The Australian Native Plants Society Australia (ANPSA) Biennial Conference is wrapping up its last day of expert talks at The Pavilion in Kiama, ahead of excursions tomorrow to end the week long event.

Organiser of the event, Ralph Cartwright, says Kiama has put on a show with great weather.

 “It has been excellent. I have been receiving great feedback from people thanking me and saying they have really enjoyed it,” Mr Cartwright says.

He says there has been a highlight every day, with all the speakers having lived up to their expectations.

“Each day we’ve had really inspirational speakers who are full of knowledge, and today we had Costa Georgiadis who was really great.”

The ABC TV Gardening Australia host enjoyed the chance to talk about the past, present and future of Australian native plants.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to look at how ANPSA can really connect with the next generation, and I was really chuffed to see how they included primary school, high school, and TAFE and university students to be part of the event,” Costa says.

Hundreds of delegates from around the country attended the sessions

“They took a proactive step forward in looking at succession and getting young people connected to the knowledge that is in such a gathering. There’s decades and decades of experience in the room with the next logical step to filter it down to our youth. There was a wonderful energy about that knowledge and the partnerships that can be developed intergenerationally.”

Across the four days, Costa says native plants, eco systems and land management were part of the agenda and were touched on in a massive range of talks.

“The speakers today had the big picture goggles on but as scientists they also shared the very specific work they are doing to future proof the planet for the generations that follow, and how people can do it as individuals and as local groups, and that way not be overwhelmed by the scale of the problem.

“That was reflected in the students’ comments, and I told them that just having a go and doing their little bit all adds up.”