Di Lucas was presented the John Taylor Award by Allan Jolliffe President of the Canterbury Horticultural Society at a meeting on 1st May 2017. The award recognises a person who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to horticulture in Christchurch and Canterbury. Louise Bailey attended the event and with us all passes congratulations to Di on a well deserved acknowledgement of her work.

To provide some background John Taylor was a member of the Canterbury Horticultural Society, its President and member of the CHS Board for many years. He was the first NZ student to study at Kew Gardens in London, worked at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and became a well-known nurseryman and successful businessman. He later became a Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University starting the Diploma in Parks and Recreation Administration. He was recognised by the Queen with an OBE.