Peter Whitehead CNP
I have been involved with the Nursery and Garden Industry since 1984, when I arrived in Australia as a migrant from South Africa. With a former career in the Merchant Navy, a young family to support and a new country to settle in there were many challenges ahead of us. We (Hilary and I) bought a plant nursery in early 1984 and after 23 years of many adventures, highs and lows, floods, storms and droughts sold Rast Bros Nursery in Turramurra in 2007. It was an exhilarating ride working in and with such an incredible industry.
As Rast Bros became established as an important part of the retail garden scene in Australia, I became involved in several committees and boards. Through greater exposure, I started writing and for many years wrote the gardening column for the Ku Ring Gai Observer. I currently write the gardening column for the Monthly Chronicle. Other writing has been on an ad hoc basis for the Garden Clinic Magazine, the Nursery News (a publication for members of the Nursery & Garden Industry of NSW & ACT). I write monthly articles on Grow Me Instead plants for our state association and have recently completed a series of weekly media releases for 2010 on ‘Gardening Made Easy’.
Since the closure of Rast Bros Nursery, I have been employed as a consultant to the Nursery & Garden Industry of NSW & Act to look after events and marketing using my skills and contacts as an ex-retailer to stage such events. The main focus has been on the very successful Green Expo Sydney which has given greater exposure of our industry to the widest possible horticultural audience.
I take garden tours overseas for Ross Garden Tours and focus on Vietnam and India. Travel is a particular passion of ours! Having just returned from Bhutan and seen the most incredible diversity of plants, I am eager to share this experience with others. I am currently the Vice President of the NSW branch of the HMA.
0410 608 487