Born near Fremantle, WA, Gillian grew up amongst the banksia woodlands of Yangebup/Spearwood, moved to Geraldton for most of her schooling, then shifted to Margaret River in 2014 with her husband and two sons for a larger dose of trees and cool weather.
Her earliest garden memory is of the vegetables and lush trees of her Great Grandparents back yard and wondering why no other gardens looked the same. After some early experiences of homegrown potatoes, parsley and 3 pet chooks, Gillian completed both a Certificate 3 in Horticulture and a Fair Harvest PDC in 2020, followed by Permaculture Teacher Training with Rosemary Morrow in 2022.
Alongside teaching at the Fair Harvest PDCs, Gillian works at Lazarus Horticulture, runs a small Permaculture Consultancy business and hosts “Garden Party” on Radio Margaret River. She and her husband have also set up their 2017sqm Witchcliffe property to be an example of Permaculture systems and zoning, with vegetables, 2 orchards, chickens, worms, compost system and compost toilet, grey water, native plants and many future plans, including bees.