Horticultural Hero: Dr Stella Antony

Stella is pictured above receiving her PhD from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renée Leon, at Charles Sturt University.

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What drew you to horticulture originally?

My interest in horticulture began with a deep appreciation of nature and a strong connection to plants, the land, and the changing seasons. That connection was nurtured early on in my childhood. My grandparents on my father’s side were primary producers in India, and their close relationship with the land played a formative role in shaping my curiosity for how crops are grown and sustained.

Although my father – driven by his love for mathematics – became a teacher rather than a farmer, agriculture remained part of our family identity. With both my parents working as teachers, we lived in a town, but I spent most school holidays with my grandparents. Those visits gave me my first real taste of life lived in harmony with the land.

Life on my grandparents’ farm was vibrant and unforgettable: my pet goat (Rani, meaning Queen) that lived with them year-round; the gentle cow that tolerated children hanging onto its legs; hens that provided eggs for the extended family; peacocks that wandered in from the nearby fields; and the Moringa tree (Moringa oleifera) that produced abundantly all year round. Mangoes, guavas, rice, and cereals, so much of what we ate, came directly from the land around us.

I loved helping with small tasks, especially delivering freshly harvested drumsticks (the tender pods of the Moringa tree, traditionally cooked with lentils in South India) to my relatives. My grandmother rarely used money; if I wanted candy from the village shop, she’d hand me a measure of rice or millet to barter. I learnt where to dig for sweet potatoes, when to pick millet to enjoy raw, and how deeply food, family, and place are intertwined. The village festivals added another layer to this connection. Every celebration, from harvest festivals to temple fairs, was tied to the agricultural cycle.

With these memories woven into my early life, it would be more surprising if I hadn’t been drawn to horticulture.

What pathway did you take to get there?

My pathway into horticulture began much later in life with a bold step – becoming a walnut grower and primary producer. Although my childhood experiences with my grandparents had instilled in me a deep desire to live close to the land, I had to weigh the realities of pursuing that dream in Australia. Twenty years ago, I had no family support here, and I knew I didn’t have the time, energy, or experience required for labour-intensive primary production such as broadacre cropping or fruit and vegetable farming.

As I learned more about permanent agriculture, nut production caught my attention. To build the skills I needed, I enrolled in the Certificate III in Horticulture at TAFE. The course – and teachers who generously shared their knowledge and pointed me to further resources – gave me a solid grounding in Australian soils, water infrastructure, and the broader production landscape. Meeting orchardists and state agriculture officers further strengthened my interest in the nut industry.

As part of my studies, I completed a two-week internship during walnut harvest in Dargo. A former colleague helped me to join the harvest team at his friend’s orchard, which was run by the orchardist’s close-knit group of family and friends. Those two weeks rekindled all my childhood memories, and I think that was the moment my destiny to become a walnut farmer was sealed.

At the time, I reassured myself – and later, my husband David – that with increasing mechanisation in horticulture, most tasks would eventually be handled by machines. I later learned that this assumption was far too optimistic, and David still jokes that I forgot to mention the machines would be named, ‘David’ and ‘Stella’. Jokes aside, I was genuinely drawn to the walnut industry because it was young, expanding, and relatively free of the pest and disease pressures seen in many other walnut-growing regions. I also valued the high water-use efficiency of walnut orchards compared to several alternative crops.

During this period, I was working full time in quality assurance in higher education in Melbourne and considering shifting to a four-day week. I realised that if I could find the right parcel of land within two hours of the city, I could dedicate three days a week to building my dream on the land. The Shepparton irrigation district – Victoria’s food bowl – ticked every box: good connectivity to Melbourne, suitable soils, a favourable climate, reliable water infrastructure, and access to equipment and contractors for orchard operations. With new research emerging from California, I wanted to adopt best practices from the outset and didn’t want to be constrained by the limitations of established orchards. We eventually bought land with suitable soil and water access that had previously been used only for grazing cattle. Whole-farm planning, supported by Victorian government funding, proved invaluable in shaping the design and development of the orchard.

As we established the orchard, I continued my education by completing the Bachelor of Science (Production Horticulture) at Charles Sturt University. The walnut orchard became the basis of many of my assignments, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Microbiology and plant pathology particularly captured my interest, and this deep interest ultimately shaped the direction of my work in horticulture and became the starting point of my second PhD.

What obstacles did you encounter along the way?

One of the main challenges I faced was balancing a full-time career that I loved – in quality assurance in higher education – with the significant time and attention required during the early stages of establishing the orchard. Later, when I transitioned to being a full-time walnut grower, the research I undertook to investigate dieback in walnut orchards demanded deep focus and long hours. Managing both the practical demands of the orchard and the intensity of the research work was a demanding but ultimately rewarding part of the journey.

Another very real practical obstacle, one that continues even today, is driving. During my career in India, I had the privilege of a personal driver, and when I moved to Melbourne, I found public transport so convenient that I never felt the need or developed the confidence to drive. As a result, when we moved to Shepparton, it was always David who handled the driving. When he worked overseas in Abu Dhabi, I relied on a motor scooter to travel between Shepparton and the orchard. I learned to operate tractors, mulchers, and sprayers with ease, but driving on the road was still a challenge for me. David brought many of the practical skills I lacked, and together we navigated everything from machinery breakdowns to unexpected hurdles, always supported by the knowledge of local farmers and contractors.

When I began my research, dieback of fruiting spurs, stems, and branches was widespread in walnut orchards across Australia, causing significant yield losses. My research was designed to identify the pathogens responsible for this dieback, and to investigate potential control methods. The industry adviser on my supervisory committee often teased me that I was trying to complete ‘three PhDs’ worth of work in one’.

To keep up with the demands of the project, I spent three days each week in our Victorian orchard, and four days on field work and laboratory work in New South Wales. The Gulbali Institute at Charles Sturt University, where I was based, had excellent facilities for the molecular work needed for pathogen identification.

COVID brought new challenges to my research work. I was only a few months into my doctoral studies when the pandemic began. I was in the middle of my molecular analysis when COVID lockdowns made it impossible to maintain my regular travel between our orchard in Victoria and the university laboratory in NSW. At times, new border rules were announced with little notice, and I had to rush to cross the border before restrictions took effect. There were even weekends when David and I had to stay on the NSW side of the border region so that I could return to the lab the next day (and David could return to the orchard which was on the Victorian side of the border region). We successfully navigated the first part of the research, and the second part – the field trial I had planned to run over three growing seasons – had to be cut short to just one year. We reassured ourselves by saying that whatever I couldn’t complete would simply have to wait for the next PhD thesis!

You can read my thesis on the Charles Sturt University research portal.

You can read my other research papers on ResearchGate.

Who were your mentors?

I was fortunate to be mentored by generous and knowledgeable members of the Australian Walnut Industry Association, who openly shared their experience and encouraged my growth in the field. In my research work, I have benefitted greatly from the world-class facilities at the Gulbali Institute at Charles Sturt University. There, I was mentored by Professor Sandra Savocchia, an exceptional researcher whose guidance shaped much of my learning. I was also supported by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in plant pathology, biochemistry, and molecular analysis. I truly could not have asked for a better group of mentors. Throughout this journey, my husband David has been a constant source of support and encouragement, making it possible for me to pursue my studies and research wholeheartedly.

From left to right: Dr Ben Stodart, Prof. Sandra Savocchia, Dr Stella Antony, Dr Regina Billones-Baaijens, Prof. Chris Steel

What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment, I am working on a project that supports sustainable hazelnut production in Australia. Funded by AgriFutures Australia, the project has several themes and involves collaboration between several universities across the country. My role is within the sub-theme led by Professor Sandra Savocchia and focuses on evaluating potential disease threats to hazelnut production, including biosecurity risks linked to the import of plant material. The project also provides producers and nurseries with relevant information on disease management strategies to help minimise yield loss, and identifying areas for future research to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.

What does an average day consist of for you?

An average day for me starts with a cup of coffee and ABC classic FM in the background. After breakfast I check emails and respond to queries from nut growers, making sure they have the support and information they need. I usually set aside time to read the latest research updates on walnuts and hazelnuts, keeping up to date with developments in the field, and I continue working on writing and refining my research review. I also enjoy spending part of the day in my reasonably sized garden, tending to the fruit and nut trees. David and I try to fit in a daily hour’s walk around our quiet neighbourhood when the weather (and his kayaking schedule) allows. And although I’m no longer a full-time grower, harvest season is still special. During that time, we help friends in their orchards and share in the simple joy of harvesting together.

What is your favourite plant?

My favourite plant is the walnut tree. Beyond its value as a crop, it carries several fascinating mythological connections. In Greek mythology, the walnut tree is associated with Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. He fell in love with Carya, the youngest daughter of the king of Laconia. When Carya’s jealous sisters tried to keep the two apart, Dionysus turned them into stone. Overcome with grief at their fate, Carya died of sorrow. Heartbroken, Dionysus transformed his beloved into a walnut tree, creating a lasting symbol of his love for her. For me, the walnut tree is more than a source of food – it is a living reminder of the beauty of love, the depth of loss, and the enduring power of myth.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I see myself continuing to contribute to research that supports healthy, productive and resilient nut orchards across Australia, and helping growers access the knowledge and tools they need to manage emerging challenges with confidence.

What are your 3 most worthwhile tips that you can give to women who are starting out in the horticulture industry?

Build strong on-the-ground experience. Practical knowledge is invaluable and will shape your confidence and decision-making.

Follow your passion and don’t be limited by stereotypes. Be willing to challenge traditional expectations of women in primary production; your skills, interests and ambitions define your path.

Stay flexible and open to new directions. Horticulture offers many avenues, so don’t hesitate to explore different roles, learn new skills, or take unexpected opportunities as they arise.