2026 | Horticulture
“I wish to do as much as I can to realise this future and hopefully inspire the people I know to do the same.”
I am a horticulturalist working mainly in urban garden maintenance, including topiary pruning, hedging, planting and irrigation. Every time I go to work, I am proud of the results I produce. I was particularly proud to plant a 40-year-old, 300-kilogram Camellia sasanqua, and I am passionate about bringing more green into the concrete jungle.
I am planning a native garden to help reverse the loss of native plants and wildlife habitat caused by urbanisation. I also plan to keep native bees because pollinators play such a crucial role in nature’s lifecycle and can help bring suburban ecosystems back into balance.
With this scholarship I would like to learn more about irrigation as one of the most important aspects of growing plants that is often misunderstood. Due to Australia’s harsh climate, efficient and sustainable water use is of the utmost importance. I believe investigating irrigation technology overseas would allow me to gain knowledge and use it in my work.
I hope to travel to China because of its long irrigation history and the challenge of managing water across many climates. I would like to learn how it conserves water while maintaining plant and crop production, then apply those techniques in Australia.
“Elsie’s application demonstrates a clear and concise with their understanding of sustainability. I enjoyed their understanding of the need to integrate green space into urban areas and utilise native plants.”
- Assessor Panel