Gardening guru announced on expo line-up

June 30, 2015

Organisers of Queensland’s largest sub-tropical gardening event today announced one of Australia’s most acclaimed horticulturists and gardening personalities, Graham Ross, will journey to the Sunshine Coast this July to speak at the 2015 Queensland Garden Expo.

Queensland Garden Expo Event Manager Marion Beazley said she was thrilled to have Mr Ross joining the speaker line-up and presenting on all three days of the expo.

“With a background in horticulture and gardening spanning more than five decades, Graham has become a household name across Australia and is recognised as a leader in his field,” Ms Beazley said.

“This year we have over 45 speakers presenting on eight stages at the expo and we are delighted to add someone of Graham’s calibre to the speaker program.”

Mr Ross is well-known for his 20-year role as the gardening host of Better Homes & Gardens and presenter of 2GB and 4BC’s Garden Clinic Radio Show. He is also an acclaimed author, publisher and public speaker; has been appointed a fellow of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London; and has received a range of awards from London’s Royal Horticultural Society Gold Veitch Memorial Medal through to 12 TV WEEK ‘logie’ awards.

Mr Ross will deliver a presentation focusing on vegie gardening for the family at the Queensland Garden Expo on Saturday, 11 July, and will also speak about the latest plant releases on both Friday, 10 July and Sunday, 12 July.

Ms Beazley said Mr Ross would join renowned gardening experts Angus Stewart, Costa Georgiadis, Annette McFarlane, Claire Bickle, Jerry Coleby-Williams, Noel Burdette and Phil Dudman in presenting at this year’s event.

“We’re lucky enough to have the biggest names on Australia’s gardening circuit taking part in the 2015 expo, and expect to have a 35,000-strong crowd attending over the three days,” Ms Beazley said.

“Gardening Australia fans always flock to the presentations from Costa, Jerry and Angus and we expect their talks regarding incorporating native plants into the garden, selecting the right potting mixes, soils and mulches, gardening in Australia’s varying climates and gardening for the future will once again draw a full house.”

“Both Jerry and Costa will also be leading a number of ‘garden rambles’ throughout the event, navigating their way around the various garden displays and providing commentary to inspire and educate attendees.”

Some of the other presentation topics at this year’s event include frogs and habitat gardening, floral design made easy, using herbs in the kitchen, innovative methods for growing food in small spaces, effective backyard worm farming and keeping chickens.

Ms Beazley said the 2015 program was comprised of more than 80 workshops, lectures and demonstrations.

“We’re also expecting to welcome more than 360 exhibitors, including over 55 nurseries selling in excess of 40,000 plants over the course of the event,” Ms Beazley said.

“Whether you’re a gardening novice or a seasoned grower, there’s something to suit everyone at this year’s expo.”

The 2015 Queensland Garden Expo will held at the Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast between 10 and 12 July. For more information and to access the full program, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

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Media contact: Kristen Roder – Fresh PR & Marketing P: 0406 546 461 E: kristen@freshprm.com.au

2015 presenters
• Graham Ross
Graham has been the gardening host of Better Homes & Gardens TV for 20 years and broadcasts the Garden Clinic Radio Show every Saturday and Sunday on 2GB and 4BC. Graham is the most awarded horticulturist in Australia’s history as well as an acclaimed author, publisher and public speaker.
• Costa Georgiadis
Costa is a landscape architect and environmental educator. Now the very popular host of ABC Gardening Australia, Costa inspires everyone with his enthusiasm and love of gardening.
• Jerry Coleby-Williams
Jerry Coleby-Williams is a well-known ABC Gardening Australia personality. He is passionate about organic gardening and seed saving. Jerry is also a regular on 4BC’s Gardening Talkback program.
• Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart is an Australian horticulturist, gardening author and TV presenter on Gardening Australia. He is especially interested in native plants, and has been heavily involved in breeding of Kangaroo paws.
• Anne Gibson
Anne Gibson is the editor of Green Journey, an award-winning sustainable living website. Passionate about helping people grow nutrient-dense food in creative containers and urban spaces, Anne shares easy DIY tutorials, frugal gardening tips and inspiration on The Micro Gardener blog.
• Annette McFarlane
ABC Radio Talkback host, Sunday Mail columnist and author of the very popular books ‘Successful Gardening’ and ‘Organic Vegetable Growing’, Annette McFarlane also writes for ABC Organic Gardener and Your Garden.
• Barb Wickes
Barb Wickes is passionate about herb and cottage gardens and enthusiastically promotes this style of gardening in South East Queensland. Some years ago she established a cottage garden group in the region which currently has 170 members and an extensive associate membership. Barb has also coordinated the Giant Kitchen Garden feature area at the Queensland Garden Expo for several years.
• Claire Bickle
Claire Bickle has been a qualified horticulturist for 20 years and has worked in multiple areas of the industry. As a freelance horticulture and sustainability writer and educator, Claire writes for a number of gardening publications.
• Jenece Drake
Jenece Drake is a highly qualified horticulturist with many years of experience in the nursery and gardening industry. Jenece is Community Co-ordinator at the Centre for Growing Sustainability where she guides and inspires many people to connect with the earth, grow abundant crops and stunning plants.
• Noel Burdette
Noel Burdette is a highly respected Brisbane horticulturist and regular on 4BC’s Gardening Talkback program. Noel also writes for several publications including Subtropical Gardening, About the Garden and Queensland Smart Farmer.
• Phil Dudman
Phil is the co-founder of Landshare Australia, an online network that connects wannabe veggie growers to people with land to share. He also presents garden2kitchen, a live demonstration that celebrates the benefits of home growing and cooking.
• Phil Ryan
Phil Ryan has been a member of the Brisbane Organic Growers Inc. (BOGI) for some 10 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in growing fruit and veggies organically on his one acre plot.
• Sean Morrow
Sean Morrow has over 20 years of experience in the landscaping/horticulture industry, has owned and operated One Earth Landscaping for over 13 years and has recently launched One Earth Education and Consultation. His passions include edible gardens and food forests, the creation of native bird and frog habitats, as well as organics, permaculture and bio-dynamics.
For a more comprehensive list of presenters, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

If you would like to arrange an interview with one of the expo presenters, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

General event details

Where: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

When:
Friday, 10 July 2015
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Sunday, 12 July 2015

Opening times:
Gates open 8.00am daily
Gates close 5.00pm Friday and Saturday, 4.00pm Sunday

Disability access:
The showground offers excellent facilities for wheelchair visitors with on-site disabled parking, easy access and ground level exhibits along with disabled toilet facilities. Guide dogs are welcome.

Tickets:
Adults $18
Aged concession card holders $16
Groups (10 or more) $16
Children (15 and under with accompanying adult) Free
Two-day weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) – Adults $30
Three-day entry pass $40
Three-day car pass $15

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