"They say these things come in threes," Killabakh's George Hoad said, after being presented with the President of The Garden Clubs of Australia Inc. Award.
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The award was announced at the Garden Club of Australia's annual general meeting, held virtually on Zoom on September 21, where George was also awarded a prestigious Life Membership to the association.
"It was a real thrill. And when your peers nominate you - your club - that just puts that extra thrill onto it," George said, adding that he had no idea that Killabakh Garden Club had nominate him for the award.
"I'm still walking on cloud nine!"
The President's Award and the Life Membership come after George was appointed at AM in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June this year.
"Being appointed in June as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) was the thrill of a lifetime, and to cap off an amazing year, to be recognised by my peers at the Garden Clubs of Australia with their two highest honours, Life Membership and the President of the GCA Award, is totally awesome!," George said.
"If my life were a wine cellar, the 2021 vintage would certainly be a premium top shelf gold star magnum!"
All three honours were given due to George's contribution to the gardening and horticultural world.
The President of the Garden Clubs of Australia Inc. Award is given to one person each year and awarded for "outstanding contribution by an individual to gardening and/or horticulture, demonstrating a long-term contribution to gardening and/or horticulture through writing, public speaking, teaching, broadcasting, exhibiting, judging or organising events. This could be at a local, state, national and/or international level."
Normally the award would be presented in person, and this year it should have happened at the biennial convention which this year was originally to be held in Townsville. Instead, the award itself was sent to the Killabakh Garden Club, who nominated George for the award, for the members to present to him.