Blacktown City’s best green thumbs have been named in the 2023 Garden Competition.
Prospect’s Fortunato Vella was named Overall City Champion for the second year running for his outdoor oasis, while 2022 joint winner Geoff Kubbere, of Oakhurst, was named runner up.
Avid gardener Fortunato also received first prize for Best Front Garden, Best Garden in Ward 3 and second prize for Best Back Garden.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said Fortunato was one of Blacktown City’s finest gardeners.
“The Blacktown City Garden Competition is a chance to celebrate the green thumbs of our City, and acknowledge the hard work of our residents, businesses, schools and community groups, who play a big part in beautifying our City,” Mayor Bleasdale said.
“Congratulations to Fortunato for his back-to-back win. His ongoing success in the Garden Competition shows his talent and his green thumbs!
“The entries we receive continue to astound our judges each year and this is something all entrants should be extremely proud of.
“Thank you to the winners and all entrants for sharing their gardens with us and spreading joy with their neighbourhoods.”
The 2023 competition received 80 entries across 14 categories, with landscape designer Charlie Albone presenting the awards at a special ceremony.
Charlie Albone is an award-winning landscape designer and popular national television personality. After thirteen years on “Selling Houses Australia”, Charlie joined the Seven Network’s “Better Homes and Gardens’
Entries were assessed on key elements including design, construction, maintenance and sustainability.
Categories included Best Educational Facility Garden, Best Edible Garden, Best Australian Native Garden, Best Sustainable Garden and many more.
Winners shared in a cash prize pool worth more than $3000.
2023 Blacktown City Garden Competition winners
Champion Garden: 1st place Fortunato Vella, 2nd place Geoff Kubbere, 3rd place Eddie & Margaretta Rutkowski
Best Front Garden: 1st place Fortunato Vella, 2nd place Geoff Kubbere, 3rd place Hannelore Nawiesniak
Best Back Garden: 1st place Eddie & Margaretta Rutkowski, 2nd place Fortunato Vella, 3rd place Geoff Kubbere
Best Individual Residential (unit or townhouse): 1st place Rajani Shrestha, 2nd place Muhammed Ali
Best Community Garden: 1st place Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency (Neha Teli), 2nd place Bidwill Community Garden (Marjorie Mead)
Best Education Facility – High School/Primary/Early Learning: 1st place Mitchell High School (Barrie Stooke), 2nd place Chifley Collage, Bidwill Campus (David Giblin), 3rd place Blacktown North Public School (Sue Bishop)
Best Australian Native Garden: 1st place Blake Ormsby, 2nd place James Skondrianos
Best Garden by a Senior Citizen: 1st place Eddie & Margaretta Rutkowski, 2nd place Charlie Camilleri
Ward winners: Ward 1 Dennis Ringrose, Ward 2 Matthew Iwaszkiewics, Ward 3 Fortunato Vella, Ward 4 Virginia Russell, Ward 5 Geoff Kubbere
Best Edible Garden – Residential: 1st place Blake Ormsby
Best Edible Garden – School: 1st place Chifley College, Bidwill Campus (David Giblin)
Best Edible Garden – Other: 1st place MTC Australia Parklea Correctional Centre (Sanjeev Kumar)
Best Interesting & Unusual Plants: Winner Dennis Ringrose
Best Sustainable Garden: 1st place Blake Ormsby, 2nd place Chifley College, Bidwill Campus (David Giblin)
Best Garden by a person/ group with a disability: 1st place Greg Lustre, 2nd place Sir Trevor Garland
Best Themed or Novel Garden: 1st place Virginia Russell
Picture: Winners of the 2023 Blacktown City Garden Competition
