Tour Guides
Graham Ross  
 

Dip Hort (Ryde School Horticulture);
Dip Teach (Sydney Teachers Col);
Cert. Greenkeeping (Ryde School Hort.);
Cert. Park Admin (Ryde School Hort.);
Head Div (Ryde School Hort.)



Horticulturist, plantsman and garden writer; Graham has spent his life immersed in gardening. He has escorted a large number of Ross Garden Tours throughout Australia and internationally to some of the world's most culturally intriguing and naturally beautiful locations.

He is the gardening presenter on award-winning Better Homes & Gardens National TV show and the host of Channel 7's successful GroundForce show. Graham started the Garden Clinic 2GB Radio Show in 1980. He was Principal of the Ryde School of Horticulture and Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Along with his wife, Sandra, he has produced and presented videos, TV programmes and books, all about gardening. Passionate to communicate his love of gardening, Graham commenced publishing horticultural magazines in 1984. One of his great loves is garden and plant photography. An expert on the gardens of Japan and China which he has visited over 20 years, Graham provides insights into the cultural traditions and the spirituality of its gardens.


 

   
     
Sandra Ross  
 

Dip Hort. (Ryde School Hort);
Dip Radiography (Sydney Tech Col)



Horticulturist, dedicated gardener, garden writer, broadcaster and garden travel expert, Sandra is a Director of Ross Garden Tours. One of her greatest enjoyments is planning and escorting tours of incredible beauty to the most breathtaking locations on earth. Sandra has designed and escorted extraordinary international tours all over the world. She has also conducted many memorable tours throughout Australia.

Sandra has been the Managing Director of the Garden Clinic Club since it commenced in 1982 and the Editor of the widely read Garden Clinic Magazine since 1984. Sandra's exuberant personality and sincere interest in her listeners have made her popular on-air throughout Australia. All her spare minutes are spent in her garden.



 

   
     
Linda Ross  
 

B. L Arch (University NSW)



After studying Landscape Architecture she began designing gardens throughout Sydney. Having been the horticultural researcher for Better Homes & Gardens TV Show & designer/project manager for Groundforce TV, Linda understands the conceptual and construction processes of garden design.

Linda has travelled extensively, escorting garden tours to Asia, Europe, America & around Australia. With her regular broadcasts on the Garden Clinic 2GB radio show, she loves to enthusiastically inspire people to create their own unique gardens. Linda's passion is for garden photography, travelling to all corners of the globe & keeping in touch with friends.


 

   
     
Kent Ross  
 
Dip Travel


Kent has been travelling since he was born, joining his father, Graham Ross, on the inaugural Canadian tour in 1985. Since then he has escorted tours to Canada, China, Hawaii and local Wildflower Safaris to Fraser Island and The Outback.

He is passionate about the natural environment and brings a wonderful mix of experience and enthusiasm to his tours. His personal travels have taken him to 29 countries including the 2000 Garden Festival in Graz, Austria.

Kent plays a key management role in Ross Garden Tour Company.


 

   
     
Michael  McCoy  
 

B. Sc

 


Michael is delightfully enthusiastic about anything vaguely horticultural. His first book, 'Michael McCoy's garden' has been published to great acclaim from the horticultural media and gardening public, being awarded the 2002 Horticultural Media Association Paper Laurel. Michael has worked with Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter in England.
He has travelled extensively through Britain and led tours to Canada and around Australia He lives with his young family in a rural Victorian garden and is a talented close-up photographer.


 

   
     
Libby Cameron  
 
B. Pharm, Adv Cert Urban Hort


Libby often refers to herself as a gardening ambassador. She loves to talk about gardening, write about gardening, design gardens and enjoys pottering in her Sydney garden. She is a qualified horticulturist , freelance garden writer and garden consultant.

She has worked in retail nurseries, and conducted gardening classes and workshops, and particularly enjoys working with novice gardeners and first home owners, believing that if they are successful at the start, they will be enthusiastic for the rest of their lives.

In her new role as a representative of the Garden Clinic Club and Ross Tours, Libby visits garden clubs and other community groups to present gardening talks and demonstrations, and show slides of the fabulous gardens we have visited on our tours.

She also convenes a volunteer group for the Friends of the Botanic Gardens called the Speakers' Bureau, promoting interest in Sydney's three Botanic Gardens, their history, achievements and activities, as well as the importance of the Friends in their ongoing development.

When Libby travels, her focus is always on the natural world and the joy of beautiful gardens. She has visited gardens all over the world, and led many garden tours for Ross Tours, and for the Friends of the Gardens.

Libby particularly enjoys travelling the world and camping within Australia with her husband Ian, and never lets work take over from her family life, love of golf, the surf and sailing!

Lastly, Libby loves to laugh! She believes it goes with gardening as one of the most important ingredients that make happiness. All who have travelled with her will have tried out her philosophy!!


 

   
     
Peter  Whitehead  
 


Peter has had a life of travel experiences having served in the British and South
African Merchant Marine for 17 years – visiting so many places on every continent
whilst working aboard freighters.

All this came after an upbringing in Africa, living on tea and coffee plantations in
Uganda and Kenya. Peter finished his schooling at a floating Royal Naval College in
London, went to sea as an apprentice, travelled the world and many years later
married Hilary and settled down in South Africa. Their two sons were born there,
whilst Peter was working for the South African Harbour Service.

Plants and gardening must have been in Peter's blood as his mother created
magnificent gardens wherever they settled in East Africa. As Peter says 'she didn't
have the luxury of a garden centre just around the corner. This was in the wilds of
remote central Africa.' So he always tried to make a garden wherever the young
family settled in South Africa.

Upon arrival in Australia in 1983, Peter and Hilary bought the Rast Bros Nursery
business based in Turramurra on Sydney's North Shore. It was a huge challenge,
never having been an employer, only an employee; let alone coming to terms with all
the Australian and exotic plants he had never heard of! There were some scary
times, but Peter, ably assisted by Hilary's office skills and a great staff, put Rast Bros
firmly back on everyone's garden centre radar!

Over the years Rast Bros became synonymous with garden centre retailing
excellence. They sold an extensive range of quality plants displayed in the lovely
ambience of the nursery. Rast Bros was to win many awards – community, industry
and small business, and even an overseas award from the International Garden
Centres Congress in 1998 for being the best garden centre in Australia.

Peter and Hilary decided to move on from retailing in 2007. A hard decision to make,
but after 23 years of retailing they wanted a change. Sadly, the nursery was destined
to close, and trading ceased mid-July 2007. The end of an era, but the start of a new
life for them both. Peter is busier than ever as he is working part time as a consultant
to the horticultural industry, as a freelance writer and as a Ross Tour leader – but he
does have his weekends back!

The two of them have travelled whenever possible - it's in their blood! They have
visited the Chelsea Flower Show several times and love the bulb festivals at
Keukenhof in Holland. They have visited numerous gardens all over Britain, France,
Holland and the Italian Lakes.

Peter has travelled as Tour Leader for Ross Garden Tours, with Hilary at his side as
a very delightful and important travelling companion; to Vietnam, France and China.
They thoroughly enjoy the friendships that Ross Tours bring and look forward to
many more tours in the future years.


 

   
     
Keran Barrett  
 
Adv Cert Urban Hort


Since arriving in Australia from England 18 years ago, Keran has become a qualified
horticulturalist. Initially living on a wholesale nursery, she loved being surrounded by
plants and was eager to learn more. While studying, she became involved in indoor
plant hire, landscaping and retail nurseries. Keran then decided to combine her
original background in administration and travel with horticulture and so began her
career in researching and writing for magazine and books.

As a garden competition judge and having lived overseas in Greece and
Singapore, she's eager to explore more gardens in different locations and share this
fascinating journey with others.


 

   
     
Colin Barlow  
 

Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Horticulture)

Bachelor of Arts-Education (VET)

Associate Degree in Training and Development

Phase Three Certificate in Agriculture and Horticulture

The Royal Horticultural Society General Examination

City and Guilds of London Institute Certificate 1 & 2 of Horticulture


Colin is a passionate horticulturalist, landscape designer and garden writer. He lectures at Challenger TAFE in Perth and has his own successful landscape design and construction company, Gardens from Eden. Regularly involved in horticultural media activities, Colin is currently hosting a gardening segment on ‘Home in WA’ with Channel 7 Perth, presenting gardening talkback on Curtin FM radio and writing for local newspapers and ‘The West Australian Gardener’ magazine. Colin also designs and constructs displays for the garden shows in Perth including the 2007 Water Corporation display gardens.

 

Colin trained as a horticulturist in England and gained the second highest mark in the country for his City & Guilds certificate.  A passion for Australia including its plants and climate was begun through growing seeds sent from his Australian relatives.  During a visit to Perth aged 13, Colin’s love of Australia grew and he emigrated eight years later after commencing his studies in Horticulture in the UK.  Colin furthered his studies in Australia by completing a teaching degree and studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Western Australia. 

 

Colin’s three daughters are following the ‘gardening path’ presenting gardening segments for kids at garden shows including Melbourne and on television as the ‘Gardening Gang’.

 

In 2006 Colin accompanied Graham Ross on the magnificent Wildflowers of Western Australia tour and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and adventure.  Colin is now keen to explore unique horticultural destinations around the world and share his vast knowledge and experience.

 

   
     
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