Our Principal

1971

Graduated after 3yrs of full time study from Burnley Horticultural College

Rotary Youth Leadership Awardee

1972

Self employed Landscaping, garden maintenance and wholesale nursery business.

1972

Technical Officer, Fisons Ltd.

1972-75

Youth Leader (part time) Baptist Church

1972-73

Retail Nursery management and landscaping.

1973-76

Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, Shire of Melton

1974

Established Melton Garden Club(President)

• Taught gardening classes at Melton Community Centre.
• Wrote gardening column for Melton local paper.

1975

Overseas study tour of children's playgrounds.

1976-82

Lecturing in short course for Council of Adult Education.

1976-77

Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Essendon.

1977-80

Consultant Landscape Designer/Playground Adviser
Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Vic.

1977-81

0ccasional Writer for "Your Garden", national garden magazine.

1978

Member of National committee for International Year of the Child

1977-81

• Sessional lecturer for:
• Footscray Institute of Technology
• Burnley Horticultural College
• I.E.C.D. (Lincoln Institute)
• Philip Institute of Technology
• Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation (Victoria)
• Designed and conducted elective subjects for F.I.T. in the Associate Diploma in Recreation Leadership.
• Jointly lectured 3rd year Landscape Design in Diploma at Burnley.
• Lectured on understanding children's play, and playground design to Post Graduate Diploma in Recreation at Philip Institute and to kindergarten trainee teachers (Lincoln Institute).

1979

Established Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.

1979 to present

Design and management of Advertising & marketing for Australian Correspondence Schools

1980-81

Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, City of Heidelberg

1980-95

Regular writer for "Grass Roots" magazine.

1982-83

Self employed nurseryman and landscape contractor.

1985 to present

Developed and managed the AHCS on a full time basis.

1988-92

Organized of Garden Pavilion at Royal Melbourne Show (50-100 exhibitors). Won awards two out of the five years.
(ie. Best Commercial Display '88; Best Horticultural Display '92)

1989 to present

Editor/Photographer/Writer: Greenleaf Series Magazines and Garden Guide Series Magazines

1991-99

Regular writer for the magazines: Queensland Homes and Victoria Homes.

1992-93

Program Organizer, International Plant Propagators Conference, Albury

1993

Study tour/photographing gardens and garden shows in Europe

1994

Wrote & produced five educational videos (using the video production unit of Griffith University, and private facilities in Melbourne).

1994

Wrote Quality Assurance documentation for Australian Correspondence Schools.

1995

Wrote accreditation documentation for Advanced Diplomas in Horticulture, Agriculture and Recreation-Fitness. Achieved accreditation and listing on the National Register for these courses.

1996-97

Established 9 internet sites for Australian Correspondence Schools, continued developing new courses including computer servicing & ecotourism. (Won awards in mid 97: Pick of the Net from Sofcom, and Majons Select Award)

1999-2003

Editor Your Backyard National Magazine (Australian print media publication –published by Express Publications)

1998 to present

Wrote many books, new courses and developed new web sites

1969-71

Diploma in Horticultural Science, Burnley Horticultural College, Vic. (now VCAH, Burnley - Melbourne University) Course completed.

1970-72

Certificate in Theology : Sydney Anglican Theological College, by Correspondence 90% completed.

1971

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (approx. 40hrs) Course completed.

1971

YMCA Detached Youth Workers Course (approx. 30 hrs) Course completed.

1972

Bachelor of Science R.M.I.T. -Sociology & Chemistry, incomplete.

1975-76

Supervision Certificate (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) (2 years part time distance education).
Subjects passed include:

• Supervision 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B
• Parks Administration A, B.
• Communications and report Writing

1976-78

Bachelor of Arts (Planning Studies) Footscray Institute of Technology course 50% completed.
Subjects passed include:

• Urban Studies 1A, 1B
• Planning Studies 1A, 1B
• Sociology 1A, 1B
• Overview of Recreation
• Recreation Leadership Methods

1979-80

Bachelor of Science, Latrobe University, -Zoology, incomplete.

1994

PADI Open Water Divers Certificate, Aussie Dive, Gold Coast.

1995

Training Skills I, II & III

1995

RPL granted for stream studies in Instructional skills in Advanced Certificate in Applied Management (approx. 250 hrs)

1997

Advanced Certificate in Applied Management -Publishing & Journalism (approx. 700 hrs)

1974

Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation National Conference, Adelaide, (5 days) -delegate

1975

International Association for the Children's Right to Play Triannual Conference, Milan Italy, (7 days) -delegate

1976

Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation, National Conference, Melbourne, (5 days) -delegate

1979

Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation, National Conference, Brisbane, (5 days) -organizer of children's play and playground segment

1978-79

Recreational Landscaping Course -Course Coordinator for Burnley Horticultural College (Designed, and managed 3 day course and was main lecturer for two consecutive years)

1979

Technological Advances in Parks Maintenance -designed, coordinated and lectured at 2 day course jointly with Elaine Murphy, Senior Lecturer (for Footscray Institute of Technology)

1980

Plant Materials 1980 -designed, coordinated and lectured at 2 day course jointly with Elaine Murphy, Senior Lecturer (for Footscray Institute of Technology in conjunction with Burnley Horticultural College)

1982

Play Safety Conference, Melbourne -Speaker

1988

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Sydney, (3 days) -delegate

1989

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Hobart, (3 days) -delegate

1990

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Perth, (3 days) -delegate

1991

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Canberra, (3 days) -delegate

1992

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Ballina, (3 days) -delegate

1993

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Albury, (3 days) -conference program organizer (designed lecture program,coordinated all speakers)

1993

Attended International Garden Festival, Stuttgart, Germany and Hampton Court Flower Show, London, U.K.

1994

International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast (delivered one of the introductory session papers).

1995

International Plant Propagators National Conference, Adelaide 1995 Study Tour of Hawaii (August) -Botanic Gardens

1995

Study Tour of New Zealand (November) -Ellerslie Garden Show & Open Gardens

1997

Study Tour of Britain and Germany(June/July -4 shows/exhibitions, over 40 gardens, numerous industry meetings.

1999

Study tour of USA & Canada West Coast

2002

Tour of UK & Netherlands (4 weeks) visiting shows (Hampton Court & Floriade), gardens, meetings with colleagues, photography etc.)

2004

International Society for Horticultural Science –Horticultural Education Symposium Perth, W.A. Key Speaker

Chairman, International Accreditation & Recognition Council

2003-2007

Established affiliation (licensing) agreements with a number of institutions including Pershore College(UK), Writtle College (UK) Lifestyle Learning Direct (Australia), NEEF (India), Pacifica (USA)

• Fun and Fitness Trails, Victorian Dept. of Sport and Recreation, 1978
• Starting a Nursery or Herb Farm, Night Owl, 1983 (revised 1994)
• The Environment of Play, Leisure Press, New York, 1982
• Herb Review, self published, 1987
• Landscaping with Herbs, self published, 1988
• The Native Plant Expert, self published, 1989
• Let's Grow Gardens, self published, 1990
• Growing Ferns, Kangaroo Press, 1990
• Commercial Hydroponics, Kangaroo Press, 1990
• Growing Vegetables, Kangaroo Press, 1991
• Growing Herbs, Kangaroo Press, 1993
• Nursery Management, Kangaroo Press, April 1994
• Tropical Gardening, Bay Books, October 1994
• Yates Guide to Pests & Diseases, Angus & Robertson, February 1995
• Growing Pelargoniums & Geraniums Hyland House 1996
• Farm Management Kangaroo Press 1996
• Growing Australian Natives Kangaroo Press 1997
• Starting a Nursery or Herb Farm (Revised ed) Kangaroo Press 1997
• Sustainable Farming Simon & Schuster (Kangaroo Press) Spring 1997
• Growing Tropical Plants Simon & Schuster (Kangaroo Press) 1997
• Starting a Landscape or Garden Business Kangaroo Press 1998
• Aqua Aerobics Kangaroo Press 1999
• Growing Conifers Kangaroo Press 1999
• Profitable Farming Kangaroo Press 1999
• A Beginners Guide to Orchids Hyland House
• Aerobic Fitness Kangaroo Press
• Trees & Shrubs for Small Places Kangaroo/Simon & Schuster 2000
• Propagating from Cuttings Kangaroo/Simon & Schuster 2002
• Sustainable Agriculture 2^nd ed (Landlinks/CSIRO) 2003
• Nursery Management 2^nd ed (Landlinks Press) 2004
• Growing & Using Vegetables & Herbs (Simon & Schuster) 2005
• Commercial Hydroponics 2^nd ed (Kangaroo/Simon & Schuster) 2005
• Growing Australian Natives 2^nd ed (Kangaroo/Simon& Schuster) 2005

1977-79

Your Garden (contributor)

1980 to present

Grass Roots (contributor)

1987 to present

Garden Guide Monthly Magazine (contributor),

2000 to present

Garden Guide Monthly Magazine (Editor)

1992 to present

Queensland Homes (contributor)

1992 to present

Victoria Homes (contributor)

1993 to present

South Australia Homes (contributor)

1999 to 2003

Your Backyard National Gardening Magazine (principal author & editor)

2005- 2007

Garden Guru’s Newspaper –Victorian edition feature writer

Queensland Outdoor Living Magazine –principal feature writer

Occasional contributor to more than twenty other publications.

Garden Guide Specials (author/photographer/editor of the following titles):

• Gardening with Herbs
• More Gardening with Herbs
• Cottage Garden Landscapes
• Backyard Landscaping Ideas
• 101 Backyard Landscaping Ideas
• Landscaping Your Backyard
• Your Guide to Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
• Your Guide to Natural Gardening
• Better Backyard Ideas
• Landscaping with Australian Plants
• Landscaping Ideas for Shaded Areas
• Better Garden Ideas
• Controlling Garden Pests & Diseases
• Backyard Ideas and Garden Care 90-91
• Backyard Ideas and Garden Care 91-92
• Landscaping with Ferns, Palms and Orchids
• 101 Natural Gardening Ideas
• Maintenance Free Backyards

Greenleaf Specials (author/photographer/editor of the following titles):

• Herbs from Your Garden
• The Better Backyard Guide
• What to Plant Where
• Colourful and Fragrant Gardens

Other Special Magazines (author/editor of the following titles):

• Creative Landscaping Ideas
• Beautiful Landscaping Ideas
• Landscaping Your Garden
• Country & Cottage Landscapes

1999-2002

Editor and principal writer of monthly Gardening-Lifestyle magazine (YOUR BACKYARD) for Express Publications in Sydney, Australia

2000-01

Editor and principal writer of Garden Guide monthly magazine

2001 to present

Editor/owner of Gardening ezine ACSgarden.com