Horticulturists recognised for their contribution to industry
Hort Journal would like to wish Heather Henderson from Greenlife Industry Australia a happy retirement after giving twenty years of her best to the nursery and garden industry. We wish her well and hope Heather enjoys every minute of her well-earned retirement and exciting times ahead. Thanks, Heather, for all your help and assistance over the years.
Regular contributor, Dan Austin, won two awards in the Joy Harland Photographic Competition Awards run by the Horticultural Media Association Australia. Dan contributes to Hort Journal each month on behalf of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS). His winning images are titled “Regeneration” and the second image, “Samphire Illusion” are beautiful. You can see Dan’s images on the HMAA website. https://hmaaustralia.com.au/joy-harland-photography-competition-2021/
How good is it to see more members of our industry acknowledged for their contribution to industry and receiving recognition in the Queen’s Birthday awards?
Following on from Graham Ross AM receiving an award earlier in the year, George Hoad, immediate Past President of the Garden Clubs Australia Inc and current Ambassador for Gardening Week, was awarded AM (Member of the Order of Australia), “for his service to the Residential horticulture industry and to the community”. George is also a member of the Hort Media Association and involved in many not-for-profit organisations where he raises funds for charity, as well as the profile of gardening and horticulture.
Hazel King from Berry, NSW was awarded an OAM ‘for her service to horticulture and to community history’. I saw Hazel recently, working hard at the Collector’s Plant Fair in Sydney, with fellow OAM recipient Judy Horton. Hazel is an inspiration. At 88 years of age, she oozes her love of horticulture and is still contributing with her co-authored, recently released and beautiful book ‘Trees of Historical Berry’.
Pam Vardy was awarded an OAM ‘for her service to the horticulture industry and for her contribution to radio media’. Pam has been involved with the radio station[JH2] as a volunteer for more than forty years, and has been an extremely active member of the horticultural industry overall.
The Late Don Ellison was honoured with an OAM also for his service to the industry. Don passed away in August 2020, aged 86. It is sad that he didn’t get to see that award. I would think he would have been very chuffed. Don regularly visited our Hort Journal Stand at the Queensland Expo and he always had a story to share. Being the character he was, he asked me if we (Hort Journal) would like to take people on trips overseas and he offered to be the guide. What a hoot that would have been! Don previously owned Ellison Horticultural and he authored several books.
Well done and a huge congratulation to all award winners. We are all immensely proud of you and it’s wonderful for you to be recognised for your contribution to your communities and more.
I may have missed others from various parts of the country here so if you know of any other industry people who were awarded in the Queen’s Birthday awards, please email me and I can mention them next month. I am aware the agricultural sector received awards.
Keep up the good work.
Karen Smith and your Hort Journal Team