Welcome Colin Hunt

By Gabrielle Stannus, Communications Coordinator 

Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) welcomes Colin Hunt on board as our new Extension Officer for New South Wales (NSW) and the northern border region of Victoria. Colin brings over 30 years’ experience working in horticulture, including retail and production nurseries, landscaping, consultancy, and teaching to this position.

In addition to his extensive experience, Colin also holds tertiary qualifications in horticulture, education, and chemical use management. Colin comes to GIA with a network across the NSW nursery industry through his role as a horticulture teacher at TAFE NSW and as an active plant breeder. More recently Colin has been involved with the education of our industry’s apprentices, and he has also spent time engaged in plant research.

Colin’s local research interests led to him being involved in an international scientific collaboration that identified new species of Thismia, unique achlorophyllous plants, and their specialised relationships with certain mycorrhizal fungi. “I was lucky enough to discover and write the new species description for Thismia megalongensis. I led all the field work, and organised the publication of the paper,” explains Colin, “The ecology detail and the DNA sequencing were completed by my co-authors for that paper, Greg Steenbeeke & Vincent Merckx. We have more work yet to be published and more research in the pipeline.”

Away from work and industry participation, Colin enjoys spending time in nature, prospecting and taking photos of plants. He has a healthy appreciation for heights. Whilst travelling in New Zealand, Colin took the opportunity to visit Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand's largest active volcano and the nearby Knoll Ridge Chalet, that country's highest restaurant. “Not only have I had the pleasure of kicking back in the highest café in New Zealand, but also those in Australia (Eagles Nest), and Switzerland (Mönchsjochhütte),” says Colin. A unique claim indeed!

However, coffee is not really what attracted Colin to these places! “I like mountainous and alpine areas. The plants and geology are fascinating. I am currently into crevice gardening as it has enabled me to increase the range of plants I can grow. Crevice gardens are based on the small spaces between rocks up in alpine areas,” says Colin, “The horticultural premise in this style of planting is the great drainage, cool root run, and easy rewetting. It has allowed me to grow and flower several alpine plants that would otherwise have a limited chance of survival here at lower altitudes.”

Colin continues to breed and trial new plants for possible introduction to the general greenlife market and is currently working on Gladiolus, Eucomis, Amaryllidaceae and Bletilla. He has registered two Bletilla hybrids, Bletilla ‘Col’s Candy’ and B. ‘Col’s Sunrise’.

“I like growing quality plants, and I like talking to other growers about this as well,” continues Colin, explaining his attraction to the GIA role. “The Extension Officer position looked to be a good fit for what I like to do, what I know, and what I want to learn more about. There is always room to learn more!”

“If I can make any positive impacts upon the growing of plants or business performance for those I work with in this role, I will be very happy,” Colin concludes.

How Colin can help you

As our newest Extension Officer, Colin can help your greenlife business access production resources and information to improve its sustainability, profitability, and biosecurity, whilst skilling your staff in key production areas to ensure they engage in best management practice.

Colin will provide on-site support to production nurseries, greenlife markets and growing media manufacturers, through a range of extension services underpinned by GIA’s Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS) programs: Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA), EcoHort and BioSecure HACCP.

Through these programs, Colin will help your business to adopt and implement advanced production techniques and technologies; and improve system design and operation, e.g., irrigation, plant protection and market access.

How to contact Colin

Colin will commence with GIA on Monday 14 November 2022.

If you are a production nursery, greenlife market or growing media manufacturer in NSW or the northern border region of Victoria, and would like to get in touch with Colin, you can contact him after that date on M: 0418 667 558 or E: Colin.Hunt@greenlifeindustry.com.au.

Welcome Colin!

This position is co-funded via the GIA-owned Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS) and the NY20001 Research Agreement (RA) between Hort Innovation Ltd and GIA.