Coast horticulture expert recognised as cream of crop
February 14 , 2016
Sunshine Coast horticulture expert Peter Young has taken out a prestigious national award at the 2016 Nursery & Garden Awards, with the fruit tree specialist presented with the ‘Award of Honour’ at a gala dinner held in Adelaide on 17 February.
Best known on the Sunshine Coast as the former owner of Birdwood Nursery in Woombye and Chairman of the Queensland Garden Expo, Mr Young was selected as the recipient of the coveted award based on his outstanding service to the Australian nursery industry.
Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) President Paul Lancaster said Mr Young had done the sunshine state proud in taking out the title, and the accolade was testament to his high level of expertise and dedication to the industry.
“Peter has spent close to four decades in the industry, committing countless hours to pest, disease and weed prevention strategies that have had a profound impact on agricultural practices around the country,” Mr Lancaster said.
“He boasts world-leading expertise in grafting and propagation, and was the driving force behind Birdwood Nursery being the first fruit tree nursery to become accredited under the national biosecurity management system.”
“We could not think of a more deserving recipient and I commend Peter on his achievement.”
The recent award win is not the first time Mr Young has been recognised for his contribution to the Australian horticulture industry, having previously taken out a host of accolades including the 2010/11 NGIQ Environment Award and the 2011 Biosecurity Farmer of the Year award for his efforts in producing disease-free fruit trees and vines.
Queensland Garden Expo Manager Marion Beazley — who works closely with Mr Young in coordinating the state-wide Expo each year — congratulated him on the win and acknowledged Mr Young’s significant contribution to the Sunshine Coast and Queensland gardening community.
“Peter has been involved with the Queensland Garden Expo from its inception in the 1980s and has played a key role in helping it to grow from a small-scale gardening event to a high profile expo attracting more than 35,000 people from around Australia and beyond each year,” Ms Beazley said.
“His efforts in overseeing this event as well as the more recently launched Brisbane International Garden Show have been instrumental in raising the profile of the nursery industry and getting more people involved with gardening.”
“Peter offers a wealth of knowledge regarding biosecurity, fruit trees and rootstocks to the gardening community and I applaud him for the advancements he has made and the time he has committed to furthering the industry as a whole.”
Mr Young and wife Sandra first launched Birdwood Nursery in 1978, which was then just a small avocado nursery. Since then, it has grown to become Queensland’s leading tropical and sub-tropical fruit production nursery, employing more than 50 people over 25 hectares. The large-scale nursery produced a broad range of fruit, citrus, olive and avocado trees, as well as coffee and raspberry bushes and passionfruit and grape vines.
The duo has recently sold the business, with Peter and Sandra looking forward to some well-earned time off.
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Media contact
Kristen Roder, Fresh PR & Marketing
0406 546 461
kristen@freshprm.com.au
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