On behalf of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, we warmly invite you to be part of a storytelling project led by Annette Irish, Chair of Fellows and Ash Walker, National Councillor.

This project is about capturing the journeys, experiences, and insights of our Fellows and senior members — so they can be shared, remembered, and passed on to our current young members and future horticulturists.

Your story matters. It helps build a living record of our profession—where we’ve come from, what we’ve learned, and where we’re heading.

There’s no need to write everything perfectly—just share what you can, in your own words.

Warm regards,

Alan Burnell MAIH RH (Ret) 
President

Contact: Annette Irish FAIH RH (Ret)
Chair of Fellows Group

“AIH Storytelling – Now and Into the Future”

Through recent development it was recognised that the Fellows Storytelling initiative and the emerging Future Voices storytelling project share a strong alignment of purpose.

There is a natural symbiosis between these two initiatives, so the projects were combined into a staged approach. The Storytelling project now offers the opportunity to create a rich and enduring storytelling database—capturing the professional pathways of our members across generations…… Now and into the Future. 

This expanded framework builds on your contributions and introduces a structured, ongoing approach to documenting the story of horticulture within AIH.

The Four Stages of the Project

1. Fellows and Elders Stories (Now)

Capturing the knowledge, experience, and legacy of our most experienced members—this is the foundation of the project and where we have begun.

2. Future Voices – Emerging Stories

Engaging our younger and emerging members to record their early career journeys, aspirations, and perspectives as they grow within the profession.

3. Intergenerational Storytelling

Creating opportunities for shared conversations between Fellows, Elders, and Future Voices—supporting the exchange of knowledge, values, and lived experience.

4. Stories Over Time (5-Year Reflections)

Revisiting contributors at intervals to capture how their careers, thinking, and contributions evolve—building a living timeline of horticulture in practice.

Note: Caring as Country – A Shared Framework

Embedding the principle of First Nations Caring as Country across all storytelling stages, recognising the role of horticulture in supporting healthy landscapes and communities.

Why This Matters

Our stories are not only preserving the past—they are actively shaping the future.

By extending this project to include The Future Voices of AIH, we are creating a pathway where:

• knowledge is shared across generations
• emerging professionals feel connected and supported
• the values of horticulture continue to evolve with purpose

Together, this initiative will form a significant legacy for AIH – supporting education, professional development, and strengthening our contribution to community and Country.

Ongoing Involvement and Support

As this project grows, we warmly invite continued involvement. The varied experiences and perspectives remain central to shaping this initiative, particularly as we extend it across generations.

The stories will guide the project’s development demonstrating the collective endorsement from our Fellows, Elders and Future Voices.

Closing

This project will reflect the strength of our community, built on shared knowledge, generosity, and a deep connection to horticulture.

We thank all participants for the support and for the role the stories will play in shaping both the history and the future of our profession.

With regards,