Queensland Garden Expo
has won the Australian Institute of Horticulture Green Space Events and Engagement Award for 2020. Sponsored by Aspley Nursery in Burpengary, the Award was presented in June at the Queensland AIH Awards dinner at Noosa Heads.
Queensland and interstate AIH and HMAA members, the Mayors of Noosa and Cairns, representatives of winners including North Burnett Regional Council, Altum and Hutchinson Construction gathered for the delayed presentation of the 2020 AIH National awards.
Annette Irish reports that it was a fabulous night with host, Costa Georgiadis, providing a thought-provoking welcome speech. Guests were able to catch up with friends and colleagues in what has been a ‘socially starved’ 15 months.
Annette, who is a Fellow of AIH and member of HMAA, was on hand to present the Award to the NGIQ Sunshine Coast Branch and its organising committee for the annual Queensland Garden Expo.
For the past three decades this dedicated team has managed an excellent industry and community event. It showcases to both the general public and to the horticultural industry the importance of environmental management and an awareness of the role horticulture plays in today’s ever-changing world.
Queensland Garden Expo supports professional groups such as HMAQ, a number of whom are also senior members of AIH. Over its three days HMAA members are popular speakers delivering free talks and working as volunteer horticultural advisers on the free Plant Health Clinic.
Importantly, Queensland Garden Expo provides free access to three to five charity sites each year. Support has been given to worthy groups including Breast Screen Queensland, Guide Dogs Queensland, Queensland Cancer Council, LifeFlight and the Compass Institute.
AIH commended Queensland Garden Expo on its initiatives in attracting children to horticulture through inclusion of local schools and the provision of free sites in the Kitchen Garden to engage the community, students and budding horticulturists as they discover horticulture and gardening.
Expo’s exposure extends throughout Queensland and attracts attendees from interstate. Pre-COVID, overseas visitors were regular attendees. The warm winter weather ob the Sunshine Coast and its attractions including beaches, fishing and its beautiful green hinterlands also entice visitors to Expo.
Annette says it was an award well deserved and that she is looking forward to the upcoming event, which is still scheduled to run over July 9-11, 2021,
See the Queensland Garden Expo website for updates (https://qldgardenexpo.com.au/).
