THE WINGHAM NURSERY AND FLORIST STORY.From humble beginnings, Wingham Nursery and Florist has grown from strength to strength

since its inception way back in 1972. In this year of 2016, the nursery has been supplying Wingham, Taree and the surrounding districts for 44 years.

Be it vegetable seedlings, flower seedlings, fruit trees or floral work, they have gathered knowledge and experience throughout the years to bring you the best possible products and services in the local area.

When Rhonda first got the itch to grow and sell her produce, she had three young boys on her hands; Stephen, Chris and Michael; all of whom have worked within the business at different phases of their own lives and careers throughout that 44 years.

Rhonda grew up in Tamworth and became a qualified dressmaker when she met Ralph on one of his many maintenance trips to the area when he worked for Carlyle’s/Gleeson’s Machinery workshop in Wingham. Ralph was a trained diesel mechanic then and has lived in Wingham his entire life.

While raising their 3 children, Rhonda felt the need for a new challenge; she’d already trained as a dressmaker in her youth and had kept the whole family clothed. And she’d also dabbled in floristry before she’d married Ralph. Having been born with a green thumb, it wasn’t long before Rhonda had the vegetable garden flourishing with produce, with abundant cut flowers blossoming everywhere too.

In 1972, with the help of her late father, Arthur Gam, Dallas Sawyer (Ralph’s father) and Gary Sawyer (Ralph’s younger brother) and Ralph, she soon had a fernery, and the carport had shelves and a counter constructed within it. With trepidation, Rhonda visited the bank and withdrew some of their hard earned savings to kick-start the business. Soon her little shop was filled with vegetable and flower seeds, pots and potting mix. When the fernery was well stacked with flourishing plants that she’d ‘struck’ herself in wooden trays, she placed an advertisement in the local paper and the rest is, as they say- history. Rhonda even remembers her first customers and what they’d brought! The late Mrs Val Erickson and her daughter Robyn Poole purchased a bundle of lettuce seedlings. And the nursery is still growing and selling lettuce seedlings to this day! Although the nursery has grown considerably since then, the same growing techniques are still adhered to; although they are constantly updating their knowledge-base with modern industry techniques and following the current plant trends.

It wasn’t long before the little shop and fernery were bulging at the seams, when Ralph decided to quit his day job and join Rhonda in her flourishing nursery business. In 1975 the purchase of some adjoining land and the construction of the new ‘shop’ began. Before long, customers were asking for fresh flowers too, along with funeral wreaths and arrangements. Seeing the potential for expansion, Rhonda then began her 4 years of training in Floristry as well as starting a certificate in Horticulture through the local Taree Tafe College. The late Jess Crowfoot also helped Rhonda in the floral work side of things.

By 1995, Ralph and Rhonda had attained 3 more blocks of ground for their burgeoning business and it is again bulging at the seams to this day. Over the years they have seen many changes in the industry. Once it was common-place to grow thousands of cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli plants for the numerous market gardeners who once operated throughout the Manning area. Sadly most of those market gardens have died out after struggling to compete with multinational buyers and cheap overseas produce.

1

In the early years Wingham Nursery also sent their seedlings further afield to places like Newcastle, Nambucca Heads and Bulahdelah, whilst also stocking local businesses in Taree and Wingham to sell their produce.

In 1973, just one year after the establishment of Rhonda’s backyard business, the nursery was rocked by a substantial hailstorm which went on to destroy at least a quarter of the nurseries stock before it could be covered and protected from the storm. In later years, 1987 would bring on the Monster of all Hailstorms. This time it destroyed almost all of the young seedlings in a 20 minute time period. One customer also got his car ‘bogged’ out on the road, the hailstones were that thick! It devastated the staff and management too, but thanks to many local residents and many other local nurseries of the Manning valley, the nursery was brought back to life in just one day. The good old days of ‘help thy neighbour’ kicked in with, brooms, shovels and buckets and many hands made light work of the devastation. Ralph and Rhonda could not have been more grateful. Customers visiting that following week were astounded! It looked like the nursery had missed out on the storm, they thought!

The 1978 flood was another weather disaster for most, but ironically, it also delivered a convenient windfall for Wingham Nursery too. After the Sawyers had attained the extra land space to expand, much of it was low lying and unusable to grow stock upon. The solution? Fill it! However the area was close to 1600 square metres and up to 12 feet in depth in some areas. But as providence would have it, a huge amount of gravel had been swept down-stream onto a local farmer’s property after the flood. Many truck loads later and many back-breaking wheel barrow trips, day after day, and the land became filled, and is as you see it today. It is no longer a horse paddock that’s for sure!

Throughout the years there have been many destructive weather events; Jack Frost is a regular visitor, while other years of unending drought have been a constant drain on operational funds, with huge water bills every quarter. Summer can bring on extreme temperatures too, some well into the 40’s. Wild winds can wreak havoc and damage with the potted stock too.

But it’s just all in a day’s work at Wingham Nursery.

By 1991-1992 their son Chris had joined the family business and began his training in Horticultural Science and Nursery trade operations. With his help, the nursery expanded a little more. His up to-date, pest and disease management strategies have helped many customers through difficult growing and climatic conditions. He was then joined, in later years by his wife Tanya on a casual basis. In years to come both of their daughters could be seen working in the nursery for pocket money too; Tawny in the Florist section, with Caitlin in the Nursery area. Caitlin has now joined the nursery team full-time after fulfilling a successful Horticultural Scholarship in the UK in 2015. As always, the nursery is glued together by generations of family members and has been since its inception.

Over the years, the nursery has seen many changes of staff as they have all travelled through during their changing careers and other life-changing events. All of whom have persevered through the extreme weather conditions too, and have made the nursery what it is today. One staff member in particular-Lynne Butler, has worked at the nursery for over 30 years and has been instrumental in the smooth running of the nursery-side of the business. In particular, her knowledge of the rose and seedling sections is equal to none.

With current world financial events, rising utility costs and competition with Multi-National companies, Wingham Nursery continues to struggle and hold her place in the local horticultural arena. With consistent, high quality growing conditions and strong industry protocols, Wingham Nursery is slowly clawing back the disappointed customers who have mistaken low prices over quality produce, free advice from experienced and knowledgeable people, with great customer service and after-sale advice. At the end of the day, they want your plants to grow strong and healthy and want you to be fully informed and confident about your growing experience. It is paramount that they pass on their

2

knowledge to you and the wider community-You are the gardeners of tomorrow and the growers of our future plant foods.

As always-Thanks for shopping with a small business. We REALLY do appreciate it!

TIMELINE – Wingham Nursery and Florist.

1972 Small business established in car shed and fernery built with help from family members; Arthur (Mick) Gam, Dallas Sawyer and Gary Sawyer.

1973 Hailstorm damages a quarter of the stock.

1975 Ralph joins the business and a retail shop is built.

1975-1976 Rhonda begins her Horticultural course and passes with honours while continuing the Floristry course via correspondence at Melbourne. Ralph’s father Dallas, grows cut flowers for Rhonda also. They rent number 7 William Street’s back yard for growing roses, cut flowers and seedlings.

1978 Flood- Adjacent block of ground filled with flood-washed gravel from a local farmer.

Rhonda also taught Horticulture and home gardening at Taree Tafe College; and then went on to teach Floristry there as well.

1980 Wingham Nursery and Florist join Interflora.

1987 Massive hail storm wipes out most of the seedlings and a lot of other stock.

Restored with help from the community the following day.

1988 Rhonda begins her certificate in Commercial Floristry in Newcastle- 4 years in duration.

1990 Purchased number 9 William St for cut flower growing area.

1990-1991 Chris joins the business full time after working weekends for many years.

1992 Rhonda completes Commercial Floristry course with the highest marks recorded in many years.

1995 Purchased number 1 William St, construction of an igloo and larger growing-on areas complete with irrigation.

1997 Nursery celebrates 25 year Anniversary.

2002 Nursery celebrates 30 year Anniversary.

2012 Nursery celebrates 40 year Anniversary.

2015-2016 First, second and third generation family members continue the tradition of growing quality plants and supplying quality floral tributes with the help of highly trained, valued and respected staff members. With many thanks to our loyal returning customers and the great hope of servicing and teaching many more local people in their quest to grow healthier vegetables, whilst learning about horticulture and gardening.

3

Customer’s car ‘bogged’ in the hailstones of 1987.

4

Complete White-out after the 1987 hailstorm.

5

Ralph assessing the damage after the hailstorm 1987.

6

Chris diagnosing a rose disease.

7

Ralph Sawyer with his secret Gnome family.

8

Rhonda creating one of her renowned floral arrangements.

9

Chris conducting a soil analysis.

10

Ralph and Rhonda Sawyer. In business for 44 successful years.

First and third generations continue the business.

Ralph Sawyer with Granddaughter Caitlin Sawyer.

11

Father and son, Ralph and Chris Sawyer, first and second generation back in the 90’s.

Where it all began in 1972. The Sawyers Garage

In William St, Wingham.

12

Meet the ‘Green-fingered’ staff of Wingham Nursery and Florist. From left- Lynne Butler, Jo Anne Pierce, Tom Johnson, Beryl Taylor, Tanya Sawyer and Lynne Reed.

13