20th October 2025

Today marks a truly special day — the 20th anniversary of JGS Group, JGS Roses, and John’s Gardening. For John, this milestone is more than a measure of time in business; it’s a celebration of resilience, passion, and love shared through every garden cared for and every rose grown along the way.

From humble beginnings back in 2005, John set out with a pair of secateurs, a small trailer, and a big dream — to make gardens flourish and communities bloom. Over time, his business became more than a job; it became a life’s purpose rooted deeply in dedication and heart. Yet, beneath every success lies a story of loss, hope, and meaning. John continues this journey in memory of Ella, whose encouragement and faith gave him the strength to begin and the courage to continue. Her belief still guides every seed planted and every client helped.

Through challenges and triumphs, John has built something lasting — a business that reflects care, honesty, and connection. Each project tells a story: a once‑neglected garden brought back to colour, an open garden transformed into a peaceful retreat, or a single rose plant shared with someone just beginning their gardening journey.

What makes this anniversary even more meaningful is that it celebrates not only what has grown in the soil, but also what has grown in spirit — friendships, trust, and a deep sense of community.

John says, “Every garden has its own rhythm, just like life. You nurture it, learn from it, and treasure every season.” Those words carry the heart of what JGS Group stands for — doing things with purpose, pride, and gratitude.

As John celebrates this 20‑year milestone today, he extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of the story: loyal customers, supportive friends, and those who’ve believed in his vision. This isn’t the end of a chapter, but the blooming of another — continuing Ella’s legacy and ensuring her kindness lives on in every flower that blooms.

A Message of Thanks

As this special day unfolds, John would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been part of the JGS story. To every loyal customer who welcomed him into their gardens, every friend who offered encouragement, and every supporter who kept believing — you’ve each played a part in helping this dream grow.

Over the years, your trust, kindness, and word‑of‑mouth support have turned a simple gardening service into a lasting part of the community. You’ve reminded John that what truly matters isn’t just the gardens we grow, but the friendships and memories we nurture along the way.

Today is more than an anniversary — it’s a reflection of everything we’ve built together, rooted in care, gratitude, and shared love for the land. Thank you all, from the bottom of John’s heart, for being part of this beautiful journey.

Where I am now has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get here. I lived rough during that time, even living on the streets and having to fend of threats and other bad omens. I left my homeland New Zealand many years ago to try and better myself and to try and leave the bad memories behind. But they followed me here and all I could do was take control and learn to live life as best as I could.

Arriving in Australia was the new start I needed. I lived in and around Sydney before moving to Queensland and finally I made the move to Western Australia.

It was here, that I decided to start my own business. It was here that during that time I met Ella. Ella cared enough to show me how to be my best. She taught me how to prune roses and encouraged me to keep at it. She was there for me and took me on when know one else had the time for me.

Ella taught me how to put my trust into what I was doing and to grow my business. She knew me when I first started out on my push bike and trailer. She was still there as my business grew and she encouraged me to be the person I try to be every day. I don’t trust a lot of people, but I put my trust in her. Ella wasn’t just a mentor, my mentor, she was my friend.

Eventually over time, Ella and her family became my family. When Ella was unwell, I tried to see her as much as possible and I didn’t realise how close we were. She told me she believed in me and that I could do what I was doing and do it well. She encouraged me to keep going. I realised that Ella was family that I didn’t have before, and her words have stuck with me.

A lot of people wonder why I keep her memory alive, and it is because she believed that I could continue growing my business and as I grew, my confidence to do better would improve. I made a promise to Ella that I would keep going and build my business up for her.

When Ella died, I felt my world crumble. She was my rock and kept me going, but I didn’t even want to get out of bed. I didn’t want to venture out and see people, I wanted to hide away. And one day, I remembered my promise to Ella, and I got up, dusted myself off and got back out there. I am so glad I did that because her memory keeps me going every day.

I have learnt one very important lesson in life and that is family doesn’t have to be blood related. Family can be people who have opened their hearts to you and have welcomed you into their world. Ella and her family have done just that and every year we take time to celebrate life and remember Ella for the mother, friend, mentor and wonderful lady she was.

In Memory of Ella
14-08-2010

A lot of people look at what I do and the way I showcase my business and think that I have had it easy, but it hasn’t been easy. In fact, there were many times that I wanted to give up but before Ella died, I made a promise, and that promise was to keep going and to continue building up my business.

Some people have wondered why I stuck to that promise and it’s because Ella believed in me. She told me I could do it. She said that she believed in me and that I was worth something and I should never give up.

Many of you may not have heard the story of Ella. Ella was a neighbour and without her help and her support and belief I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Ella was a powerful woman and she taught me many things about life, about rose pruning and that I was a person that could do whatever I set my mind to. She helped me grow and she also taught me how to grow roses, how to prune them and how to nurture them. She gave me the confidence to build my business because she trusted me. She believed in me and the best way I could move forward was to believe in myself.

When I first met Ella, my life was not great, but I had started a small business, and I felt it wasn’t going far but I needed to make ends meet and the money I was making was paying the bills. I had a pushbike, a trailer and my two hands and from there I made a business.

Ella saw that I was trying to improve my life every day and we would talk and we got to know each other well. She became family to me and at that time, I had no family that backed me or supported me. Ella was different, she was a very kind lady and she wasn’t scared of hard work. Because she ran her own business she was able to guide me and she taught me how to respect the people who would become my clients.

Ella was kind to everyone, and I saw her treat her family with respect and love and that was something I had never experienced. Overtime we became good friends, and I was welcomed into their home, and I felt like part of their family.

Ella taught me how to look after roses. She taught me how to prune them right and to look after them so they would grow strong after each pruning, and they would be healthy through the rose seasons. I have taken all that she has taught me, and I use those lessons in my business. Roses may only be seasonal to some, but you need to continue that care throughout the year.

With the weather changing so dramatically every year it doesn’t hurt to keep a check on the roses. Over the last 12 months we had a disease that could have wiped out a lot of roses but with the care provided I was able to keep on top of it and the roses continued to thrive.

My love for roses keeps growing stronger and over the past few weeks a couple of clients have referred to me as the king of roses. And when someone mentions that I know in my heart that I would not be where I am today if Ella had not befriended me and told me she believed in me. Her care, her trust, and her belief in me, has helped me continue to grow my business.

And I now believe that if you believe in yourself you can grow as a person and you can also grow a business.

In Memory of Ella
14-08-10

This blog is to let people know that no matter how tough life can be, you can turn it around and have a life that is pretty good.

So back when I was in school, I was classed as a no hoper and a failure and when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told everyone I wanted to be a business man running my own business. They all virtually laughed at me.

Back then a family member took a liking to me and that sort of stuff quickly changes how you see life, so I really needed to get away. When I was old enough I told mum I was going to Australia to start a new life, and I did.

I didn’t have a lot of money but I did it. I managed to get a job, it was a struggle but I made it work. I went from Sydney, to Brisbane to Perth and I am still here in Perth working on and in my business.

A few years ago I went on a holiday back to New Zealand and I arrived in the country as a business man and felt proud. I was proud that I had come from a horrible abusive childhood to being a business man. Life can be tough but, if you can pick yourself up, life can change…

I decided some years before I started my business that I wanted to be a business man. At that time I had no idea what I was going to do but I just knew I wanted to run my own business.

When the opportunity happened I decided to start mowing lawns for people in my neighbourhood. I took my lawn mower with me and there was an occasion when I had someone drive me and he would wait while I mowed the lawns and then take me home.

I knew that with starting a business I had to advertise and I did. I also had someone build me a website because I needed everything to go my way when it came to people finding me. I put small ads in the classifieds and slowly started building up clients.

One day I saw a guy who made trailers for bikes and I went and saw him. He made me one and I hooked it up to my bike and started riding to my clients to do quotes and their lawns.

Starting my own business John’s Gardening was the best thing I had ever done. Not only had a done what I said I would do, but I was now on the path to being the best business man I could be.