Meet the TALGA Team
Years of experience and dedicated to all things lavender
Louise Bickerton – President
Blue Mountains Lavender NSW
Louise and her husband Bruce began planting lavender on their 10 hectare Little Hartley property in 2018 and launched their product range under the trademarked brand Blue Mountains Lavender in 2020.
Their business has grown steadily with great encouragement from the Blue Mountains community, who have supported their ‘paddock to product’, farm-grown, distilled and made philosophy. Their products are stocked in key tourist and artisan shops throughout the mountains. Louise and Bruce have enjoyed connecting with local customers by participating in a stall at mountain markets and weekend festivals.
“We have been members of TALGA since 2019 and have significantly benefited from the collective ‘brains trust’ grower network and information hub provided by the Association.
I joined the management committee in 2020 and have enjoyed using my marketing qualifications to contribute meaningfully to TALGA activities. As President, I hope to continue adding value to the membership and facilitate the fulfilment of TALGA’s mission to benefit the Australian lavender industry.”
Stuart Whiteman – Treasurer
Chin Chin Farm
I have always enjoyed the scent of Lavender Essential Oil, so when we were looking for a new crop on our farm, I was keen to plant lavender.
Learning the principles of soil biology and remediation has been a steep learning curve that has changed our farm for the better We see the results each season, which is really rewarding.
I am the distiller, and it’s a process that I find both fascinating and fun. As the first drops of essential oil make their way through to the separator, the aromas are intoxicating and almost make the hard work worth it! We have had great support from TALGA in our lavender journey, so I am thrilled to be a part of the association.
Fiona Glover – Secretary/Public Officer
Creative Dried Flowers VIC
Fiona has always enjoyed gardening since childhood. However, she only started growing Lavender for cut dried flower and oil, by recommendation, when the family bought land on old gold diggings at Barkly, Central West Vic, in 1990.
Fiona uses Lavender in floristry, aromatherapy, and culinary projects. She has been a member of TALGA since 2000.
“I enjoy being a member of TALGA, you meet lots of people and make lasting friendships.”
Karen McRae – Publicity and eNews
Wine Country Lavender
A combination of diverse interests and passions, including gardening, country living and aromatherapy, led to the establishment of Wine Country Lavender in the Hunter Valley NSW – Karen’s lavender farm.
In addition to distilling and using their own essential oil in their extensive lavender product range, Wine Country Lavender embraces agritourism for a truly immersive country experience, offering guests accommodation while indulging in the serenity and charm of the region.
“Becoming a member of TALGA has proven to be an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow lavender growers across Australia. Through TALGA, I have gained a wealth of knowledge, constantly discovering new insights from our range of resources and interactions with members. I hope our community continues to grow, culminating in a robust lavender industry that epitomises the exceptional quality synonymous with Australian lavender.”
Michael Hill – General Committee
Michael grew up on a dairy farm and always wanted to be a farmer. In 2021 he and his wife Suzanne bought a small farm near Braidwood where – inspired by a holiday in Provence – they planted a small lavender plantation and plan to retire one day.
