Category: Edition Highlights

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Founder, Chairman, and guiding light, Chris (CJ) Garrard OAM.

Chris passed away in the early hours of Monday morning, July 14 2025.

Together with his wife Maureen, Chris founded Garrards in April 1985. What began as a family business has grown into a proud legacy now spanning three generations. 

Chris took immense pride in this journey and in every person who has contributed to shaping Garrards into the company it is today. A man of unwavering integrity, generosity, and dedication, Chris was a hard worker

who embraced life fully and gave his all to the Pest Management, Horse Racing and Greyhound Racing industries.

CJ’s word was his bond. His handshake meant trust, and his presence meant strength. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Chris was a beloved husband of Maureen, loving father and father-in-law of Daren and Gayle, Rodney and Sally, Ashley and Elizabeth, Pop of Tahleia, Angus, Charlyse, Sienna, Kiana and Liam, brother of Delma, brother-in-law and cherished uncle.

Chris Garrard’s light will never fade from our hearts.

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Electric ants are a serious invasive pest that have the potential to impact our outdoor lifestyle, unique environment and profitable tourism and agriculture industries.

They can inflict a painful, long-lasting, venomous sting. The reaction from their sting can range from moderate to severe pain and, in rare

cases, may cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). For these reasons, electric ants are category 1 restricted matter under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. 

Under the Act, all Queenslanders have a general biosecurity obligation to manage biosecurity risks and threats that are under their control,

they know about or they are expected to know about.

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The exotic Macao paper wasp, Polistes olivaceus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), also called yellow oriental paper wasp, was first detected in the Cocos-Keeling Islands in 2015.

The Cocos-Keeling Islands (CKI) are an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, midway between Australia and Sri Lanka and close to Indonesia.

The islands consist of two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, of which only two are inhabited with a population of around 600 residents, plus visitors. The islands are a tropical oasis of white-sandy beaches and coconut palms and are known for their pristine oceans and azure waters, attracting tourists from around the world.

The Macao paper wasp (MPW) is a large social Polistine wasp exotic to Australia and its territories. The wasp is up to 26mm long, deep yellow in colour, has yellow antennae and legs and wavy black abdominal bands that can distinguish it from other Polistine wasps.

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North Queensland pest control expert Eddie Pearce knows pests – and has the photos to prove it!

Eddie conducts Absolute Aussie Pest Management at Tolga, a rural town in the Tablelands region, home to about 3200 people and about 8km from Atherton.

The centre of the region’s peanut industry, Tolga is home to the Big Peanut, which has stood tall for more than 40 years.

Go to pg 5 to read the entire article.

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It has been said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend…but for Maureen Garrard, it’s something else! Maureen’s ‘diamond’ and best friend is her husband, Chris, with whom she recently celebrated a 60th diamond wedding anniversary.

Chris and Maureen are pleased to see a third-generation member of the Garrard clan working in the family business, as it celebrates 40 years of operation in 2025.

The Garrards were surrounded by family and friends to celebrate the milestone.

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Several hundred cars – none worth more than $1,500 – make their way annually through outback Australia, parts often unknown.

Enter two middle-aged South Australian women, each driving while the other navigates.

Welcome to the world of Leanne Beyer, who with her husband, Anthony, conducts Murray Pest Control at Jamestown, some 220km from Adelaide, en route to the Flinders Ranges.

Leanne and her ‘partner in crime,’ Margie Simpson, have competed in the past four Shitbox Rallies, and are warming for their fifth, with each

Rally having been at the wheel of Marlea – originally called Stumpy – with whom the pair won the Shitbox Rally Team Theme for the Spring Rally last year.

Go to pg 28 to read the entire article.

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Andy Richards, the owner-operator of Echidna Termite and Pest Solutions in Adelaide is, by anyone’s standards, busy.

“Richo” coaches and plays in the SA Collegiate league soccer competition, as well as competing in trail running events in the off-season.

If that isn’t enough, on the weekends and “free” time, he is often found walking on the beach or the bush trails with his wife Taresa, and their dog, Cuba.

Go to pg6 to read the entire article.

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When Adelaide’s Scott Lamb started with Garrards, Queen Elizabeth II was our monarch, eggs cost 87 cents a dozen and the national population was 17.66 million people.

Meat Loaf had the number one single, “I’d Do Anything For Love” in 1993, but how things have changed!

Meat Loaf has since passed, Australia is now home to 25.69 million people, or at least according to the 2021 census, and Scott Lamb is still going strong.

Go to pg5 to read the entire article.

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It was an early start – Adelaide, Mildura and Melbourne in March, then to New Zealand in May with five Garrards Roadshows, from Queenstown to Auckland.

Australian Roadshows started in Albury in late May and worked through New South Wales and Queensland to Cairns, with Roadshows every second week, though to mid-July.

A final trip to the west, Bunbury and Perth, pulled the curtain down for 2023.

Go to P11 for the full review.

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They breed them tough in the tropics, or so it would seem.

Audy Geiszler, of Audy Geiszler Pest Control in Bowen, services far and wide: Airlie Beach, Emerald, Mackay, Sarina and Twonsville and the Whitsundays.

It was a case of Audy almost going missing when he heard hissing, when he recently found brown tree snakes using a rodent bait box for a cosy morning snooze.

Go to P40 for more pictures

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