Welcome to the 4th edition of Tassie eNews

From 2017 our NGIT Tassie eNews newsletter will be produced on a bi-monthly basis with the intention of keeping all our Tasmanian members up-to-date with all relevant nursery and garden industry information.

We encourage all our members to share with us any news, story ideas, innovations and information concerning the nursery and garden industry.

We welcome input from all members, and we are here to assist you in promoting information through our professional network.

What's on this issue

• NGIT Annual General Meeting Outcomes
• Congratulations - Board of Directors
• Introduction - Meet your NGIT Treasurer
• Biosecurity Advisory Update
• Pests and Diseases Workshop
• Structure Review Final Report
• Life Membership Awards
• Certificates of Service Awards
• Christmas Functions
•  UTAS Masterclass Invitation
• Your Levy @ Work Webinars
• Centre for Tasmanian Industry
• New Members
• Thank you!
• Positions Vacant
• Advertising Feature
• Advertise with us! 
• Like us on Facebook
• Check out our Website

NGIT Annual General Meeting

Thursday 15th September

The 2016 NGIT AGM was held in Oatlands and attended by 8 members. After reviewing and addressing business arising from the previous minutes our President, Mark Vander Staay presented the Presidents Report. where he touched on what NGIT has achieved this year: 

'All of here are volunteers, trying to run our own businesses and lives as well as trying to give back to the industry that we are all passionate about. Other states have an advantage of both membership numbers which equals money and more opportunities, however I firmly believe that we will achieve the same standards as time goes on.'

Mark outlined a few things that NGIT has achieved over the past year:

• Website, emails updates, social media and newsletters are regularly providing constant relevant information to our members.
•  Registrations for membership, workshops, online forms and surveys have been converted to a digital format for our members ease of access.
• NGIT hosted the successful Structure Review Committee meeting in Campbelltown.
• Biosecurity alerts and information is now regular;y reaching our members through targetted email campaigns using our updated database and information system.
• A group of NGIT members attended the  National Conference in February.

And outlined what was coming up in the future:

• Workshops and information sessions. 
• NGIT is looking to creating further networking opportunities for its members.
• Actively seeking to improve memberships from all areas of the horticulture industry.
• Bi - monthly newsletters.
• Exploring the possibility of a Nursery Tour Day for our North & South Members.
• NGIT's future role in the next National Conference.

CONGRATULATIONS

NGIA Board of Directors Election Result

Congratulations to NGIT member Karen Brock on her appointment
as a Director representing NGIT on the NGIA Board of Directors.

Karen Brock is NGIT's current Treasurer - read her bio below.

Meet your NGIT Committee Member

Introducing NGIT's Treasurer - Karen Brock

Karen has 25 years’ experience in Floriculture and Horticulture which also involved industry participation by serving as President of Nursery & Garden Industry Tasmania (NGIT) for six years and a standing committee member of Agrifoods Skills Council for four years. She was appointed to the NGIA Board on 25 November 2014. Karen holds an Advanced Diploma Horticulture and is a Nuffield Scholar. 

Karen is the manager of Brocklands, a production nursery situated in the Tamar Valley of Northern Tasmania. Brocklands are contract growers of a large range of trees and shrubs for retail and landscape use specialising in propagation of roses, Clematis and blueberries.

Biosecurity Advisory Update

Biosecurity legislative framework released for public comment 

A modern biosecurity legislative framework is integral to growing Tasmania's world class primary industries while protecting our natural environment.

The Tasmanian Government released Future Direction for a New Contemporary Biosecurity Legislative Framework which outlines the elements of a proposed new Biosecurity Act.

The single contemporary Biosecurity Act will replace seven existing Acts and provide an efficient and effective way to regulate biosecurity into the future.

Good biosecurity is about protecting our community, economy, industries and environment from the negative impacts of pest and disease.

Biosecurity is everyone's responsibility and the proposed new legislation reflects this principle.

For further information you are encouraged to follow the link above and visit Biosecurity Tasmania's website to read the Future Direction for a New Contemporary Biosecurity Legislative Framework document and provide feedback. This information will also be availble from NGIT's website.

Pests and Diseases Workshop

Around fifty members of the Nursery and Garden Industry Tasmania attended the recent Pests and Diseases Workshop presented by Andrew Manners and John Duff, sponsored by NGIT, NGIA, HIA & the Queensland Government.

The day consisted of a morning session involving a Nursery Walk where two groups were given an extensive and informative tour of Westland Nurseries - a large scale, wholesale production nursery. The groups followed the entire nursery process from propagation and production, greenhousing, potting media, water collection and methods of distribution, maintaining large trees and commercial plants.

The workshop was largely hands on with open discussion encouraged. The afternoon session saw smaller groups venture out into the nursery to discover living pests and also examine sticky traps with the aid of microscopes.

Further discussions on what to do if you find pests and diseases in your nursery, monitoring to gauge the extent of the problem, how to photograph, package and send your findings, containment of pests and diseases and which products to use for control and containment, and importantly the issue that not all pests are pests.

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To see more images of our successfull Pests and Diseases Workshop workshop
go to our gallery page on the NGIT website: www.ngitas.com.au

Structure Review Final Report

Final report by the NGI Future Structure Committee

November 2016

'The secret of change is to focus all of our energy, not on
fighting the old, but building the new'. Socrates

The NGI Future Structure Committee has made a series of recommendations to the Nursery & Garden Industry. The primary recommendation is that the NGI Associations move to a National Structure with a strong regional Delivery Team responsible for
service delivery at a local level.

The Committee has recommended a national structure with a single governing Board,
a National Advisory Council and a Regional Structure for service delivery called the 'National Unity Model'.

To read and download a copy of the full report please follow this link:

www.ngia.com.au

Life Membership Awards

As a result of our AGM this year, two members were nominated to be awarded Life Membership of the Nursery and Garden Industry Tasmania.
It gives us great pleasure to honour and acknowledge Tony and Rose Vander Staay for their oustanding contribution and service to the Nursery and Garden Industry in Tasmania.

Tony and Rose Vander Staay have been involved in the horticulure and nursery industry for over 60 years. Tony and Rose have have both played various indivual roles in the nursery industry, generously imparting their skills and knowledge, whilst also providing consistent and unwavering support across the industry base. 
With the support of a fantastic team, Tony and Rose have cultivated the brand of Westland Nurseries across the country, while holding key roles in the nursery
industry in Tasmania.

For more information visit our website to see our Honour Roll: ngitas.com.au 

Recognition of Service Awards

It was unanimously decided at this years AGM that the Nursery and Garden Industry Tasmania should honour our outstanding and long-serving employees for thier contributions of time, energy and knowledge to our industry.

A call went out for nominations for employees with over 20 years service and as a result NGIT is proud to acknowledge that 24 employees have been gratefully awarded a Certificate of Service and their names have been added to our Honour Roll.

Please visit our website for a full list of NGIA Certificate of Service award nominees and gallery of images.

Visit our website to see our Honour Roll: ngitas.com.au 

NGIT Christmas Functions

Two Christmas Functions for NGIT's Northern and Southern members were held in November, giving our members the opportunity to meet up with people from their industry in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Both functions were hosted at local bowls clubs and saw teams of invited members competing in a game of bowls before a traditional Christmas dinner.
Recognition of Service Certificates and Life Membership Awards were presented to our well deserving members. Overall it was agreed that both evenings resulted in some fairly competitive fun on the bowling green followed by enjoyable dinners.

We'd also like to thank our friends at Waratah Tasmania for supplying our Southern Christmas Function with a fabulous range of Christmas decorations for our night.

Follow this link to our gallery of images: www.ngitas.com.au

Masterclass in Horticultural Business

The Masterclass in Horticultural Business is a global leadership program that has been tailor-made for Australian entrepreneurs in horticulture.

The nursery industry is funding three scholarships for a newly created Masterclass in Horticultural Business program, with upcoming leaders urged to register their interest now.

The course is designed for those with previous experience in horticulture, to help grow their management and leadership skills, and will run for ten months.

Students will gain leadership and management skills that will enable them to take their career to the next level. The first intake of students is February 2017.

To Register Your Interest please visit: www.yourlevyatwork.com.au

For further course information go to: www.utas.edu.au

Insects & Pesticides Webinars

Avoid insect resistance by regularly changing control methods, and make sure you check minor use permits and registrations before using pesticides, was the advice from a recent webinar held to boost the industry's knowledge of pests and diseases.

Insects and Pesticides' was the second in a four-part webinar series from the levy-funded project, Building resilience and on-farm biosecurity capacity of the Australian production nursery industry.

This webinar, along with the entire biosecurity series, is now available online
via the NGIA YouTube Chanel.

For further information please visit Your Levy @ Work

Don't Mention Christmas!

Christmas is the time for everyone to get together, have fun outside of work and exchange gifts - this all sounds wonderful but sometimes the pre and post Christmas event creates issues for the Business Owners, Managers and Human Resources.

Six points to consider:

• Shutdown - if the business is shutting down over Christmas and New Years, do you have a shutdown provision in your Award or Enterprise Agreement? 
• Substitute Days - There are provisions for substitute days therefore if this is relevant to your business workforce you need to commence the consultation process to ensure there is alignment.
• Annual Leave - there may be provisions for annual leave during shutdowns within your industrial instrument.
• Christmas Parties - It is important that businesses consider the type of Christmas event and where it will be held.
• On Call - Have you discussed and worked out who will be on-call and how this will be monitored?
• Performance and Sanctions - Do you have a process for dealing with inappropriate conduct at any work events?

For further information on any of the above points please follow this link to the
Centre for Tasmanian Industry - Don't Mention Christmas

For further information, take advantage of your NGIT membership and contact the Centre for Tasmanian Industry today to assist you with your specific needs on 03 6244 8881 or email admin@centretasindustry.com

New Member Welcome

Welcome to new NGIT member - Tasmanian Plant Transport (TPT)

Owner Greg Belbin has been involved in the horticulture industry for over 30 years and is a past President of NGIT. Greg is a qualified horticulturalist with a sound understanding of regulatory issues for transporting greenlife into Tasmania. Greg and his son Royce transport stock weekly, recognising that customers want great service at competitive prices and greenlife to arrive promptly. TPT are happy to provide quotes and invite enquiries by either phone or email.

Contact Tasmanian Plant Transport on 0419 342 867 or info@tasmanianplanttransport.com.au

Thank You!

A very big thank you to Phil and Jane Sargent at the Trophy Cabinet for
supporting NGIT and supplying the striking Tasmanian timber
Life Membership plaques for Tony and Rose.

Many thanks Phil and Jane - your generousity was greatly appreciated.

The Trophy Cabinet specialises in uniquely designed,
Tasmanian timber plaques and award trophies,
for further information please visit: www.trophycabinet.com.au

or visit them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/trophycabinettasmania

Positions Vacant

Don't forget you are most welcome to advertise any 'Positions Vacant' with us - Tassie eNews is sent out to members and Tafe students all around Tasmania. We will even load the vacancy up onto our website and share it on our Facebook page. It's a great way to help someone find a position within the industry. Just contact admin@ngitas.com.au with the details.

Are you energetic and friendly, with a sound knowledge of plants?

If so - read on...

We are a wholesale/retail nursery in the Northern suburbs of Hobart.

We are looking for casual sales assistants, for weekend work (Saturday & Sunday).

You must have previous retail experience and an excellent knowledge of plants
and plant care. A horticulture qualification is preferred but not essential.

The successful candidate will enjoy dealing with the public and be
able to offer first class customer service.

Manual work and a degree of lifting will also be required.

All applications are to be emailed and must include a resume containing
two contactable referees. No applications by phone will be accepted.

Email your resume to: info@grantonplants.com.au

Advertising Feature

Bonus Pack

Purchase 20L or 200L Maxicrop Complex and receive equivalent Ecofish Free!

20L of Maxicrop Complex and Ecofish will make up to 20,000 litres of solution.

• Seaweed+fertiliser+fish
• Ideal preparation prior to landscapers planting out
• Maintain optimum condition from nursery to shelf
• Improves root growth and development
• Strong early growth
• Improves overall plant health
• Reduces pest and disease attack
• Increases chlorophyll content – darker green foliage
• More prolific blooms – size and colour
• Reduces climate stress, drought, frost, etc

Contact your local Tasmanian distributor, Waratah Wholesale

1 Tara St, South Hobart. 

P: 03 6223 7200 E: sales@waratahtas.com.au

Advertise with NGIT Tassie eNews

Tassie eNews is one of NGIT's key methods of communication that is delivered statewide to all our member's in-boxes regularly.

If you have an event, training course or product you would like to promote, we invite you to take advantage of to advertise with us for FREE.

We extend this offer of FREE advertsing space to all our NGIT members for up to 4 advertising spaces per year*.

For further information please contact Kay Carney @ admin@ngitas.com.au

*Terms and conditions do apply. All advertisements must be content appropriate to the nursery and garden industry and will undergo approval by NGIT Administration.

Non-Members are welcome to apply for advertising space for a nominal fee.

Have you visited NGIT's new website

Our new website is for NGIT members

This Newsletter and previous editions along with everything you need
to know about what is happening in your industry is available on our
new NGIT website.

If you haven't already - take a tour - we'd love your feedback.

www.ngitas.com.au

NGIT Facebook Page

Keep up to date with what is happening in your industry.

Facebook is a great way for us to keep in touch with our members - it's casual and informal but can also be very informative

We invite all NGIT members and even non-members to 'Like' our Facebook page.

So please Like Us on Facebook

Once again - thank you to all our members for taking the time to read through our Summer Edition of NGIT's Tassie eNews - we look forward to your feedback, story ideas and the sharing of information.

From all of us here at NGIT we'd like to wish our members a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.