Members can download notes from the seminar in the Members Area of the AILDM website.
Picture a scene of urban bliss in a peaceful suburb in the pulsating metropolis of Sydney. The warmth of the afternoon sun casts its glow on the emerald coloured greens of the Ryde Bowlo and the locals are abuzz……”AILDM’s back. ”
Sydney’s public transport and road systems are stretched to the limits as 60-70 excited AILDMites converge on this sacred site for the last time. Exactly a week before, similar scenes were witnessed at Flemington in Melbourne but ‘this’ is the event of the year…….the AILDM Triple Header.
The seminar began with a rustle of plastic as Julie O’Connor invited guests to indulge in red lollies to keep them awake during her talk….totally unnecessary, of course, as Julie’s career took us from Harden to Network 7′s “Better Homes and Gardens”. She sloshed through acres of pig manure and peered over fences in narrow city laneways looking for inspiration…and find it she did….and find it we did.
A hard act to follow, but Catherine Stewart did, and did it magnificently, with her journey through the twists, turns and joys of horticultural journalism. Her rise from editor of AILDM’s Landscape Outlook to the dizzy heights of some of Australia’s best gardening magazines was sprinkled with her rules for getting where you wish to go…and she got there, so keep a lookout for these rules to be published soon.
Helen Young, with a twinkle in her eyes, added an international flavour to the day with her journey from high powered business to the quieter(?), but ultimately more satisfying, plant and design world.
Helen’s experiences are wide and varied and take in the studios of ABC gardening radio talkback, television, journalism and international garden tours. Somewhere in there she also finds time for her garden design work. She had 10 rules for success (soon to be published) and the one that seems to define her very successful journey is “Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy”.
And ‘chew like crazy‘ we did for the rest of the evening.
Before moving on to the really exciting part (AGM), we paused for a break as we thanked our sponsors and supporters who were there displaying their products and networking with our members.
Thanks to Plantmark, House of Bamboo, Andreasens Green, Eco Outdoor, Alpine Nurseries, Gardens at Night, Colourwise, AON Insurance and Universal Magazines. Apologies were received from Jamberoo Native Nursery.
A brief but ‘joyful’ AGM (isn’t that how all AGM’s should be) saw the introduction of our updated constitution. Thanks go to the many members who sent proxy votes as well as those voting in person. One of the advantages of the new constitution is flexibility in running AILDM. We will also be able to modify membership categories to benefit graduates and businesses (more soon).
We farewelled longtime and deeply committed National Council members, Marion Tyree and Shane Doherty and welcomed their replacements Louise McDaid and Glenice Buck.
A casual but enjoyable dinner finished off a very successful day.
Ryde Bowlo was farewelled and Sydney’s road and transport system were sorely tested for the second time in one day. Thank you all for contributing to a great day.
