Outstanding in the Field

Gwen and Rodger Elliot met as teenagers. A mutual interest in plants, gardening and the bush formed the basis of a lifelong partnership. They married in 1963 and went on to build a family and business together, all the while developing a reputation for their knowledge of Australian plants – a reputation that saw them honoured with Order of Australia medals in 2001 and in 2014, recognised with the

Gold Laurel and inducted into the Horticultural Media Association Hall of Fame. In ‘retirement’ they continue to pursue their passion for plants and gardens as members of the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. When approached for this interview, they were as gracious as ever and readily responded to the questions I put to them.

How did you first meet?

[Gwen] As teenagers in a church youth club... [Rodger]...in about 1958 as my family had just moved to Croydon from Strathmore. We met at a Croydon youth club and over time we got to know each other. When we were both in a leadership capacity we started to get a bit more serious during 1961. Engaged in January 1963 and married in August 1963, we spent most of our honeymoon at Wilsons Promontory.

And what came first? Your interest in plants and gardening or your friendship/relationship?

[Gwen] We both grew up in families who had an interest in plants and gardening. Our interest inAustralian native plants developed when we became involved in bush hiking and youth camps,particularly in the Grampians.

[Rodger] I always had an interest in plants. Even as a kid I was fortunate enough to have my ownvegie garden from about 7 years old. My parents liked plants and gardening. From when I wasabout 8 to 12 years old my Mum’s parents lived with us on a poultry farm in Glenroy. Grandpa wasbreeding Dahlias and Gladioli (I can’t remember how successful he was!) and I used to spendtime with him so I think that I was pretty fortunate to be able to have that kind of upbringing.Just before moving to Croydon, I started to become interested in Australian plants and as I wentbushwalking in various parts of Victoria that interest became stronger. It was then that I started totry and find out the names of the plants that I was coming across.

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