2012 - Mt Gambier, SA

Venue

The Barn, Nelson Road, Mount Gambier, S.A. 5290
An historic old building surrounded by magnificent landscaped gardens filled with roses, shrubs and perennials and shaded by huge old trees. Situated 8 kms south of the city, it is surrounded by lush farmland.

Speakers

The eleventh National Heritage Rose Conference had as its theme “Heritage Roses – True Survivors”.

There were eight speakers discussing the attributes of the old roses. Keynote speakers were Mike Shoup from Texas and Fiona Hyland from Dunedin. South Australian speakers included Tina Miljanovic, Pat Toolan, Sophie Thomson and of course David Ruston who will be demonstrating flower arranging fit for a future king, with Danny's assistance. There were also two interstate speakers, Eric Timewell and Penny McKinlay.

Gardens

Delegates were taken to some extensive and beautiful gardens around Mt Gambier, and in thePenola - Coonawarra area, as well as the historic mansion 'Yallum Park'. The pre-conference Tour, organised by Pat Toolan, visited various sites, including Mt Lofty Botanical garden under Tina Miljanovic's guidance, Thomas for Roses Nursery, Walter Duncan's garden, the barossa Old-Rose Repository, and the HRIAI Collection at Ruston's Roses, Renmark.

The Post-conference tour visited gardens and the historic property 'Kout Norien' in western Victoria.

  
    The first prize in the raffle was a painting of 'Courier', an Alister Clark rose,  by Jill Eckermann.

The 2014 Conference will be hedl in Tasmania.