| John L. MASON |
Dip. Hort. Sci. (VCAH Burnley,1971),
Supervision Certificate (RMIT, 1977)
B.A (Planning Studies) at F.I.T. 50% completed.
Cert. in Theology 90% completed.
Adv.Cert.App.Management-Publishing & Journalism
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Professional
Memberships:
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- Australian Institute of Horticulture (past State President, State secretary, and national vice president. State committee member 1978-80, 84-88)
- Parks & Leisure Australia (formerly Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation) (fellow since 1998, associate since 1984; member since 1974)
- Queensland Nursery Industry Association
- Australian Nursery Industry Association
- Australian Council Health Physical Education and Recreation
- International Plant Propagators Society (executive board member '90-95)
- International Herb Growers and Marketers Association
- Australian Society of Authors
- Australasian Plant Pathology Society
- International Playgrounds Association (Aust. Rep. '77-80)
- Royal Horticultural Society (U.K.)
- Horticultural Media Association (Australia)
- Fellow of Institute of Horticulture (U.K.)
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| Area of Expertise: |
- Horticulture, Small Business, Education, Writing, Agriculture, Recreation and Management.
- Plant identification, landscape design, parks management, nursery management
- Hydroponics, herbs, Australian plants
- Childrens play and playground design, fitness
- Photography, journalism, community participation.
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| Career History: |
| 1971 |
Graduated after 3yrs of full time study from Burnley Horticultural College Rotary Youth Leadership Award |
| 1972 |
Self employed Landscaping, garden maintenance and wholesale nursery business. |
| 1972 |
Technical Officer, Fisons Ltd. |
| 1972-75 |
Youth Leader (part time) Baptist Church |
| 1972-73 |
Retail Nursery management and landscaping. |
| 1973-76 |
Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, Shire of Melton |
| 1974 |
Established Melton Garden Club(President)
- Taught gardening classes at Melton Community Centre.
- Wrote gardening column for Melton local paper.
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| 1975 |
Overseas study tour of children's playgrounds. |
| 1976-82 |
Lecturing in short course for Council of Adult Education. |
| 1976-77 |
Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Essendon. |
| 1977-80 |
Consultant Landscape Designer/Playground Adviser
Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Vic. |
| 1977-81 |
0ccasional Writer for "Your Garden", national garden magazine. |
| 1978 |
Member of National committee for International Year of the Child |
| 1977-81 |
- Sessional lecturer for:
- Footscray Institute of Technology
- Burnley Horticultural College
- I.E.C.D. (Lincoln Institute)
- Philip Institute of Technology
- Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation (Victoria)
- Designed and conducted elective subjects for F.I.T. in the Associate Diploma in Recreation Leadership.
- Jointly lectured 3rd year Landscape Design in Diploma at Burnley.
- Lectured on understanding childrens play, and playground design to Post Graduate Diploma in Recreation at Philip Institute and to kindergarten trainee teachers (Lincoln Institute).
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| 1979 |
Established Australian Horticultural Correspondence School. |
| 1979 to present |
Design and management of Advertising & marketing for Australian Correspondence Schools |
| 1980-81 |
Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, City of Heidelberg |
| 1980-95 |
Regular writer for "Grass Roots" magazine. |
| 1982-83 |
Self employed nurseryman and landscape contractor. |
| 1985 to present |
Developed and managed the AHCS on a full time basis. |
| 1988-92 |
Organized of Garden Pavillion at Royal Melbourne Show (50-100 exhibitors). Won awards two out of the five years.
(ie. Best Commercial Display '88; Best Horticultural Display '92) |
| 1989 to present |
Editor/Photographer/Writer: Greenleaf Series Magazines and Garden Guide Series Magazines |
| 1991-99 |
Regular writer for the magazines: Queensland Homes and Victoria Homes. |
| 1992-93 |
Program Organizer, International Plant Propagators Conference, Albury |
| 1993 |
Study tour/photographing gardens and garden shows in Europe |
| 1994 |
Wrote & produced five educational videos (using the video production unit of Griffith University, and private facilities in Melbourne). |
| 1994 |
Wrote Quality Assurance documentation for Australian Correspondence Schools. |
| 1995 |
Wrote accreditation documentation for Advanced Diplomas in Horticulture, Agriculture and Recreation-Fitness. Achieved accreditation and listing on the National Register for these courses. |
| 1996-97 |
Established 9 internet sites for Australian Correspondence Schools, continued developing new courses including computer servicing & ecotourism. (Won awards in mid 97: Pick of the Net from Sofcom, and Majons Select Award) |
| 1998 to present |
Wrote several books, and new courses | |
| Formal Study: |
| 1969-71 |
Diploma in Horticultural Science, Burnley Horticultural College, Vic. (now VCAH, Burnley - Melbourne University) Course completed. |
| 1970-72 |
Certificate in Theology : Sydney Anglican Theological College, by Correspondence 90% completed. |
| 1971 |
Rotary Youth Leadership Award (approx. 40hrs) Course completed. |
| 1971 |
YMCA Detached Youth Workers Course (approx. 30 hrs) Course completed. |
| 1972 |
Bachelor of Science R.M.I.T. -Sociology & Chemistry, incomplete. |
| 1975-76 |
Supervision Certificate (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology).
Subjects passed include:
- Supervision 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B
- Parks Administration A, B.
- Communications and report Writing
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| 1976-78 |
Bachelor of Arts (Planning Studies) Footscray Institute of Technology course 50% completed.
Subjects passed include:
- Urban Studies 1A, 1B
- Planning Studies 1A, 1B
- Sociology 1A, 1B
- Overview of Recreation
- Recreation Leadership Methods
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|
| 1979-80 |
Bachelor of Science, Latrobe University, -Zoology, incomplete. |
| 1994 |
PADI Open Water Divers Certificate, Aussie Dive, Gold Coast. |
| 1995 |
Training Skills I, II & III |
| 1995 |
RPL granted for stream studies in Instructional skills in Advanced Certificate in Applied Management (approx. 250 hrs) |
| 1997 |
Advanced Certificate in Applied Management -Publishing & Journalism (approx. 700 hrs) | |
| Short Courses: |
Various, including:
- Detatched Youth Work Course (6 months, YMCA, 1970)
- Rotary Youth Leader Award (1971)
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| Major Conferences: |
(Note: These are only a selection. There are many other seminars and minor meetings not listed which have been attended, organized, conducted by or lectured at by John Mason). |
|
| 1974 |
Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation National Conference, Adelaide, (5 days) -delegate |
| 1975 |
International Association for the Childrens Right to Play Triannual Conference, Milan Italy, (7 days) -delegate |
| 1976 |
Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation, National Conference, Melbourne, (5 days) -delegate |
| 1979 |
Royal Australian Institute of Parks & Recreation, National Conference, Brisbane, (5 days) -organizer of childrens play and playground segment |
| 1978-79 |
Recreational Landscaping Course -Course Coordinator for Burnley Horticultural College (Designed, and managed 3 day course and was main lecturer for two consecutive years) |
| 1979 |
Technological Advances in Parks Maintenance -designed, coordinated and lectured at 2 day course jointly with Elaine Murphy, Senior Lecturer (for Footscray Institute of Technology) |
| 1980 |
Plant Materials 1980 -designed, coordinated and lectured at 2 day course jointly with Elaine Murphy, Senior Lecturer (for Footscray Institute of Technology in conjunction with Burnley Horticultural College) |
| 1982 |
Play Safety Conference, Melbourne -Speaker |
| 1988 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Sydney, (3 days) -delegate |
| 1989 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Hobart, (3 days) -delegate |
| 1990 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Perth, (3 days) -delegate |
| 1991 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Canberra, (3 days) -delegate |
| 1992 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Ballina, (3 days) -delegate |
| 1993 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Albury, (3 days) -conference program organizer (designed lecture program,coordinated all speakers) |
| 1993 |
Attended International Garden Festival, Stuttgart, Germany and Hampton Court Flower Show, London, U.K. |
| 1994 |
International Plant Propagators Society, National Conference, Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast (delivered one of the introductory session papers). |
| 1995 |
International Plant Propagators National Conference, Adelaide 1995 Study Tour of Hawaii (August) -Botanic Gardens |
| 1995 |
Study Tour of New Zealand (November) -Ellerslie Garden Show & Open Gardens |
| 1997 |
Study Tour of Britain and Germany(June/July -4 shows/exhibitions, over 40 gardens, numerous industry meetings. |
| 1999 |
Study tour of USA & Canada West Coast |
| 1999-2002 |
Chairman, International Accreditation & Recognition Council |
| 2002 |
Tour of UK & Netherlands (4 weeks) visiting shows (Hampton Court & Floriade), gardens, meetings with colleagues, photography etc.) | |
| Published Work: |
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| Books |
- Fun and Fitness Trails, Victorian Dept. of Sport and Recreation, 1978
- Starting a Nursery or Herb Farm, Night Owl, 1983 (revised 1994)
- The Environment of Play, Leisure Press, New York, 1982
- Herb Review, self published, 1987
- Landscaping with Herbs, self published, 1988
- The Native Plant Expert, self published, 1989
- Let's Grow Gardens, self published, 1990
- Growing Ferns, Kangaroo Press, 1990
- Commercial Hydroponics, Kangaroo Press, 1990
- Growing Vegetables, Kangaroo Press, 1991
- Growing Herbs, Kangaroo Press, 1993
- Nursery Management, Kangaroo Press, April 1994
- Tropical Gardening, Bay Books, October 1994
- Yates Guide to Pests & Diseases, Angus & Robertson, February 1995
- Growing Pelargoniums & Geraniums Hyland House 1996
- Farm Management Kangaroo Press 1996
- Growing Australian Natives Kangaroo Press 1997
- Starting a Nursery or Herb Farm (Revised ed) Kangaroo Press 1997
- Sustainable Farming Simon & Schuster (Kangaroo Press) Spring 1997
- Growing Tropical Plants Simon & Schuster (Kangaroo Press) 1997
- Starting a Landscape or Garden Business Kangaroo Press 1998
- Aqua Aerobics Kangaroo Press 1999
- Growing Conifers Kangaroo Press 1999
- Profitable Farming Kangaroo Press 1999
- A Beginners Guide to Orchids Hyland House
- Aerobic Fitness Kangaroo Press
- Trees & Shrubs for Small Places Kangaroo/Simon & Schuster 2000
- Propagating from Cuttings Kangaroo/Simon & Schuster 2002
| |
| Magazines |
| 1977-79 |
Your Garden (contributor) |
| 1980 to present |
Grass Roots (contributor) |
| 1987 to present |
Garden Guide Monthly Magazine (contributor), |
| 2000 to present |
Garden Guide Monthly Magazine (Editor) |
| 1992 to present |
Queensland Homes (contributor) |
| 1992 to present |
Victoria Homes (contributor) |
| 1993 to present |
South Australia Homes (contributor) |
| 1999 to present |
Your Backyard National Gardening Magazine (principal author & editor) |
| Occasional contributor to more than twenty other publications. |
| Garden Guide Specials (author/photographer/editor of the following titles): |
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- Gardening with Herbs
- More Gardening with Herbs
- Cottage Garden Landscapes
- Backyard Landscaping Ideas
- 101 Backyard Landscaping Ideas
- Landscaping Your Backyard
- Your Guide to Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
- Your Guide to Natural Gardening
- Better Backyard Ideas
- Landscaping with Australian Plants
- Landscaping Ideas for Shaded Areas
- Better Garden Ideas
- Controlling Garden Pests & Diseases
- Backyard Ideas and Garden Care 90-91
- Backyard Ideas and Garden Care 91-92
- Landscaping with Ferns, Palms and Orchids
- 101 Natural Gardening Ideas
- Maintenance Free Backyards
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| Greenleaf Specials (author/photographer/editor of the following titles): |
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- Herbs from Your Garden
- The Better Backyard Guide
- What to Plant Where
- Colourful and Fragrant Gardens
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| Other Special Magazines (author/editor of the following titles): |
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- Creative Landscaping Ideas
- Beautiful Landscaping Ideas
- Landscaping Your Garden
- Country & Cottage Landscapes
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| 1999-2002 |
Editor and principal writer of monthly Gardening-Lifestyle magazine (YOUR BACKYARD) for Express Publications in Sydney, Australia |
| 2000-01 |
Editor and principal writer of Garden Guide monthly magazine |
| 2001 to present |
Editor/owner of Gardening ezine ACSgarden.com | |
| Videos |
Wrote, presented and produced the following videos since 1994: |
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- Plant Identification
- Herb Identification
- Designing a Garden
- Plant Propagation
- Australian Native Plants
- Garden Style
- Identifying Tropical Plants
- Identifying Trees & Shrubs
- Identifying Bulbs & Perennials
- Careers in the 21st Century
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