Jane Edmanson
Jane Edmanson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jane Marion Edmanson circa 1950 Buronga, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Horticulturist, author, media personality |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Known for | Presenter on ABC TV's Gardening Australia since 1990 |
Jane Marion Edmanson OAM (born circa 1950) is a distinguished Australian horticulturist, author, and media figure. Since 1990, she has been the Victorian state presenter on ABC TV's Gardening Australia, making her the sole presenter to have remained with the show since its launch.
Early life
Raised on a citrus orchard in Buronga, New South Wales, near Mildura, Edmanson gained practical knowledge in horticulture and environmental management, including expertise in salt control and irrigation beneath trees, through her parents' work during the 1970s. Her family later moved to Melbourne, where she attended Lauriston Girls School. She completed teacher training at Monash University and later earned certificates in horticulture and landscape technology from Burnley College at the University of Melbourne.
Career
Edmanson's professional journey began with teaching in Dimboola before joining the Victorian Schools Nursery in 1976 as a Nursery Hand, where she rose to the position of Deputy Director over a 15-year period.
Her initial career also involved various positions within the retail plant nursery industry, including a business partnership at the Bell Street Garden Centre nursery located in Preston, Victoria.
She has authored and co-authored multiple books on gardening and horticulture, regularly contributes to Gardening Australia Magazine, and organizes gardening tours both within Australia and internationally. Edmanson holds the role of Patron for the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria and participates in several other public interest capacities.
Broadcast media
In 1989, Edmanson took over from Kevin Heinze as host of ABC TV's Sow What and became one of the founding presenters of Gardening Australia, a position she continues to hold. In 2005, she featured in six episodes of Good Morning Australia. Furthermore, she has hosted weekend gardening talkback radio programs across Victorian stations such as 3AK, 3MP, and 3AW for more than 28 years.
Filmography
- Hotel Sorrento (1995), Radio Announcer
Television
- Sow What ABC TV
- Gardening Australia, presenter since 1990
- Good Morning Australia, six episodes in 2005
Works
- The Australian garden: a classic guide to design planting and care. Co-authored with Lorrie Lawrence. Viking O'Neil, 1992;
- The New Zealand garden. Co-authored with Lorrie Lawrence. Viking Pacific, 1993;
- Jane Edmanson's favourite plants (also known as Favourite plants). Lothian, 1995;
- Cheap and easy propagation. Lothian, 1991;
- Jane Edmanson's working manual for gardeners: a month-by-month guide. Lothian Books, 2003;
- From the ground up: a complete garden guide for Victorian gardeners. Neutrog Australia Pty Limited, 2009;
Awards
- 2004 Order of Australia acknowledging her contributions to horticulture, advocacy for environmentally sustainable gardening practices, and education of young gardeners
- 2013 Honorary Life Membership from the Horticultural Media Association of Victoria for exceptional service to horticulture and media
- 2016 Gold Laurel and Hall of Fame Award presented by the Horticultural Media Association Australia
- 2016 Golden Wattle Award from the Australian Institute of Horticulture
External links
- Gardening Australia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- The Diggers Club – Contributors and Specialists