Special honour for Alstonville nurseryman Ray Parker
A veteran of the Northern Rivers nursery industry has been recognised with a rare lifetime honour at a state industry awards night.
Alstonville nurseryman Ray Parker was presented with the President’s Award at the Greenlife Industry NSW & ACT Gala Dinner held recently.
The award, presented for the first time, recognises outstanding and sustained service to the nursery and garden industry.
Ray is at the helm of the family-owned Parker’s Place Nursery, supported by his wife Diane and their sons, with the business this year also marking 50 years of continuous membership with the industry body.
Northern Rivers well represented
The awards night highlighted the strength of the nursery sector across the Northern Rivers, with several local businesses recognised.
Alstonville Plants was named Best Small Production Nursery of the Year.
Oldboy’s Flowers of Wardell received the People’s Choice Award for 2025.
Daley’s Fruit Tree Nursery from Kyogle was recognised for 40 years of continuous membership with the industry.
Ray Parker – recognised for service to the horticulture industry
A surprise honour
Ray said he attended the gala dinner expecting only to receive the 50-year membership recognition and had no idea he was also being honoured by the industry president.
“I had no idea why they wanted me there,” he said.
“We knew about the membership award, but the President’s Award was a complete surprise.”
The President’s Award is considered a lifetime achievement honour and was created to recognise individuals whose contribution extends well beyond their own businesses.
A lifetime in nurseries
Ray and his wife Diane purchased the nursery business from the late Ken Dunstan, of Tibouchina Alstonville fame, in the 1980s.
Ken Dunstan was one of the founding figures of the nursery industry on the Northern Rivers, and Ray said Parker’s Place was among the region’s earliest commercial nurseries, dating back to the early 1970s.
“It was one of the early ones on the plateau,” Ray said.
“The growing conditions here are just exceptional.”
He said reliable water, favourable climate and support from Ballina Shire Council for nursery development had helped the region gain a strong national reputation.
Growing with the industry
Parker’s Place relocated to its current Lindendale site in 2000, starting with bare paddocks and building the nursery from the ground up.
The first plants grown entirely on site were produced in 2006.
Today, the 42-acre property has about 15 acres under nursery production and employs up to 15 staff at peak times, including Ray, Diane and their Damien and Guy.
Guy runs the nursery’s renaissance herb production, while Ray continues to oversee specialist propagation.
The nursery is best known for conifers, magnolias, camellias and rare perennials, many grown from carefully maintained mother stock.
“For some plants, you’re looking at three or four years before they’re ready,” Ray said.
Giving back to the sector
Ray’s President’s Award also recognises decades of service to the industry beyond his own business.
He has served on the Northern Rivers Regional Group executive for many years, including long stints as treasurer, and helped organise the 2009 Nursery Industry Conference in Ballina.
“That involvement over a long period was part of the criteria,” he said.
No plans to slow down
Despite the lifetime recognition, Ray says retirement is not on the agenda.
“This is my garden,” he said.
“I’m still in propagation, still doing the difficult plants.”
Ray said perseverance and observation were the keys to success.
“Plants tell you when they’re ready,” he said.
Looking ahead, Parker’s Place is trialling several new plant varieties, with possible releases planned for next year.
“Time will tell,” Ray said.
