Rod McMillan

Rod has had a long and on-going involvement in horticulture and land management. In the early 1980s, he established a cut-flower plantation, growing a range of Proteaceae species. Over the last decade or so he, along with partner Michèle Adler, has worked on the development of an extensive landscape on their rural property, Peach Flat, near Briagolong in Central Gippsland, Victoria. In 1997 and 1998 the garden made its appearance in Australias Open Garden Scheme. In 2004, the Peach Flat & Community Wetlands Project - Stage 1 (design & earth-moving stage) was complete. This 4 ha development aims to increase the extent of native habitat on the foot-hills property. It will also serve as an educational resource for conservationists and land managers.

Rod and Michèle also conduct regular gardening and natural history tours to the famous Galapagos Islands, the crucible of studies in natural selection.

In late 2004, Rod resigned his position as a lecturer in horticulture at the University of Melbourne - Burnley College where he had been for 14 years, teaching and co-ordinating the Soil and Communication Units of Competency.

Rod has a Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Education, both from Monash University, a Masters of Distance Education from the University of South Australia and a Diploma in Horticulture from Swinburne University.

Michèle Adler

Michèle Adler is unit coordinator/lecturer in Plant Identification at University of Melbourne - Burnley College.
Michèle has been involved in the development of curricula and learning materials for horticultural courses delivered both face-to-face as well as by flexible, open delivery. She has also contributed to the National Curriculum in Horticulture, designing a unit in Plant Materials and a number of Learning Guides for the new competency-based Horticulture Training Package.
She graduated as a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Sydney University in 1967 and subsequently followed a career as a pharmacist and parent. A move to a small property in Newcastle in 1980 sparked an interest in horticulture. In 1983 she graduated with the highest honours pass from the Charlestown School of Horticulture, Newcastle. She also received the NSW State medal award.