed in the on-site gallery built as a memorial after her accidental death.
A local historian, Betty McKenzie in 1995 wrote David's biography "One Man's Dream." David set great store by reaching the age of 100 and receiving his letter from the Queen. Another goal he achieved, rivalled by hardly any, is that his life spanned three centuries.
It is quite amazing to think that David Morrice Gordon was born into the century of 'Camlet John' and died in the century populated by the sixth generation of grandchildren of this our common ancestor.
