Neville Passmore
Neville Passmore was born into a gardening family, the third generation Australian living and producing plants and produce in Gosnells, WA. The son of Albert and Tess he grew up through the gardening industries renaissance as it evolved into one of the powerhouse retail sectors of the 1970’s. Neville’s work in plant production, gardening retailing, the garden media, with the public and contributing to student education is extensive and covers significant scope during 40 years of working in the gardening industry.
Having extensive working knowledge of garden retailing in WA Neville has managed several Waldecks stores, acted as general manager in his family’s nursery, garden centre and florist business. In addition he has worked as a training and marketing consultant to Waldecks Garden Centres, Bunnings Warehouse and Eden Gardens.
He works extensively in the media these days but is still actively involved in the development of horticulture through his work with The Water Corporation, The Swan River Trust and numerous corporate educational projects such as Woodside’s staff health development and education program. He delivers keynote talks on topical issues such as water efficient gardening practises, environmentally gardening techniques sustainable housing and gardening for better health to name just a few.
Media Career
Neville’s role as a gardening communicator in the media has seen him work in television for Channel Seven, Channel Nine, The ABC nationally on ‘Gardening Australia’ for over a decade and channel 7Two. He co-hosted National TV shows ‘The Garden Gurus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Delish’. In WA he hosted ‘Gardening Perth’, ‘Gardening WA’, ‘The Battle of the Burbs’ and ‘WA’s Great Gardens’ , ‘Greenfingers’ TV series He has also worked in radio on 6PR as resident expert talkback host for 12 years. Neville is one of the most recognised and respected gardening identities in WA today.
Publications
He is also the author of seven books including the ‘WA Gardening Calender’, ‘Roses WA’, ‘Gardening Western Australia’, ‘The Garden Gurus Guide to Waterwise Gardening’, ‘Delish From Garden To Table’, ‘The Rose -The Latest - The Greatest’ and the ‘Western Australian Garden Guide’. He has made numerous contributions to magazines locally and nationally over the years including contributions as the west coast correspondent for Australian Horticulture for several years. He has contributed to ‘The Guru’ national magazine for 8 years. His photography skills have also been recognised for many years and he was awarded the runner up best photo prize the Joy Harland Memorial Photography Award. His columns in The Sunday Times newspaper have been read by over 800,000 a week for the past decade.
Garden Industry
Neville’s contribution to gardening in WA extends a lot further than just actively working in the industry. He is a past president of the Nursery and Garden Association of WA and has been a long term committee member at state and national levels in horticultural advisory roles.
During this time he has sat on and worked with the boards of leading environmental and gardening organisations such as Greening Australia and the national body of the gardening industry.
His contributions to industry training have been recognised locally and nationally and he continues to participate in the current training committee at state level.
Neville’s expertise in the field of gardening is well recognised and acknowledged by leading government departments and he has been contracted to support The Water Corporation and is consulted regularly by AQIS, The Swan River Trust and the Health Department. Neville has personally provided extensive advice and support to many members of the industry and is regarded by most as a friend. He works tirelessly in his media business and is more passionate today than at any stage of his career.
Recently Neville joined up with BioWise as in the area of market development and sales. This has allowed him to work in the compost industry, which is very dear to his heart, being an avid home composter.
Neville has been elected deputy chair of Compost WA.
His great love for the garden extends to his suburban home where he grows an enormous amount of fruit, herbs, edible fish and vegetables feeding his large family. He’s passionate about cooking and food and enjoys presenting the most exotic dishes to his family and friends.
