The first proposals to establish a national society for horticulture received support at the Temperate Tree Fruits Conference at Roseworthy, South Australia in May, 1988 and again at the Vegetable Research Conference at Hawkesbury, New South Wales in July, 1988. A year later, a section of horticulturists from within the Australian Institute for Agricultural Science, in conjunction with the Australian Society of Plant Physiology, held a symposium in Brisbane, Queensland to promote the formation of a horticultural society. Largely due to the enthusiasm and leadership of Dr John Possingham, then of CSIRO, and a positive response from surveys of prospective members, a national steering Committee was established in early 1990. Under the chairmanship of Mr Jeff Peterson, and following several meetings of the steering Committee, a symposium was convened in September, 1990. At this symposium, a motion to form a Society, moved by Dr Barry McGlasson from the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, was carried on voices. A Management Committee was elected, and under the chairmanship of the first President, Dr Bill Greenhalgh, the Australian Society of Horticultural Science held its first meeting that very evening.

Our logo arose as a cooperative effort between Jim Hunter and Barry McGlasson from the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, NSW and Mrs Marlene Cameron from Michigan State University, who was visiting Australia with her husband while he was on sabbatical leave. The concept was to show that AuSHS cares for Australia and the logo features the Macadamia, the only Australian plant to become a major international horticultural crop. AuSHS is incorporated as the Australian Society of Horticultural Science Incorporated (Certificate No. A0023713V) under the Association Incorporation Act 1981 (State of Victoria).
In 2010 the logo was modified in preparation for the International Horticultural Congress in Lisbon. The intent of this modification was to contemporise its design whilst staying faithful to the original concepts. Consequently the logo retains the Macadamia and the hands caring for Australia.

Mr Graham Robert Gregory

(1932-1992) A.M., B.Sc.Agr. (Sydney University), R.D.Oenol. (Roseworthy Ag. College)

Awarded honorary membership to AuSHS for major contributions to horticultural science and industry through his roles as:

• Deputy Director General, NSW Agriculture
• Chairman, Organising Committee for XXth International Horticultural Congress, Sydney, NSW in 1978
• Chairman, Grape & Wine Research and Development Corporation
• Chairman, Horticultural Research and Development Corporation

As further recognition of his contributions, Horticulture Innovation Australia (previously Horticulture Australia Ltd.) awards each year, two Graham Gregory Medals, recognising recipients who have established excellence in an area that has enhanced or developed the horticultural industry through activities such as research and development (including market research and development), education, training, technology transfer or advertising and promotion.

Dr John Possingham

Awarded honorary membership to AuSHS for major contribution to the International Society for Horticultural Science and AuSHS.

At the concluding General Assembly of the 26th International Horticultural Congress held in Toronto Canada in mid August 2002, Dr. John Possingham was made an ISHS Honorary Life Member for his many contributions to the work of the Society. His active involvement with ISHS began with his attendance at the 15th Congress held in Tel Aviv Israel in 1970 where he both contributed to the scientific program and represented Australia as a Council Member. From then on, he attended every Congress of the Society except the one held in 1974 in Maryland USA. He was active in the many facets of the Australian congress of 1978 and served for an initial period as a member of the Scientific Program Committee. He served as a Council Member for Australia for over 30 years stepping down at the Toronto congress.

As a proponent and inaugural Vice President, Johns enthusiasm and leadership was instrumental in the establishment of the AuSHS in 1990, and from 1993-1994 the society continued to evolve under his guidance as President. In March 2005, the society honored John with a life membership of the society. After a long involvement with both the ISHS and AuSHS, John now uses his horticultural skills in managing a vineyard in the McLaren Vale area of South Australia where he grows wine grapes to produce an export quality wine. His counsel, assistance and support to the bid made by AuSHS for a future Congress in Brisbane was instrumental in the bids success, and as a testament, the 2014 International Horticultural Congress was held in Brisbane.

Dr Russ Stephenson

After graduating at UQ and completing honours and a PhD, Russ spent a post-doctoral year at the University of Georgia, USA. He then worked in the Agriculture Faculty, University of Papua New Guinea, serving as Dean of the Faculty for two years. He studied an unexploited crop, the winged bean. After five years in PNG, Russ returned to Australia and a research position at the Maroochy Research Station.

At Maroochy, Russ was part of a team that contributed to the development of emerging tropical and sub-tropical fruits and nuts, specialising in macadamia.

Russ played an active role in the Australian Society of Horticultural Science (AuSHS), serving a couple of committees as Secretary. Towards the end of his career, Russ launched bids to host the International Horticultural Congress in Australia (IHC). About 14 years later, a successful congress was hosted at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracting 3,500 delegates from around the world. It was an outstanding, successful scientific, and social, event. Russ’s efforts in organising post-congress tours contributed to a solid profit for the benefit of AuSHS.

In retirement, Russ is carrying out a project to alleviate malnutrition in a remote, impoverished part of PNG.