Gunnedah nursery manager is a winner
From the Summer 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Janet Hathway receives the customer service award from Telstra Countrywide accounts executive, David Naylor, at the Gunnedah Business and Service Awards dinner in the Gunnedah Town Hall. Photo courtesy of the Namoi Valley Independent.
Forests NSW Gunnedah nursery manager Janet Hathway is usually more at home in a uniform green shirt and shorts than cocktail wear.
But she had to make the change in September to receive the individual customer service award at the Gunnedah District Development Board black tie dinner held at the local town hall.
More than 220 people turned out for the night, which was hosted by local NBN Television personality, Mike Rabbitt.
Janet is a more than a keen gardener herself, so when the opportunity came up to manage the Forests NSW nursery she changed from customer to staff member.
It was not such a big step, as she was so often in the nursery and knew most of its secrets already.
The Gunnedah Nursery has become a well-known landmark for gardeners across the region.
Janet is renowned for her knowledge of drought and dry tolerant plants, which are fast becoming favourites of most gardens in the water-parched western areas of the state.
“It was quite a thrill to win this award,” Janet said. “There were 160 people nominated, and the board sent out people to secretly judge the entrants.”
Janet said she was enjoying record sales at the nursery in September after the town received around 75mm of rain, but by the end of the month the dry had again set in.
Howard Spencer Public Affairs & Media, Coffs Harbour
