The Australian Native Plants Society Australia (ANPSA) is holding its Biennial Conference at The Pavilion in Kiama for the first time this year, from 10-16 September.

While the overall theme is Australian Flora: Past, Present and Future, it is Thursday’s session on Inheriting the Future that is shaping up as one of the highlights of the week.

“Young people are our future,” says Ralph Cartwright, ANPSA Conference committee member.

“And Thursday’s session, which will be moderated by ABC TV Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis, will include a session with several students from Kiama schools.

“We are also delighted that 10 local students doing horticulture courses at Yallah TAFE have been sponsored by APSNSW to attend.”

He says that the conference has been designed with non-experts in mind.

Organisers are keen to attract those people who want to learn about threats and opportunities to their local environment and why local indigenous plants might be the solution.

“We expect around 250 delegates from every state and territory in Australia – the majority being members of their local Australian Plant Society groups in their home states – with other delegates coming from Holland and the US and one speaker coming from Slovakia,” he says.

Anyone can attend the Conference for one day, for the whole week or take an excursion with the group.

Sunday’s giant native plant sale is certain to attract all kinds of gardeners.

Specialist nurseries from the Illawarra, such as Kiama’s Burnetts on Barney, Berry Public School Plant Propagation Nursery, Native Grace Landscapes from Robertson, Tomerong’s Wirin Wirra Native Nursery and Sutherland Community Nursery, will showcase the best of our local native species and offer advice on where to plant and how to tend.

“Native plants are not only good for the homeowner, but are positive for nature,” says Luke Maitland, owner of Native Grace Landscapes.

“Increasing awareness of drought, bushfires and threats to Australian wildlife are inspiring more people to choose native plants for their sustainable credentials and unique aesthetic appeal.

“When I design a garden, first and foremost the garden has to give back – to the birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

“And combined in the right way, Australian native plants can give you the breathtaking colour, fragrance and variety we seek in our gardens.”

Gardening Australia's Clarence Slockee and Costa Georgiadis

Aunty Joyce Donovan, Wadi Wadi and Dharawal elder, human rights campaigner and health worker, will provide the welcome to country and Professor David Keith, Professor of Botany at UNSW who is a fire ecology specialist, will give the keynote address.

Other speaking highlights include Costa’s ABC colleague Clarence Slockee who will talk about ‘A day in the life of the First Nations people’ and the ANU’s Professor David Lindenmayer, who we most recently saw extolling the virtues of Victoria’s regal Mountain Ash on the ABC program Australia’s Favourite Tree, will talk about ‘Fire, forests, plantations and biodiversity’.

See www.austplants.com.au for the program and the timing of various excursions to Barren Grounds, Mt Annan and the Illawarra Grevillia Park.

Saturday 10 Sept to Friday 16 September, The Pavillion Kiama

Tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/2022kiama.

Whole week: $600. Single day tickets: $80-$40.