Australia’s leading vegetable growers and industry members have been recognised at the Hort Connections 2018 Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner, with around 1,300 attendees from every sector of Australian horticulture celebrating the great work done by representatives from every part of our industry.

The awards cover a wide range of areas that are crucial to the overall success of Australian horticulture, including recognition for outstanding growers, leading researchers, innovative agribusinesses and the nation’s leading exporters.

Here’s the full list of AUSVEG award winners:

  • Scott Samwell, SA – Grower of the Year (proudly sponsored by Syngenta)
  • Chris McLoghlin, Vic – Young Grower of the Year (proudly sponsored by Corteva AgriScience)
  • East Gippsland Innovation Days, Vic – Community Stewardship (proudly sponsored by E. E. Muir & Sons)
  • Terry Martella, WA – Innovation Partner (proudly sponsored by Boomaroo Nurseries)
  • Jessica Page, Vic – Researcher of the Year (proudly sponsored by Bayer)
  • Rachel Mackenzie, Qld – Women in Horticulture (proudly sponsored by Boomaroo Nurseries)
  • Frank and Dianne Sciacca, Qld – Environmental Award (proudly sponsored by the Butler Market Gardens)
  • Danyang Ying, Vic – Industry Impact (proudly sponsored by Visy)
  • Dicky Bill Australia, Qld – NAB Agribusiness Exporter of the Year

AUSVEG would like to congratulate every award winner and thank them for their continued dedication to our industry. We’d also like to recognise the work of everyone who was nominated for an award, which reflects their commitment to our sector.

If you’d like to take a look at some photos from the night, including the award winners, see our photo gallery below.

The award for Exporter of the Year was presented at a separate event held during Hort Connections and was acknowledged at the Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner.

For AUSVEG’s media statements on the 2018 Awards for Excellence, please see the following links:

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 21 June 2018. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!

Image gallery: 2018 Hort Connections Gala Dinner and Awards for Exellence

  • AUSVEG Chair Bill Bulmer addresses delegates at the Hort Connections 2018 Gala Dinner.
  • PMA A-NZ Chair Joe Craggs speaks to delegates at the Hort Connections 2018 Gala Dinner.
  • 2018 Environmental Award winners Frank and Dianne Sciacca
  • 2018 Industry Impact award-winner Danyang Ying.
  • 2018 Innovation Partner award-winner Terry Martella.
  • 2018 Women in Horticulture Award winner Rachel Mackenzie.
  • 2018 Community Stewardship award winner, the team behind the East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days. L-R: Daniel Hammond (Bulmer Farms), Shayne Hyman (East Gippsland Food Cluster), and Noel Jansz (Elders).
  • 2018 Researcher of the Year Jessica Page.
  • 2018 Young Grower of the Year Chris McLoghlin.
  • L-R: AUSVEG Deputy Chair Belinda Adams, 2018 AUSVEG Grower of the Year Scott Samwell and AUSVEG Chair Bill Bulmer.
  • 2018 AUSVEG Grower of the Year Scott Samwell speaks to the audience at the Hort Connections 2018 Gala Dinner.