PGA AND NGIV STRIVING FOR INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE FOR 49 YEARS

Plant Growers Australia (PGA) are the longest serving member of Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV). A relationship that began back in 1973 and has become embedded in the culture of their business. PGA and NGIV have grown together over forty-nine years in what’s become a wonderful partnership as they strive for industry excellence.

PGA was born out of the merging of Brushy Park Native Nursery, owned by Fritz Myer, Emil Lim and Reg Weston, and Park Native Nursery, owned by David Leiw, Roger and Natalie Peate. A keen advocate for the benefits of aligning with the industry association, Natalie was the initial driving force behind PGA’s relationship with NGIV. She went on to become President of NGIV and was fittingly awarded an Honorary Life Membership in 2001.

A combination of growing and propagation skills enabled the business to flourish, producing quality native plants out of the two sites. An early vision of constant development inspired the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, systems, and processes. Those progressions occurred alongside and in conjunction with NGIV, and its efforts to develop and promote industry standards.

‘I see NGIV as a leader in Australia. They’ve been the driving force to stimulate horticultural businesses, including our own, to have a mentality of constant improvement and progression. They represent the whole industry, retailers, allied suppliers, and growers. They’re a partner to what we’ve done in the industry, they’ve been integral in enabling and supporting us to grow,’ said Steve Eggleton, Director at PGA.

Some early examples of PGA’s appetite to innovate, included, transitioning to soilless potting media, they were the first wholesale nursery to use UV water sterilisation in Australia to treat recycled water, and used fogging as a propagation tool.

In the early 2000’s, Howard Bentley (Production), Michael Cole (Sales and Marketing), and Malchom Dickson (Business/ Accounts Operations) became the new owners of PGA and began shaping the business in their vision.

PGA evolved their plant portfolio to focus on quality garden plants, regardless of their origin. They also began to focus on their marketing output. They recognised, and responded to, increased demand for information, promotion, and improved presentation of plants, something that remains a key focus today. This was coupled with NGIV’s increasing focus on promoting the growing professionalism of the industry and the product it produced.

Always driven by improvement, the new owners, along with Steve Eggleton, Propagation Manager at the time, combined all operations to one site in 2000. This allowed them to develop a new, cutting edge, propagation facility with the assistance of NGIV Partner, Powerplants. The improvements made to the structure, equipment, and environmental control, allowed them to create an environment suitable for an increased diversity of crops and allowed their propagation techniques to evolve. All the while hygiene, disease control, and plant quality, advanced alongside NGIV’s industry standards.

(Left to right) Steven Eggleton, Michael Cole, Howard Bentley and Malchom Dickson

Drought was a persistent challenge for the nursery through the late 2000’s, leading PGA to focus on water efficiency. With NGIV driving and modernising industry standards, PGA developed an energy and water efficient recycling and irrigation system that enabled a dramatic reduction in both water and fertiliser use. In 2011 PGA was a top 4 finalist in the National ‘Save Water Awards’. This same system has now been installed at their second production site in Monbulk, purchased in 2015.

Today, PGA are an industry accredited, innovative wholesale nursery that encompasses new plant development, propagation, and wholesale production of over 300 ornamental garden plant varieties, supplying most suitable areas of Australia.

The nursery occupies two sites, Wonga Park and Monbulk, and totals 32 acres. The business is owned by directors Michael Cole, Malchom Dickson, Howard Bentley and Steven Eggleton. Howard and Steve continue as active directors, overseeing and developing the business.

PGA have a team of over 120 staff, across the two sites, with a diverse range of skills, education, experience, and backgrounds. Some are there to utilise their scientific knowledge, others to embrace their love of working outdoors surrounded by nature, and for some the flexible hours on offer provides the work life balance they crave.

‘We are proud of what they each bring to the nursery, and how many of them take the opportunity to further develop skills and knowledge, something we actively encourage. Their contribution allows us to be dynamic and agile in our ongoing pursuit of progress and development,’ said Steve.

Workplace culture is more important to PGA than ever following the challenges faced by their team throughout the pandemic. They strive to create a modern workplace, where people enjoy their work, their colleagues, and are given the autonomy to learn and grow.

PGA are renowned for their regular introduction of new, interesting, and innovative Greenlife. Bringing quality new plants to the gardening public has always been, and remains, a core focus of the business. Through their dedicated new plant development processes, whether internally developed plants via PGA Innovabred, or imported new varieties, are carefully selected for performance in Australian gardens. Many varieties including Loropetalum Plum Gorgeous, Lavinnova Lavenders, Dreameria Armerias, Convolvulus Moon Series and Salvia Heatwaves, are now established garden favourites.

They invest heavily to deliver extensive, quality marketing and communications resources, to ensure customers and gardeners are supported to get the most from their plants. Whether it’s the in-house designed plant labels, the website housing professional imagery and factsheets for every plant variety, or the point of sale displays they offer their retailers, PGA make every effort to help their customers and gardeners succeed.

‘At PGA we believe that information and support for our customers and the gardener to enjoy our plants is essential. Our marketing and design department, and our experienced customer service team, work hard to deliver labelling, online information platforms and in-store merchandising, to give the best information and inspiration for our varieties,’ said Howard Fox, Sales and Marketing Manager.

The team at PGA are driven by a need for constant improvement, enabling them to lead the way in efficiency, technology, and environmental business practices. They do not shy away from change, recognising that new operational processes and systems, keeps them at the forefront of wholesale nursery production; somewhere they plan to remain, alongside and in partnership with Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria.

NGIV would like to congratulate PGA on the success, growth and professionalism of their nursery, and thank them for their longstanding support.

By Matt Ross