November 2004

Gardening Australia show attracts seniors

The first of several thousand, mainly senior, visitors to the ABC Gardening Australia LIVE show were welcomed at the main gates of Caulfield Racecourse by Minister for Aged Care Gavin Jennings and gardening icon Peter Cundall, host of the popular and long running ABC-TV Gardening Australia program.

Mr Jennings cut the ribbon to open the gates after which visitors flocked through to join Mr Cundall on the main stage for the official opening of the event by Premier Steve Bracks.

The four-day spectacular gardening show showcased more than 200 exhibitors who presented a stunning display of outdoor living ideas with thousands of garden, plant and floral displays.

It featured presentations by leading chefs on how to use fresh garden produce, as well as practical advice from the ABC Gardening Australia presenters on all gardening matters from weed control, water conservation and composting to design and persevering.

This was the first time the ABC Gardening Australia LIVE show has come south of the border to Melbourne since it began in Sydney in 2001.

The Seniors Card Program sponsored the opening day of ABC Gardening Australia LIVE by setting up a seniors stand.

Several thousand Seniors Card holders enjoyed free tea and coffee, compliments of the Seniors Card Program while hundreds took the chance to win a five-day tour of the Gardens of Victoria, courtesy of one of the Seniors Card Program Business Supporters, Botanica World Discovery Tours.

More than 500 Seniors Card show bags proved to be extremely popular, all carried off by happy Seniors Card holders within two hours of the gates opening.