Turf Queensland

10/03/2026

Attracting and retaining good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf growers, particularly those operating in regional areas.

Following on from last month’s webinar with Sarah Winwood, Director at UPP HR, who shared practical insights on how businesses can better attract talent, strengthen their employee value proposition and stay ahead of changing HR legislation, this month’s session takes the conversation a step further.

Join Jodie Thompson, Director of M Group, as she walks us through the employee lifecycle and the true cost of getting it wrong. This session will focus on the people side of running a business and some of the common pitfalls employers run into when recruiting, managing and retaining staff.

For businesses already feeling the pressure of labour shortages, understanding these challenges can make a real difference to building and maintaining a strong team.

📅 Register for the webinar here:
https://www.trybooking.com/DITGY

These sessions are delivered through our Business Resilience Partners, designed to provide practical support to turf growers navigating the challenges of running a business.

10/02/2026

We’re on today at 12pm!

If attracting and retaining good people is something you’re thinking about (and let’s be honest… who isn’t?), jump into our 1 hour webinar delivered by UPP HR.

We’ll be covering practical strategies to help you build and keep a strong team, especially in a tight labour market.

It’s just one hour, small group, and focused on what actually works.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

Attracting and keeping good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf businesses, particularly in a physically demanding industry.

In this practical webinar, UPP HR will walk Turf Queensland members through what’s really happening in today’s labour market and what business owners can do to stand out as an employer of choice, without overcomplicating HR.

What we’ll cover:
• The top 5 hiring challenges businesses are facing right now (and why the old approaches aren’t working)
• Practical attraction strategies to help you find the right people for your business
• What employees actually want from their workplace and employer, backed by current stats and trends
• The most common reasons employees quit, and how to reduce turnover before it happens
• How to effectively manage and engage different generations in the workplace

We’ll also include a brief legislative update at the end of the session, highlighting key changes employers should be aware of.

This session is designed to be practical, relevant and action-focused, with clear takeaways you can apply immediately in your turf business.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

07/01/2026

Attracting and keeping good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf businesses, particularly in a physically demanding industry.

In this practical webinar, UPP HR will walk Turf Queensland members through what’s really happening in today’s labour market and what business owners can do to stand out as an employer of choice, without overcomplicating HR.

What we’ll cover:
• The top 5 hiring challenges businesses are facing right now (and why the old approaches aren’t working)
• Practical attraction strategies to help you find the right people for your business
• What employees actually want from their workplace and employer, backed by current stats and trends
• The most common reasons employees quit, and how to reduce turnover before it happens
• How to effectively manage and engage different generations in the workplace

We’ll also include a brief legislative update at the end of the session, highlighting key changes employers should be aware of.

This session is designed to be practical, relevant and action-focused, with clear takeaways you can apply immediately in your turf business.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

21/11/2025

National Ag Day 2025

Turf growers may not always be in the spotlight, but their work touches every part of our communities:
Cooling our cities with natural turf Providing safe surfaces for kids to play and athletes to compete Leading the way in biosecurity and sustainable farming practices

Today we celebrate the farmers who grow more than turf, they grow green spaces, protect our environment, and create jobs across Queensland.

20/11/2025

Sarah Mason from Coastal Turf explains the serious impact Red Imported Fire Ants are having on turf producers, supply chains, and the industry as a whole.

Key takeaways for turf growers:
• Understand the risks RIFA poses to production and delivery.
• Stay up to date with biosecurity requirements and best practice programs.
• Work collectively to protect our industry and maintain supply integrity.

Queensland growers can access Turf360 at absolutely no cost, which includes Australia’s first RIFA Best Practice Management Program, along with all the forms, guides, and templates needed to ensure compliance.

Importantly, Turf360 not only helps you manage RIFA compliance, it also provides guidance on water and nutrient management, WHS, sustainability, and more, giving you a complete toolkit to grow the healthiest, highest-quality turf possible.

19/11/2025

Great to see Turf NSW continuing to engage in the RIFA space and building on the learnings coming out of Queensland. We’ve been working closely with DPI Queensland, NSW and the National Program Team to make sure the current treatment requirements are practical, achievable and still meet compliance standards for growers.

As part of that, we recently submitted a proposal to amend the special directive under APVMA Permit 14317 on behalf of Queensland turf growers. The submission focuses on improving workability for farmers while maintaining the treatment efficacy the program relies on. Key elements include:
Moving to a 21-day spray cycle with two bifenthrin applications at the same rate, reducing unnecessary repeat sprays but keeping growers fully compliant. Providing flexibility for weather and customer scheduling, while still meeting the required 48-hour withholding period.

These changes were put forward to help address some of the challenges growers have been consistently raising with us, including: Weather disruptions during the 7-day pre-harvest window forcing re-applications Operational issues when customer plans shift at short notice The financial and labour pressure caused by repeated treatments The extra burden on smaller farms and those managing multiple turf varieties who often end up spraying the same ground several times.

We’ll keep sharing updates as the process progresses, and we’re always keen to collaborate so growers across all states are aligned and supported.

18/11/2025

Partner Spotlight: Celebrating a New Chapter with Jodie Thompson & M Group

We’re excited to shine a light on one of our valued Business Resilience Partners, Jodie Thompson, who many of you have already met through the Farm Business Resilience Program.

Jodie is the Director of the newly rebranded M Group Sunshine Coast — previously known as Mulcahy & Co — and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside her.

After 27 years as Mulcahy & Co, the business has launched its next evolution: M Group. With 22 business owners, 180 professionals, and an expanded suite of financial services, the new brand reflects their growth, innovation, and commitment to meeting the changing needs of clients across Australia.

From Accounting, Taxation, Mortgage & Finance Broking, Superannuation & SMSFs, through to Legal, Business Advisory, Succession Planning, and even Marketing & Web services — the M Group team truly covers it all.

And at the centre of it on the Sunshine Coast is Jodie.

With almost 30 years’ experience across Australia and abroad (including Price Waterhouse Coopers, Citibank, and Enterprise Energy Ireland), Jodie brings a depth of knowledge that has earned her titles such as Sunshine Coast Professional Business Woman of the Year, alongside multiple business awards for her firm.

Through our program, Jodie is available to help turf growers strengthen their business foundations and plan with confidence, including:

✅ Business advice & planning
✅ Taxation & succession planning
✅ Superannuation & SMSFs
✅ Business acquisitions & growth strategies
✅ Cloud accounting & app integrations

Turf growers can book a free 30-minute consultation with Jodie — a great first step in building long-term resilience.

📧 jodie.thompson@mulcahy.com.au

📞 07 5413 9300

💡 And stay tuned — Jodie will be delivering a workshop early next year. You won’t want to miss it.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

20/10/2025

Turf Queensland AGM & Industry Social – A Night to Remember!

Friday night’s Turf Queensland AGM and Industry Social was, as always, an evening full of energy, camaraderie, and celebration. The room was filled with familiar faces and new faces alike, a reminder of the strength and unity of our turf community.
Hugo shared a heartfelt recap of the journey we’ve been on. From joining the board in 2017 to hosting the turning point event Paddock to Pitch during COVID, an event that brought growers and suppliers back together, reconnected members, and reminded us why our industry is so special. Hugo spoke about the dedication of the board, sponsors, and members, from late-night barbecues and packing tents to midnight emails and countless acts of support, all contributing to Turf Queensland’s growth into the strong, independent association it is today.

After six years as President, Hugo has stepped down, leaving Turf Queensland in a strong position and opening a new chapter of leadership. We are thrilled to welcome Amanda Smyth, Director at Wild Horse Turf, as our new President. Amanda will guide Turf Queensland through a year of growth, including the launch of our membership offering, designed to support businesses of all sizes and help them stay compliant with ever-changing Fair Work and WHS legislation. We are also pleased to welcome Corey Fordyce from Marion Lawns as Vice President.

We were thrilled to welcome our newest members, Doug and Dean from The Turf Shed, as well as Alex White, Vice President of Turf Australia, joining us for the evening. Hugo’s speech reminded us all of the importance of collaboration, professionalism, and innovation in the turf industry. He spoke passionately about Turf 360, the industry’s first third-party accreditation system, and its role in protecting farms, customers, and the future of turf in Australia.

We also acknowledge that Sarah Jane Mason has stepped away from the board to focus on her growing family business. We thank her immensely for all the work she has done and the value she has added over the years.

It was a night of reflection, celebration, and optimism, a reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. Congratulations to Amanda Smyth and the board, and thank you to every grower, supplier, sponsor, and supporter who has contributed to Turf Queensland’s journey. Here’s to another year of progress, growth, and unity in our industry!

01/10/2025

https://youtu.be/FdgVAq4OGqE?si=VBODMLoF7jsVPVZU

When innovation leads the way, we start rethinking what’s possible.

We’re thrilled to welcome ICL as our Platinum Partner.
Their leadership in turf nutrition and sustainable solutions aligns perfectly with our vision for a stronger, more resilient turf industry.

🌏 Our Commitment Beyond TurfAt Tinamba Turf, we’re working every day to reduce our environmental footprint and build a stronger future:Environment: Smarter ...

29/09/2025

A big thank you to our 2025 Annual Sponsors!

ICL – Platinum Partner
Living Turf – Gold Partner
K&B Adams – Silver Partner
Trimax Mowers – Bronze Partner

Your support helps us grow and strengthen the turf industry!

And a very special thanks to Turfbreed for sponsoring the reduced ticket price for growers.

Don’t forget: This is the last week to register for the AGM and Industry Social!

Friday, 17th October from 5pm

Secure your spot here ➡️ https://www.trybooking.com/DESLT

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23/09/2025

Have You Met Jodie Thompson?

Jodie Thompson is a Business Resilience Partner with Turf Queensland and a Director at both Mulcahy & Co Sunshine Coast and Evolve Online Bookkeeping.

With almost 30 years’ experience in accounting and financial services, Jodie has worked with clients locally and nationally, supporting them in taxation, accounting, business planning and advisory. She also holds a limited financial advisor licence, providing advice on superannuation and self-managed super funds.

Jodie’s career began on the Sunshine Coast before taking her overseas, working with leading organisations such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, Citibank, and Enterprise Energy Ireland (Shell). She has since built a strong reputation back home, recognised as Sunshine Coast’s Professional Business Woman of the Year and guiding her firm to win multiple business awards.

Her expertise covers:
✅ Business advice & planning
✅ Taxation & succession planning
✅ Superannuation & SMSFs
✅ Business acquisitions & growth strategies
✅ Cloud accounting & app integrations

Through her role as a Business Resilience Partner, Jodie is available to help turf growers strengthen their businesses and plan for the future.

Growers can reach out for a free 30-minute consultation with Jodie.

Stay tuned for Jodie's workshop coming up early next year, it's one not to be missed.

Contact Jodie:
jodie.thompson@mulcahy.com.au
07 5413 9300

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.

17/09/2025

Have You Met Alexandra Mexis from Sketch Corp?

As the Founder and Managing Director of Sketch Corp, Alexandra Mexis has been shaping the way Australian agribusiness tells its story since 2014. With a background in marketing and international business, Alexandra built Sketch Corp as a specialist agriculture marketing agency to give agribusinesses the long-term, connected support they deserve.

Her work is all about helping producers, growers and agribusiness leaders build strong brands, sharpen their communications, and achieve real commercial outcomes. From positioning and messaging, through to digital delivery, campaigns and stakeholder engagement, Alexandra and her team have partnered with some of Australia’s most iconic agricultural brands, as well as innovative small operators who are changing the game.

At the heart of her approach is one clear belief: Australian agriculture deserves marketing that is as strong, future-focused and resilient as the people behind it. That’s why Sketch Corp works closely with clients to build foundations that last and strategies that deliver.

Turf Queensland is proud to have Alexandra and Sketch Corp as a Business Resilience Partner, bringing proven experience, creativity and deep respect for growers to our network.

Exclusive for Turf Growers: Alexandra is offering a free 30-minute consultation to help you explore ways to strengthen your brand, marketing and communications. Don’t miss the chance to tap into her expertise!

📞 Contact Alexandra Mexis: 07 3369 6100 or a.mexis@sketchcorp.com

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.