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August News 2022


  
Australian Garden Council
August 23, 2022

AUGUST NEWS 2022

 

It has been a really few big weeks here at the Australian Garden Council. Special events, visits from members of parliament and announcements of the winners of our Future Legend of Gardening Competition; we've had a full calendar! Here's a snapshot of our most recent news.

 

Graham Ross AM (L), with Hon David Littleproud MP (R), at the IGC Conference in August 2022. 

IGC Conference & Expo Show 2022

The Independent Garden Centres' national group recently held their annual conference, delayed for two years with Covid 19, over August 8 and 9. The 14-hour event, at Luna Park on Sydney Harbour, attracted 172 delegate members from around Australia and 29 trade exhibitors. This makes it not only one of the biggest events in professional horticulture in recent years but also one of the most successful, optimistic and joyous occasions for the gardening industry.

 

It was opened by former Agriculture Minister, Hon David Littleproud MP, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Leader of the National Party. Whilst ‘three cheers’ was awarded to David for his including garden centres in his limited essential services list in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, it was to the assembled audience he sincerely thanked for supporting the Australian community to keep gardening and encourage an extra 2-3 million Aussies to start gardening. This, the IGC members did 24/7 for two years, leaving many nursery families and staff exhausted and somewhat stressed themselves, but in the knowledge their work was essential for the country. David assured them it was also greatly appreciated by the then Australian government.

 

David Littleproud took time out to meet the AGC Chair and IGC Patron, Graham Ross AM, on the AGC stand at the conference.

 

Minister Littleproud was instrumental in awarding the AGC its primary funding in 2019 and he was delighted to hear of its progress especially engaging with Australian teenagers with encouragement and practical advice to seek a lifelong career in gardening and ornamental horticulture.

Botanical Bazaar

After a very last-minute Covid shutdown in 2021, it was an absolute pleasure to see Botanical Bazaar go live again with it's schedule as jam-packed as ever! The 2 day event, over the 6th and 7th of August on the Gold Coast, was a huge success and ignited the spark for an exciting spring gardening season. 

 

The Australian Garden Council were present with QLD directors John Mason and John Daly, both showcasing the variety of opportunities available for people wanting to enter a career in gardening and horticulture. 

 

It was interesting to note the amount of enquiries from those wanting to study online. There is no doubt a shift in how we like to study and work further education into our lives, and this was reflected in the conversations had at the event. It was great to have the directors (as well as our friends from the Australian Institute of Horticulture) onsite to discuss these opportunities. 

John Mason (L) and John Daly (R), QLD directors, on the AGC stand at Botanical Bazaar.

Future Legend of Australian Gardening Winners

Jenny Lloyd - Future Legend "At Home"

Huge congratulations to our two Future Legend of Australian Gardening Competition Winners! 

 

All the competition detail is here on our website, but we couldn't resist another opportunity to announce to the world how amazing these two green-thumbs are! 

 

Congratulations:

 

Jenny Lloyd, who took home the crown in our Future Legends of Australian Gardening "At Home" category. 

 

Liz Pinnington, who was crowned the winner of the Future Legends of Australian Gardening "In Industry" category. 

 

Both girls got a load of fantastic prizes, including: 

 

- Vegepod & Stand ($270 in value) | Vegepod 

- Richgro prize pack ($100 in value) | Richgro

- Australian Institute of Horticulture Friends Membership ($77 in value) + up to 3 mentorship sessions with a horticulturist professional | Australian Institute of Horticulture

- 3 Online Short Courses - Taxonomy, Lawn Mowing & Turf Care ($660 total value) & E-Books ($50 in value) | ACS Distance Education

- One-on-one mentorship session with gardening legend Graham Ross | Courtesy of Graham Ross AM VMM, The Garden Clinic 

Liz Pinnington - Future Legend "In Industry"

Apprenticeship and Traineeship Expo

We had a fantastic evening taking part in the Central Coasts' Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expo on August 16. Our team were on hand to speak with career hunters, individuals and families who attended to help them decide where they would land in the future. The timing of the expos is a hit with families as they allow parents to attend with their children and have those all-important career chats with industry experts. We love 'planting a seed' to encourage the next generation of gardeners and horticulturists.



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