Hello members of the Fellows Group, 

As AIH Fellows we have had the privilege to be conferred by our peers with the Institute’s highest recognition. Our journeys to achieve our Fellowships are many and varied and make great telling of ‘community stories’. 

Community Storytelling.

In any community, storytelling can help build trust, cultivate lore and norms, transfer knowledge, contribute to a sense of belonging through emotional connections, assist to put aside past dissension or pervasive pessimism and importantly, celebrate achievements. Telling stories may allow individuals and communities to share information in a memorable and engaging manner, rather than just reciting boring facts. 

It is envisaged that through this project gathering our collective stories into a ‘Horticultural Community of Storytelling’ AIH will encourage engagement and cooperation within our industry.  

Our Place in the Community.

In 2011, AIH was forward thinking when we recognised our place in the community by developing our telling motto, ‘Promoting Horticulture – the Profession of the 21st Century’. Twenty four months of this once-in-many-lifetimes pandemic has certainly reinforced the community’s need to engage our expertise to enhance their constrained living conditions. 

Questions more often heard from the community include – “What does a horticulturist do?”, ‘What training did we need?”, “What have we experienced in our horticultural life?”, “Has the life journey been a worthy one”? What better source of information are our own stories? By sharing these stories, we provide a fascinating insight into the horticultural community for the benefit of those continuing, or beginning, their own journeys. 

What will AIH do with your information?

Are you willing to share your stories? If so, please take the time to gather your stories and also share with us your hopes for the future. 

Your input will form part of a compendium of AIH member ‘Horticultural Community storytelling’ biographies.  With your permission we would like to feature each of our Fellows on-line as short biographies. Please indicate your permission for use of your biography or parts thereof. All bios will be provided for your approval before publishing. AIH reserve the right to present the biography in its chosen format and style. 

Completing the SurveyMonkey. Process to be finalised

You are welcome to answer all or any of the questions. Please, for ease of collation use the Surveymonkey rather than just attaching your cv?

The Chair of the Fellows Group, Annette Irish, encourages you to share your journeys and stories. Please don’t hesitate to contact Annette on aims@annetteirish.com.au if you have any enquiries, Regards Annette Irish FAIH RH08  Chair of The Fellows Group