Some of Western Sydney's best gardeners - from school students to seniors - have been named and celebrated at the Blacktown City Garden Competition Awards.
Special guest and gardening guru Jason Hodges (Auction Squad, Better Homes and Gardens) was among those to pay tribute to green thumbs during the event at The Colebee at Doonside.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting was happy to see plenty of participation in this year's awards.
"Gardening is a great hobby to keep active, take some pride in your local area, and help our natural world," he said.
"The Blacktown City Garden Competition honours those people who have dedicated themselves to the task, and is a bit of competitive fun too."
Council recognises gardening across a wide range of categories, including community gardens, school gardens and people living with a disability.
The winners are:
- Champion of Champions:
1st place - Rita Vella
- Best Overall City Garden:
1st place - Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne
2nd place - Roylito and Maria Velasco
3rd place - Anne-Marie Van Deun
- Best Front Garden:
1st place - Angelina Castellano
2nd place - Hannelore Nawiesniak
3rd place - Neil Curran
- Best Back Garden:
1st place - Roylito and Maria Velasco
2nd place - Anne-Marie Van Deun
3rd place - Neil Curran
- Best Education Facility Garden:
Early Learning - Grace Village Early Learning and Childcare Blacktown
Primary or High School -
1st place - Hebersham Public School
2nd place - Lethbridge Park Public School
- Best Edible Garden:
Residential - Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne
- Best Australian Native Garden:
1st place - Danae Murray
2nd place - Mark Mostert
- Best Sustainable Garden:
1st place - Gamini and Semedha Dharmaratne
2nd place - Morgan Rangasamy
- Best Community Garden:
1st place - St Clements Anglican Church Lalor Park and Kings Langley
- Best Individual Residential (townhouse or villa):
1st place - Saw Chin
2nd place - Elizabeth Stubbs
- Best Garden by Senior Citizen:
1st place - Roylito and Maria Velasco
2nd place - Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne
- Best Garden by a Person/Group with a Disability:
1st place - Sir Trevor Garland
2nd place - Coreen School
- Most Interesting and Unusual Garden:
Roylito and Maria Velasco
- Best Community Garden (Council supported):
Bungarribee Hub Community Garden
- Best Commercial Garden (Retirement Village or Business):
Anglicare Rooty Hill Village
- Judges Encouragement Award:
Neil Curran
- Ward 1 - Anne-Marie Van Deun
- Ward 2 - Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne
- Ward 3 - Ronald Jennings
- Ward 4 - Hannelore and Joe Nawiesniak
- Ward 5 - Roylito and Maria Velasco
