MAL McKinlay is the Mid North Coast’s highly regarded gardening guru who enjoys nothing more than sharing his knowledge and love of all things horticultural.
2025 marks 40 years of his continuous employment in the field, and his devotion to providing his skills to numerous local community groups and organisations.
Garden Clubs of Australia (GCA) has more than 780 affiliated clubs and 52,000 members nationwide and, as Zone Coordinator of the Mid North Coast, Mal regularly travels from his home in Thrumster to talk to clubs between Woolgoolga and Gloucester.
Since 2012, he has been a Horticulturalist and Plant Purchaser for Bonny Hills Nursery, with this role extending to educating school and social groups who visit the garden centre.
Mal hosts a popular gardening segment on the ABC, administers a gardening Facebook group, establishes criteria for garden competitions, writes for local media, and judges plant exhibits.
But one of his favourite activities is helping to facilitate the bus groups of garden lovers visiting the local area, as this allows him to talk about his passion for plants and provides financial benefits to local businesses.
He told News Of The Area, “I love the friendships that I have developed over the years with so many different people, and I love inspiring others to learn.”
Through his dedicated efforts, Mal has increased membership of GCA and strengthened relationships between a multitude of gardening focused groups.
He is also a highly sought after public speaker.
This has led to increased cooperation, cohesiveness and pooling of information in the Mid North Coast horticultural community, including through his organisation of Zone Friendship Days.
By Rachael THORPE
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