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Queenslanders have hung on his every word for decades. Some wouldn't dream of taking a step without consulting him first. Thousands have taken up his unusual recipes that include peeing in a bottle – very organic! - and they swear by them. The man in question is larrikin gardener, Tom Wyatt, and he's just one of a dozen expert gardeners and other celebrities taking part in the 2005 Ginger Flower Festival. The Sunshine Coast's crowd-pleaser gets underway at the Ginger Factory at Yandina, on Thursday January 20 through to Sunday January 23. As the ABC's own website says, much of country Queensland comes to a standstill every Friday when Tom Wyatt's program, Tom's Garden, comes on air. Famous for his pioneering organic gardening methods, including his urine and vanilla bait for fruit fly, Tom has been dispensing practical advice for over two decades. A walking encyclopaedia on gardening, he has been instrumental in creating and developing botanic gardens in a host of Queensland centres and has been Rockhampton's Director of Parks and Gardens for 25 years. Another star lined up for eager Festival fans is long range weather forecaster Haydon Walker, who enjoys an astonishing accuracy rate of 80-85% for his predictions. Haydon has successfully predicted bushfires, drought and drought-breaking rains, and his success has him in demand by an amazing range of clients from farmers to brides and even clothing designers. Always a drawcard is Colin Campbell of TV's Gardening Australia. Colin's TV and radio segments, plus his regular articles in Gardening Australia magazine and Brisbane's Courier Mail, have endeared him to countless gardening enthusiasts. Other popular favourites making a return to the Ginger Flower Festival are Brisbane Botanic Gardens Curator Ross McKinnon, organic gardening expert Annette McFarlane and renowned Brisbane landscaper Dennis Hundscheidt. For the foodies, everyone's favourite chef Roger Albert is back with great new recipes and tips for using home-grown spices, while the artistically-challenged will get all the help they need from floral design team Shauna Larsen and Bart Hassam. Said Ginger Factory Tourism Manager Nichole Seymore, "This year there will be a lot of humour amidst the gardening advice and it will be a great event for all the family. Our celebrities just love coming back to the Festival because they get such a great welcome here. Locals are joined by visitors from all over south-east Queensland and beyond who recognise that this is the leading event for subtropical gardening." Best of all, Ginger Flower Festival activities are all free. Festival visitors will also be able to enjoy many of the Ginger Factory attractions at no extra charge, including the world-famous Ginger Shop, Gingertown village, gardens and rainforest areas. Visitors will also be able to buy tickets for the Taste of Ginger Tour to see inside the world's largest ginger factory and experience the delights of the Buderim Ginger Tasting Room. The multi award winning Ginger Factory is an easy 90-minute drive north from Brisbane along the Bruce Highway to Yandina. For more information visit News and Events at www.buderimginger.com/consumer or call 1800 067 686. Please open the attached PDF for the programme of events. |
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