They know their banana plants but what do you know about them?
Dr Hazel Gaza
Soil Ecologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Hazel is a key researcher in an Australian Centre of International Agriculture Research project developing an integrated management response to the spread of Fusarium wilt of banana in Southeast Asia. Hazel seeks to determine how farm management practices change the microbiome of bananas and the susceptibility of bananas to Fusarium wilt. Hazel is also developing a soil health kit for use by overseas project-partners to assess the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils under different farm management practices. This kit will also be made available to local growers, agricultural consultants and researchers for monitoring in-field soil health.
‘I am excited about the potential uses and benefits of our results for soil and plant health’, said Hazel. ‘I am motivated by the fact that our work could assist in ensuring a healthier Australian banana industry for the future.’
Outside of work Hazel enjoys tending to her veggie patch, walking on a treadmill while watching Netflix. Since moving to FNQ, she has been exploring the different islands along the Great Barrier Reef with her family.
Hazel’s favourite banana recipe is ‘Turon’ which is deep fried spring roll wrapped sliced Saba (a cooking banana originating from the Philippines) coated with brown sugar.
Jeff Daniells
Principal Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Richard Piper
Entomologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Wayne O’Neill
Plant Pathologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
Kathy Crew
Plant Pathologist (Virology)
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
Tegan Kukulies
Development Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Kathy Grice
Senior Experimentalist (Plant Pathology)
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Profile
David East
Plant Pathologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Tony Pattison
Principal Nematologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Hazel Gaza
Soil Ecologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Katie Ferro
Research Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Stewart Lindsay
Team Leader – Banana Production Systems
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Shanara Veivers
Research Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Carole Wright
Senior Biometrician
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Ingrid Jenkins
Information Development Officer
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Tom Flanagan
Industry Development Officer
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute
Wollongbar
Jennifer Cobon
Principal Experimentalist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ecosciences Precinct
Brisbane
Peter Trevorrow
Senior Plant Pathologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Nandita Pathania
Plant Pathologist (Bacteriologist)
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mareeba Research Facility
Mareeba
Rob Mayers
NQ Field Officer
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone
Profile
Ashley Balsom
Technical Officer
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture
South Johnstone