George has just returned from Norfolk Island, the venue for the 2019 The Garden Clubs of Australia (GCA) Biennial Convention, an event he helped coordinate.

The theme of the convention was 'Gardening Norfolk Island Style - Convicts, Community and Coral' and George said the event certainly lived up to expectations with 300 gardeners from across the country enjoying a week of wonderful gardens, fabulous food, glorious scenery and great friendship.

Local guest speakers gave an insight into the island's unique flora and fauna, colourful history and present-day community. The convention opened with an afternoon at the island's annual agricultural and horticultural show and closed with a traditional fish fry and entertainment on the cliff tops, with the setting sun as the backdrop.

Norfolk Island Garden Club hosted the event assisted by Norfolk Island Travel Centre.

The GCA also held its AGM during the convention, with George re-elected as president for a fifth year.

"I'm greatly honoured to have been re-elected to the role of national president, with the committee and members putting their faith in me for another 12 months", George said.

"As president, I travel the country visiting all states each year, attending numerous events, giving me the opportunity to meet club members and discuss local issues."

The GCA is the national umbrella organisation for garden clubs and other like-minded groups with a current affiliation of approximately 730 clubs, representing close to 50,000 gardeners.

A number of local clubs were represented at the convention including 25 members from Killabakh Garden Club.

The week of the convention also coincided with the 2019 National Gardening Week, an initiative that George launched in 2017 to celebrate the simple pleasures of gardening.

The motto for the week is 'Dig In and Celebrate!' and not only did the gardeners on Norfolk Island 'dig in', but gardeners right across the country pulled out their green thumbs.

Numerous clubs and businesses marked the week with garden parties, open gardens, high teas, tree plantings and even tasting at Douglas Vale Winery Port Macquarie. The focus for 2019 was 'children in the garden' and a number of schools also celebrated the event.

Topping off a very full week, George said he was quite chuffed to discover his Killabakh garden was featured in a new publication by Better Homes and Gardens titled 'Secrets of Beautiful Gardens.'

After a few days of R and R in the garden, George will be off again travelling interstate to attend yet another GCA event - once again sharing his passion for gardening, plants and people.