About the Orchid
Society of Canberra
The Orchid Society of Canberra was formed in
late 1983 by about 20 orchid enthusiasts to exchange information
and provide assistance with orchid growing in Canberra
conditions. Membership now stands in excess of 100; meetings are
lively and well attended. Monthly meetings feature interstate and
local speakers, hints and problem discussion, an extensive
library, trading table and the ever beautiful plant display and
popular vote.
The trading table provides an opportunity
for members to sell plants which are surplus to their needs or
which they have raised for sale. A small commission is charged on
sales. Also on sale are various orchid supplies (pots, cork
etc).
Members display flowering plants at the
meetings. The popular vote involves all members present voting
for the plant they consider the best in each category and the
plant they consider the best overall.
The Society organises an annual spring show.
The show is usually held on the middle or last weekend of September
at St John's Church Hall, Reid. For
information on the next show click
here.
Social activities for members are regularly
organised, including bus trips, Open Greenhouses, bushwalks and
workshops for beginners. Walks are also organised to look for and
photograph local native orchids.
The Society publishes a bulletin six times a
year that is full of orchid news and growing tips. Click here for recent releases.
The Society has recently published a book
Growing Orchids in Cool Climate
Australia: with Special reference to Canberra . This book
provides a wide range of information on orchids for those parts
of Australia which experience frosty winters and hot dry
summers.
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Committee Members
|
President
|
Jane Wright |
| Vice President |
Laurie Woods |
| Secretary and Pulic Officer |
Robyn Noel |
| Treasurer |
Bill Ferris |
| Ordinary |
- |
| - |
Peter Coyne |
| - |
Robert Forrester |
| - |
Karen Groeneveld |
| - |
Zoe Groeneveld |
- |
John Ryan |
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The membership year begins 1st May. Members
receive the Bulletin and are entitled to borrow books and
journals from the Society library, enter their orchids in the
show and participate in all other Society activities. New members
also receive a Society membership badge.
|
Current
Dues
|
|
Single:
|
$25.00
|
|
Family or
Joint:
|
$30.00
|
|
Junior (< 17
years):
|
$5.00
|
To obtain an application form to join the
Orchid Society of Canberra, please print the application form
available here in Word format
or pdf.
Complete and post to the Society at
PO Box 221
Deakin West ACT 2600
or bring to a meeting.
Please note: payment of annual subscription
is to accompany application for membership. The Society can only
accept cheques, money orders or cash - EFTPOS facilities are not
available.
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The Society meets on the first
Wednesday of each month from February to December.
Meetings are held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church,
cnr Gould and Macleay Sts, Turner ACT. The trading table and library commence business at
7:30pm, and the meeting proper begins at 8:00pm. New members and
visitors are always welcome. Advance notice of meetings is placed
on our events page and also published
in The Canberra Times (The Fridge Door section).
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|
In 1989 the Society adopted Petalochilus
fuscatus (syn. Caladenia fuscata) as its floral
emblem. Beautifully ornate and colourful flowers are a feature of
Caladenias, and Petalochilus fuscatus is no exception
with its bright pink blooms borne atop 20 cm stems. It is a
deciduous terrestrial, native to our region and flowers locally
from September to October. A walk on the hills around Canberra
city, especially Black Mountain, should reward the observant
hiker with a sighting of Petalochilus fuscatus*.
Like all Petalochilus, it grows from
subterranean tuberoids (which are dormant throughout summer) and
produces a solitary leaf which emerges in late Autumn. Although
nursery raised Petalochilus are available from specialist
nurseries, the majority of species are difficult to raise in
cultivation. Detailed culture notes, distributed by the society,
may help you achieve flowering.
Many of our members have specialised in
native terrestrials and exhibit pots of magnificent flowering
colonies each spring. Come along to a meeting and discover their
secrets.
|
* NB all Australian orchids
are protected
species
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This link
takes you to a html version of the Constitution with links to all
sections. It is not printer friendly at this stage.
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Years
|
Name
|
| Period of presidency extends from June of the
first year to May of the second |
| 1993- |
tba |
| 1993- |
tba
|
| 1993- |
tba |
| 2001-04 |
Jane Wright |
| 2004-05 |
Bob Bush |
| 2005-08 |
Ben Walcott |
| 2008-2011 |
Robyn Noel |
| 2011- |
Jane Wright |
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| Year |
Name |
| Only one person can be made a life member in any
one year |
|
tba
|
Joyce Linden |
| tba |
Judy Osborne |
| tba
|
Sheila Cudmore |
tba
|
Jane Wright |
| 2003 |
Lawrence Woods |
| 2005 |
Robert Rough |
| 2006 |
Audrey Rough |
| 2009 |
Mark Fraser |
| 2010 |
Bob Bush |
| 2011 |
Robyn Noel |
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Year
|
Name
|
Award
|
|
| 2003 |
Ben Wallace |
Meritorious Service Award (NSW) |
| 2005 |
Robyn Noel |
Meritorious Service Award (NSW) |
| 2006 |
Mark Fraser |
Meritorious Service Award (NSW) |
| 2011 |
Ben Walcott |
Meritorious Service Award (NSW) |
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