Kate Grace

2013

“If you are reading this, you are doing so for a reason. You are doing so because you want to put yourself out there, you are ready to stand up and show others what you can do and being recognised for it. It is so fantastic! It is your talents that have brought you here.”

A horticulturist from the NSW South Coast, Kate Grace is fast becoming a true trail-blazer in her industry:

“From a young age I have had this crazy love affair with the landscape and plants. I pursued this desire while in high school starting out in horticulture Cert II Traineeship, and now over 10 years on I am a fully qualified landscape designer. I am also a teacher of Horticulture at TAFE NSW, oh and a Mum of 2 little kiddos.

“I've always been inspired by the natural landscape I bring this inspiration into my work, helping to create a garden for you that is low maintenance and sits well within your surrounding landscape.” 

Kate was already a successful business owner, with a Certificate III in Horticulture, when she embarked on her scholarship in 2014. The value she saw in this opportunity was not just for her own career but for her industry as a whole.

Horticulture in Australia has been struggling to recruit young talent for years and is facing a serious skill shortage. This is where Kate is making her impact.

Kate visited iconic gardens and gardening festivals in Asia, the UK and Europe, and while gathering invaluable new skills and knowledge, the true benefit of her extensive placements lay not in the gardens but in their creators.

Kate shaped her scholarship to be an intensive networking exercise, making contacts which she says have been incredibly valuable during her time over in the UK and back in Australia:

“I am so fortunate to have met the people that I met. Some are lifelong friends, some have been invaluable in opening up their own world of networks to me. I am so thankful to BBM for opening up those connections for me on the world stage.”

During her scholarship journey she met BBM Ambassador Graham Ross at the Chelsea Flower Show in London:

“A simple ‘Hello’ to someone and introducing yourself – even if it’s really hard – can change the course of your path. Had a new friend never pushed me to introduce myself to Graham Ross, that day at the Chelsea Flower show in 2014, I believe I wouldn’t be where I am today. He has been a mentor ever since. He has pushed me, he has encouraged me, he has included me within the industry.”

“My scholarship lead me to many places overseas and in Australia. Since returning home I’ve built a Gold Medal Balcony show garden with my Husband Mick, at the Australian Garden Show in Sydney. I have founded a not-for-Profit Organisation, YoungHort Australia, an organisation to help encourage High School leavers to consider a career in Horticulture. I was also a director on the board of the Australian Garden council, (2015-2020) which lead me to meet, Malcolm Turnbull, then Prime Minister of Australia, in November 2015. I've spoken multiple times on radio and have been published in gardening magazines.”

Promoting the opportunities of the scholarships now forms part of Kate’s mission to futureproof Australia’s horticulture industry:

“There has always been a strong underlying force, to share my knowledge gained from the scholarship experience; to use it to inspire, motivate and enthuse other people to achieve their goals whatever they may be.

If you are reading this, you are doing so for a reason. You are doing so because you want to put yourself out there, you are ready to stand up and show others what you can do and being recognised for it. It is so fantastic! It is your talents that have brought you here.

Keep driving your talents and pushing them as far as they can go because the limits are unimaginable. I encourage you to be bold, make mistakes and be someone great. Share your skills and knowledge, because this scholarship is giving you the opportunity to do so.”