Vale, Corinne Hampel
Corinne Hampel, Dec 2017
VALE, CORINNE HAMPEL
Author of this site and manager of Mallee Native Plants Nursery.
February 5th, 1950 – January 21st, 2018
Provided by her husband, Trevor Hampel.
Corinne joined the Australian Plant Society (when it was SGAP) in 1976 when she lived in Port Augusta, South Australia. She was inspired by her doctor and close friend, as well as her brother-in-law and his plantings on the family farm in the Murray Mallee. She began propagating plants for her garden in a small way.
Her passion for our native plants was further encouraged by two trips to Western Australia in the late 1970s. With the move to Murray Bridge in 1983, she began propagating plants in earnest, especially with planting up their newly acquired five-acre block. Over the next few years, this passion developed into the establishment of her Mallee Native Plants Nursery. This resulted in a keen involvement in the Adelaide plant sales which she always enjoyed. She also took plants to the annual plant sale at Geranium run by the Parrakie Group.
Both Corinne and her husband Trevor were active members of the Murray Bridge APS Group (now defunct), both of them serving terms as the group’s president. They also willingly helped in the annual Flower Show in the local town hall and organised by the local group. Both Corinne and Trevor were guest speakers on plants and birds for local clubs and service groups. This was their way of sharing another passion of theirs: photography. For some years Corinne also shared her flower photos and her passion for plants on her website.
Her love of the natural environment saw her enjoying many wanderings along bush tracks, through national parks and botanic gardens in many parts of Australia, and especially private gardens. This was always undertaken with camera and notebook in hand, and secateurs for taking cuttings when visiting private collections. She was particularly interested in our native daisies and was an active member of the Daisy Study Group. She was also an active member of the Correa Study Group, with correas being another favourite plant.
Apart from her love of plants, her other interests included a dedication to helping others through the life of her church, including leading Bible studies. She was gifted at catering for large church and community groups. She was a passionate and dedicated teacher, especially in teaching ESL learners, including recently arrived adults from overseas. She privately tutored a large number of struggling students over many years.
She was a creative person with many interests in the crafts, including sewing, patchwork quilting, pottery and spinning and weaving. She was involved for a time in the local Hand Spinners and Weavers group, and was treasurer of the local Patchwork Quilters group until a few days before her death.
In the last 8 years, much of her energy was directed towards spending time with her two grandchildren. They adored their Nanna and she shared many times of laughter and games with them; they were the delight of her life.
Corinne has always had a struggle dealing with her health issues. In her final years, this meant that her ability to maintain the nursery was slowly diminished, much to her disappointment. In the latter half of 2017, her health rapidly deteriorated and the cancer spread rapidly. Despite her often constant pain, she rarely complained and still had a positive outlook on life. She never lost interest in seeing a tree or bush in flower.
There was a rapid deterioration in her condition in the last two days of her life and she passed peacefully from this life on the 21st January 2018 just shy of her 68th birthday. She was surrounded by her immediate family who miss her dearly.
POSTSCRIPT
This site will remain open for the time being. I will maintain the site, adding the occasional post about Australian plants, flowers and their relationship with native birds. Comments will also remain open for the time being but I am generally unable to respond to questions. My knowledge of our plants and their propagation is somewhat limited, though I did learn more than most through many conversations with Corinne (and others) over the years. I also helped in her nursery from time to time. The nursery is no longer operating and there are no plants for sale.
For more advice, please contact your local plant nursery, or the relevant branch of the Australian Plant Society in your state.
Trevor Hampel
Mallee tree in flower in Corinne’s garden about the time of her death.
[…] have written an obituary on her website, Mallee Native Plants Nursery here. She was a keen admirer and grower of Australian native plants. Her website contains a wealth of […]
[…] have written an obituary on her website, Mallee Native Plants Nursery here. She was a keen admirer and grower of Australian native plants. Her website contains a wealth of […]
She will remain an inspiration. Though we never met, we may have seen each other. I relate to the determination of propagating and growing australian native plants, particularly in harsh climates. I lived in Tailem Bend for eight and a half years, and I battled that dry hot climate and solid rock ground, that required hiring a rock breaker, as I discovered and grew trees and shrubs that I purchased from the State Flora nursery. I was never aware of another nursery in Murray Bridge. I do recall attending Native Plants shows in Murray Bridge. Port Augusta, too, must have been a difficult area to grow plants. Western Australian plants were the best choices for me, and still are. I live in a dry and drought stricken part of NSW and began our current garden at the beginning of a ten year drought. We are now entering a new one. Thes struggles have taught me so much, as I gather, you both must have experienced. So, even though we never met, Corrine will be a future inspiration to me as I continue to push on, in participating in the preservation of the disappearing species of Australia.
Trevor , I would like to use a photo of mallee correa in a small booklet of plants of Monarto Safari Park.
I will acknowledge the photo either from Corinne Hampel or Mallee Native plants or what you would prefer. I seek permission to use the photo.
Hi David,
Sorry about the delay in replying; I have been in hospital for over a month. I permit you to use the photo you want with acknowledgement to Corinne. Sorry if this reply has come too late for your project.
Trevor.