IPPS Southern Africa President's Report 2023
President's Report 2023
Dear IPPS members, as we bid 2023 farewell and welcome 2024, I would like to wish you all a blessed and prosperous 2024. Hope you have had a wonderful festive season with your loved ones and family, are well rested and ready for a year of big IPPS excitement!
As you may know, we are hosting the Southern African IPPS International Tour and 26th Annual Conference from the 28th of February to the 1st of March 2024, at the Devon Valley Hotel in Stellenbosch. The International Tour consists of a short tour (23 Feb – 2 March) and a long tour (23 Feb- 8 March). Day visitors are welcome to join any of the nursery visits during the tour on a self drive basis, please contact Kathy at kathy@kdevents.co.za for more information. Click here to download itinerary.
We are looking forward to hearing and learning from the very knowledgeable speakers at the conference.
We started 2023 with the 25th IPPS conference in KwaZulu Natal, at TO Strand Beach Resort from the 28th of February to the 3rd of March. It was attended by 43 delegates and various speakers presented talks on different topics ranging from developing a multi-billion Botanical Garden in Singapore to the problem Shot Hole Borer. Several nurseries of interest were visited, and new friendships formed and old bonds re-established.
At the 2023 AGM Mr Jason Myburgh from Andy Titton Nursery was promoted to International Director IPPS SA and Dr Miranda Deutschlander was elected as President IPPS SA.
Stephani Hastie, the exchange student from IPPS Australia, visited South Africa and she had the privilege of visiting four of the nine SA provinces. She shared her South African IPPS experiences in the writing of two magazine articles that were published. At last, after a long delay due to Covid, Mr Thandisiswe Ndabeni, was able to attend the IPPS Australia conference in Geelong. We are looking forward to welcome Mr Joshua Taylor in South Africa, the Australian elected exchange student for 2024.
We would also like to congratulate the following students nominated as candidates for the exchange programme that will be selected to represent IPPS South Africa in Australia at the upcoming Annual conference; Liezel Nel, Nosipho Ndlovu and Michelle Stanton.
The Cape Town branch presented the IPPS Winter Workshop in July at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.
An extraordinary day was experienced by Prof Elsa du Toit while touring Saunders Brothers Nursery in Virginia, USA, in October. We would also like to congratulate her on the appointment as the International President of IPPS when she takes over from Tom Saunders in February.
Looking forward to seeing all our members at the International IPPS Tour and our 26th Annual Conference.
Miranda Deutschlander
IPPS SA President