Fruits of Orange
Mayoral reception and short story competition: 24 September 2026
Delegates to the conference were greeted by Mayor Tony Mileto on 24 September. At the reception, John Maurer, chair of the short story judging panel, announced the winner and highly commended writers. You can read all four stories on the website.
Please see the conference booklet for details of the lectures, biographies of speakers and list of garden visits: 2026 AGHS conference_Orange_program. The following is a snapshot of the proceedings.
Day one: 25 September 2026
David Mackenzie spoke about the geology and soils that have made the Wiradjuri lands near Orange so fertile. Peter Hedberg added the perspective of a vigneron, explaining how the region has become a successful cool climate wine growing area, with lots of sun, the temperatures and seasons all playing their part.
Gerard Power spoke enthusiastically about the potential for integrating First Nations bush tucker into Australian food culture.
Nigel Hobden showed how a local council, in this case Orange City Council, can make a positive contribution to the urban greening.
Day two: 26 September 2026
Elizabeth Richards, author of Orange Blossoms, started off the day with these feisty words:
Gardening should join the arts — with a capital A — in the national imagination.
Robert Bruce and Matthew Taylor set the scene for an afternoon visit to Duntryleague (left). Robert reminded us that garden history is also social history: we need the people in the story as well as the plants and the science and the design.
But the design and the plan can be vitally important. Matthew’s admiration for Ilmar Berzins’ ability to imagine the result of his mass plantings for the Duntryleague golf course 70 years hence stretched before us as we arrived at Duntryleague (left).
Science and art can also collaborate as Jordan Bailey, Institute Director, Plant Biosecurity Research and Development, showed us both in her presentation and a display of some of the Orange Herbarium’s holdings.
Dave Anthony put the case for agricultural education, at school and in tertiary education institutions. He made clear that agriculture offers a wide range of career paths, including in high tech.
Conference dinner
Delegates embraced the theme of a touch of orange, arriving at dinner with an array of orange accessories. They were treated to fine food and a wonderful after-dinner speech by Colleen Southwell, the garden curator, who spoke about the inspiration she draws from her garden to create intricate paper sculptures.
Day three: 27 September 2026
Bill Oates’s lecture on the arrival of Cornish settlers in the district showed how history can open our eyes to cultural landscapes.
Graham Wilson’s talk was a moving tribute to those who have planted trees to remember the fallen.
The final panel session, chaired by Jane Lennon, offered practical advice about how best to engage in heritage advocacy by maintaining respect for different points of view and building understanding about competing priorities.
