Rogers, Frederick James Charles (Fred)   (1927 - 1996)

Born on 17 Dec 1927 in the Victorian Wimmera; died on 16 Mar 1996 in Horsham, Victoria (aged 68).

When 17 years old, Fred was too young to be accepted at Teachers College, so he was sent to teach in small country schools where he was the only teacher.

Eventually he was able to enroll at Ballarat Teachers' College, where he met his future wife June. They were married in 1952 at Horsham and then lived initially at Ballarat.

Fred's primary school teaching career spanned four decades and during this time he was a teacher and headmaster at Yarra Park, Clifton Hill, Mooroolbark, North Ringwood, Knox Park, Donvale and Horsham West.

In 1954 the Rogers moved to Ringwood and it was from this time that Fred's influence in the area of natural history had a major impact.

In 1959 Fred was elected to membership of The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and was a foundation member of the Ringwood Field Naturalists Club.

He was also a foundation member of the Society for Growing Australian Plants (SGAP), which was initiated in March 1957 and he became involved in the Society at a local, state and Federal level.

In 1967 Fred approached Ringwood council regarding the preservation and develop- ment of some native bushland adjacent to the railway line at Heathmont. Fred donated plants for the area and, with helpers from SGAP Maroondah, spent many hours in planting and maintenance of the site.
In 1973 Ringwood Council officially named the area The F. J. C. Rogers Reserve.

In 1976 Fred and June returned to Horsham and a year later moved to Vectis South.

It was as a public lecturer that Fred made a tremendous impact. He was always willing to talk to groups and during his lifetime he presented over 2000 lectures.

He was an author of note and his Victorian Wattles book, with illustrations by John Truscott became the standard text for those who were eager to gain a greater knowledge of the often- confusing Victorian species of the Acacia genus.

Fred also wrote for Your Garden magazine in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Fred was a keen propagator of Australian plants and over the years gave away literally 1000s of plants, now growing in home gardens as well as in regeneration areas on roadsides and farms.

The Australian Plant Society's FJC (Fred) Rogers Seminar is held every 2 years, focused on one plant group to share knowledge at all levels.

Source: Extracted from:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219173649/frederick-james_charles-rogers
The Victorian Naturalist Vol.113 (5) 1996 p.274-275 Obituary by Rodger and Gwen Elliot
Portrait Photo: https://apsvic.org.au/fjc-rogers-seminars/.

Collecting localities for 'Rogers, F.' filtered, from AVH (2025)

Data from 111 specimens