Report of the 7 Australian Native Flower Conference

Report of the 7th Australian Native Flower Conference The Bardon Centre, Mt Coot-tha Brisbane, 25 to 28th May 2005.

A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Margaret Johnston and Shane Holborn

November 2005

RIRDC Publication No W05/125 RIRDC Project No UQ-113A

ISBN 1 74151 188 7 ISSN 1440-6845

Report on the 7th Australian Native Flower Conference Publication No. W05/125 (Web only)

Project No. UQ-113A

The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable industries. The information should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. Specialist and/or appropriate legal advice should be obtained before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this document. The Commonwealth of Australia, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the authors or contributors do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person's use or reliance upon the content of this document.

This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186.

Researcher Contact Details (Dr Margaret Johnston) (Centre for Native Floriculture) The University of Queensland Gatton) Gatton Qld 4343 Phone: 07 54601240 Fax: 07 54601112 Email: [email protected]

In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form.

RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604

Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Web : http://www.rirdc.gov.au

Published on the web in November 2005

Foreword

This project was funded from industry revenue which is matched by funds provided by the Australian Government.

This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1200 research publications. It forms part of our Wildflowers and Native Plants R&D sub-program.

Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website:

• downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop

Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

iii

Acknowledgments

The judges of the student competition: Gordon Meiklejohn, Digby Growns and Joanna Srhoj

The Flower Industry Association (FAQI) who underwrote the conference.

All presenters and participants.

The keynote speakers: Professor Abe Halevy, Israel Mr Mike Fowler, Global Forsight Mr David Hockings

Partner Sponsors: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Department of primary Industries and Fisheries

Workshop Sponsors Rabobank Sud-Chemie Australia Pty Ltd

Trade Display Participants Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland Ellbee Scotts Australia Ramm Botanicals Organic Crop Protectants Toa Trading Ltd Garden Nursery Products Convex Plastic FloraCulture International Magazine FlowerTech Magazine Ben Meadows and Gemplers Australian Flower Industry Magazine HartBeat First Aid Temples Wholesale Florist Sundries Australian Native Flower Growers and Exporters Smithers Oasis Australia P/L

Student sponsors Queensland Wax and Native Flower Association Corroborree Native Flower Growers Association Flower Industry Association of Queensland Centre for Native Floriculture

All members of the Conference Organising Committee: • Margaret Johnston Chair CNF • Ian Gordon CNF • Alison Fuss Coordinator Scientific Program • Shane Holborn FAQI • Jacki Rainbow FAQI • Lodi Pameijer Industry member • John Wightman Industry member • Brian Shannon Industry member

Contents

Foreword...... iii Acknowledgments...... iv Executive Summary ...... vi 1. Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Keynote speakers...... 1 1.2 Conference presentation themes...... 1 1.3 Workshops and special interest meetings...... 1 1.4 Social events...... 2 1.5 Field trips...... 2 1.6 Student competition...... 2 1.7 Industry Award...... 2 1.8 Delegate feedback ...... 2

Executive Summary

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries sponsored the 7th Australian Native Flower Conference which was held in Brisbane during May 25th-28th at the Bardon Conference Centre, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane. The conference was organised in partnership between The University of Queensland Centre for Native Floriculture and the Flower Association of Queensland Inc. The Conference was well attended and attracted 137 participants from Australia, Chile, China, Israel, Japan and New Caledonia.

Communication is recognised as an essential component of R&D programs and the conference allowed industry members and researchers a valuable networking opportunity. It also provided the opportunity for review and discussion of the current marketing and technical research being conducted, and exposure to international and national keynote speakers.

1. Introduction The 7th Australian Native Flower Conference was held in Brisbane during May 25th-28th at the Bardon Conference Centre, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane. The conference was organised in partnership between The University of Queensland Centre for Native Floriculture and the Flower Association of Queensland Inc. The Conference was well attended and attracted 137 participants from Australia, Chile, China, Israel, Japan and New Caledonia.

1.1 Keynote speakers Professor Abe Halevy, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot Israel presented an address called “Australian native plants as commercial floricultural crops – the Israeli experience: culture and research”.

Mr Mike Fowler, Global Foresight discussed change and how this might impact the industry and speculated as to what the Australian native flower industry might be in the future.

Mr David Hockings, a local Australian plant expert discussed “Developing the genepool”.

1.2 Conference presentation themes

• Day 1 – Marketing – Industry issues – Postharvest – Safety • Day 2 – New species – Genetic diversity – Physiology

1.3 Workshops and special interest meetings

Five workshops were held each day on the following topics. The * denotes the workshop facilitor:

• Nursery Accreditation (Ian Gordon* and John Macdonald) • New Growers (Bettina Gollnow*, Waltraud Wightman, Joanna Srhoj, Gerard Clancy, Len Wallbank • Managing for Profit (Di Waters*) • Marketing and Export Trends (Sally Sutton, Jamie Creer, Tony Zhang Brendan Egan*) • Postharvest and Quality Assurance (Daryl Joyce*, Jenny Ekman, Craig Firrell, Tim Bailey) • Value Chain Management (Tony Dunne* and Lilly Lim-Camacho) • Pest and Disease Management Workshop (Victor Galea, Malcolm Durham and John Wightman*) • Water Management for Flower Growers (Bill Yiasoumi*, John Hall, Ken Young)

In addition there was a RIRDC workshop presented by Dr Peter O’Brien Managing Director RIRDC, Mr Max Bourke (Manager, Wildflower Program) and Mr Geoff Sullivan (Queensland Representative, Wildflower Advisory Committee) in which the future of the industry and the issue of funding for R&D.

There were two special interest meetings, one for researchers and an industry meeting which discuss the formation of a peak industry body.

1.4 Social events There were two social functions a welcome barbeque and the conference dinner. The guest speaker at the conference dinner was the Hon Henry Palaszczuk MP Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries. Florist Courtney Raven (TAFE) presented a wonderful floristry display which was enjoyed by all attendees.

1.5 Field trips The following field trip were organised:

• Gatton District 25th May 2005 Mr Ken Young Mrs Alenna McMah Centre for Native Floriculture Mr and Mrs Graham and Ester Cook

• Sunshine Coast District 28th May 2005 Mr and Mrs Lodi and Yucca Pameijer, Mr and Mrs John and Waltraud Wightman Mr Gary Swift Mr Ed Sawaski

1.6 Student competition RIRDC sponsored a competition for students. Prizes were awarded to the two best presentations. The Australian Flora Foundation also sponsored a prize. The judges for these awards were Gordon Meiklejohn, Digby Growns and Joanna Srhoj.

The winners were:

Amelia Martyn (University of Sydney) Craig Firrell (Centre for Native Floriculture) Cameron Playsted (School of Agronomy and Horticulture, The University of Queensland)

1.7 Industry Award David and Olive Hockings were acknowledged for contribution to the Australian native flower industry with a presentation at the conference dinner.

1.8 Delegate feedback Basic feedback forms were handed out to delegates to broadly gauge their satisfaction or otherwise with the conference to aid the next organisers (Australian Flower Export Council) and also assist the organisation of future FAQI and/or UQ events.

Of the 135 delegates 37 provided feedback in terms of a completed feedback form. That is 27.5% of conference participants have provided feedback on their conference experience.

The results from feedback received for each question has been summarised in the following graphs. In Question 10 where written comments were requested from delegates, all comments have been included in the final table and categorised into topic areas e.g. venue, presentations, workshops etc...

Q1. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the conference

0% 0% 5% 0%

Execellent 43% Good Average Poor Very Poor No Answer 52%

Q.2 Please rate your satisfaction with the trade display area

3% 0% 0% 16% 19%

Execellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Answer

62%

Q3. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the conference format (i.e. morning sessions, afternoon workhops etc)

0% 0% 5% 11% 30% Execellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Answer

54%

Q4. If you attended a field tour, how would you rate it?*

32% Execellent Good Average 52% Poor Very Poor No Answer

11%

0%0% 5%

*this question applies only to the Gatton tour as the feedback was garnered from delegates prior to the Maleny tour on the final conference day. Additionally, many conference delegates did not attend the farm tours so the large number of ‘No Answer’ responses is a representation of non-attendance on the tours.

Q5. Please rate your overall satisfaction with the venue/facilities

0% 3% 5% 5%

Execellent 44% Good Average Poor Very Poor No Answer

43%

Q6. Do you think the conference was value for money

11%

Yes No No Answer

84%

Q7. Based on your experience at the conference - will you attend or recommend someone else to attend the next conference?

3% 0%

Yes No Depends

97%

Q8. Who are you?

3% 3% 8%

3% Grower Researcher Wholesaler/exporter 49% Breeder Extension Specialist Retailer 34%

Q9. How did you hear about the conference?*

5% 3% 3%

8% 27% Word of Mouth Website Grower Group/Assoc Trade Magazine University Research Group 24% Involved in previous conf. 10% No Answer

20%

* one respondent heard about the conference through “an email from Bettina Gollnow” – this response has been added to the Grower Group/Association category. Note also that some respondents provided 2 or more answers to this question.

Q10. Please provide any comments you have on future conference locations, topics, speakers or general suggestions regarding the conference: General Comments Thank You! Need more growers attending Well done I have had a great time and learnt so much while meeting heaps of people – Thank You Please e-mail me with notification of next conference so I don’t miss seeing an advertisement The satchel didn’t fit the folder! Please consider a “school bag or briefcase with no overflap!” its much more convenient and useful in the future and it will be used with your advertisement for years to come!! Name tags – can they have a “pin on” option, around the neck tags flip around and the name is not always visible. General absence of floral arrangements around the venue eg. on tables at dinner Need longer breaks = more networking time Very well organised Great opportunity to meet people – but not enough time If registration and accommodation costs can be reduced we might be able to bring a staff member Conference value for money – but I am not a grower The inclusion of the nursery industry was important and could be strengthened in future conferences Prefer non-profit approach!

Presentations As a presenter – session too short Needs more focus on production issues Need papers focussed on new products/breeding

Better time allocation – long intros took up time Rather heavy going – could have had a couple of ‘lighter’ presentations Israeli paper ‘out of date’ International speaker a great idea Prefer strict timing so can have questions Speakers should hold to their speaking time more closely Futurist a bit abstract Not enough time to ask questions post sessions Good mix of speakers/topics It would be very interesting to have more presentations from growers More choices of who we hear from Variety in topics spoken about is important. You have achieved this but always need to keep this in mind for future planning`

Venue The venue made everything integrate well Temperature in the lecture hall needs to be more constant More information should have been given about the venue eg. no eating places within coo-ee etc.. If the accommodation is at the venue, and the venue is isolated from main restaurant area then the venue needs to supply evening meals (not be isolated away from other facilities needed by people with no transport). Excellent – accommodation & amphitheatre but a rabbit warren to find your way around Venue should be close to public transport for visitors access

Food /Drink Only suggestion is that at the dinner non-drinkers should be catered for – I object to paying for an orange juice when I have paid the same as the drinkers who at least get a few bottles of wine. Maybe on the first evening (eg. 2 tickets) be given to each person at the BBQ for beer or wine (2 only per person) or juice or cool drink. At the dinner wine was provided – what if you do not drink – it was sad that one of our table had to pay about $4 plus for an orange juice. I feel cool drinks (3?) or juice could have been free. Need to have “Happy Hour” session between final session and dinner to allow delegates to mingle – this option was not properly organised COFFEE VERY UNDESIRABLE!! Workshops I would like the opportunity to attend more workshops I understand the need for scientific papers to be presented but I would like the opportunity to attend a couple more workshops which seem to have particular reference to growers and practical aspects of management No concurrent workshops – not a fan of workshops Export workshop – Too much ‘talk to’ and not enough discussion – 1 hour talk/10 mins discussion!! Could make the workshops more “hands on” and allow more time – we ran out of time for discussion both times! The workshops could have been better structured as the ones I went to were quasi-presentations with minimal opportunity at the end for interaction with the presenters The workshops were a new concept and worked well, but including them meant time was cut short for speakers presenting and for questions time More workshops with interaction/question time Workshops – need some format/goals for each session

Special Meetings RIRDC Forum much needed – perhaps a little discussion/notice prior would have given people more time to think about issues? RIRDC workshop was very important and should continue – i.e. and industry melting pot review The satellite meetings of researchers and growers were important, given the rare opportunities for

interstate colleagues to interact in person

Farm Tours Farm tours excellent

Florist Presentation The florist presenting at the dinner was BRILLIANT Thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by the florist and feel this is a very important aspect because growers need contact with the florists so that we as growers know what the florist needs and wants.