Our AGM was led by our President, Bec Bennett and Secretary, Barbara Ormerod who gave a summary of our activities in the past year and reported improvements in our financial position.
Thanks went to our Gold Sponsors Haars Nursery and Collectors Corner for their contribution to this result. Following refreshments, we were treated to an inspiring presentation by Jane Tonkin of Tonkins Bulbs & Perennials. Jane described how, after the early passing of her father in 1996, she and her mother Shirley took on the mammoth task of learning all aspects of her father’s plant production operation in Kalorama, to carry on the family business. In addition to this, life served up several more personal challenges including a debilitating allergy to wasps. Part and parcel of her journey, as with many women in the industry, has also been weathering the outdated assumptions and prejudices of some male colleagues in the horticulture industry. Despite these life knocks, Jane has been able to invest in and build up her mail order business which supplies woodland bulbs and perennials, particularly the rarer types, to customers all over Australia. Follow this link to her plant catalogue. We are very grateful to Jane for sharing with our group what was a very personal story of heartbreak, but also inspiration, as she tackled and survived each challenge. Keep an eye out for Jane’s stall at the Melbourne Flower & Garden Show each year!
