Last night at The Crown Palladium, Gardenworld’s very own Chris Henbery was named the 2015 Victorian Apprentice Of The Year.
It capped off three wonderful years of combining study with work.
Mike Callaway, horticulture teacher at Swinburne University at Wantirna, praised Chris’s exceptionally high standard of work and knew he would have a great chance to win the award. “It’s a great result for Chris, but it also a great result for the horticultural industry.”
James Wall, owner of Gardenworld Nursery said, “We knew Chris had exceptional people skills very early on. He then worked extremely hard to build up his gardening and plant knowledge in a very short time. Tonight we are very proud of his achievement”.
Knowledge is a big part of horticulture and it is shared learning of gardening experiences that facilitate this. Thanks from Chris goes to all the staff in the nursery who have provided him with answers when needed, and for the guidance from General Manager Jason Hilborn who some 16 years ago started as an apprentice at Gardenworld himself.
It was commented that the judging was extremely close and Chris just edged out the other three contestants which were from the carpentry, hairdressing and commercial cookery industries.
Chris left a previous career in banking and to become a mature age apprentice which with a young family, comes with it’s own challenges. He now sources many of the quality plants found at Gardenworld and one day hopes to own his nursery – we hope he does – but is at Gardenworld for a few more seasons yet !
Come in and say g’day to our apprentice of the year. Chris is currently working Monday to Fridays, and would love to talk to you about the plants in your garden.