EVENT: ANNUAL HORTICULTURE SHOWCASE
Fourth Annual Parliamentary Horticulture Showcase:
A celebration of Victoria's vibrant horticulture industry By Craig Taberner Victoria’s vibrant horticultural industry was on full display from 28 August to 1 September 2023, as NGIV hosted its fourth Annual Parliamentary Horticulture Showcase at the iconic Queen’s Hall, Victorian Parliament House. This event served as a platform to highlight the diversity and significance of Victoria’s horticulture industry and its importance to Victoria’s economy, the environment, and communities. NGIV’s collective opinion was that 2023 has been our most impressive exhibition yet. Building upon the success of last year’s Showcase, this year we enjoyed deeper engagement with attendees, with the inclusion of the Growing Victoria green wall, the participation of primary school students, and a different focus for each day of the exhibition to keep the audience of policy makers fresh and inquisitive. Kicking off with a flurry of activity, NGIV staff, our garden designers and a team of hard-working volunteers from Sevron worked tirelessly to set up the immersive Showcase Garden in just a few hours. Through skilful and thoughtful design, the garden aimed to demonstrate the beauty and versatility of Victoria’s locally grown flora whilst at the same time celebrating the diversity of our horticulture industry – reinforced by storytelling display boards, interactive materials, and information describing our supply chain and the role of horticulture in our state. Designed by MIFGS Achievable Gardens alumni Josie Wilson and Suzannah Kennett Lister (from Josie Wilson Landscape Design and SKL Gardens respectively), the display garden prompted many comments from Members of Parliament
The Hon. Gayle Tierney MLC official welcome.
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GROUNDSWELL OCTOBER 2023
impressed by not only the sights, but also (perhaps surprisingly) the smells. The official opening and launch of the Showcase took place on Tuesday 29 August, with NGIV President Simon Gomme, Minister for Agriculture the Hon. Gayle Tierney MLC, Jane Edmanson OAM, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy MP, and NGIV CEO Craig Taberner all in attendance to cut the pothos vine to officially mark the opening. The launch was attended by key figures in Victoria’s policy and political landscape and presented a fantastic opportunity for Victorian Parliamentarians and NGIV members to meet and chat to share a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our sector. Many departmental and Parliamentary attendees engaged in policy discussions with NGIV staff and members and took the time to chat with students – an amazing group of Grade 4 students from Berwick Lodge Primary School accompanied by Assistant Principal Sanda McCrum, who represented their school and the educational opportunities afforded by our industry proudly.
The Hon. Peter Walsh MP, Ms Emma Kealy MP and Brett Ratten.
