Community News

Grand Champion winner (right) Dianne Moran, with (centre) Maclean Bowls Club supervisor Aidan Daniels and Club president Judy Abbott.

Maclean & District Orchid Society

Our next meeting is Saturday May 18 at the Presbyterian Church Hall, Church Street Maclean. Plants are benched by 1pm, the meeting to begin after the judging, by 1.30pm. Lucky door and raffle prizes, plus afternoon tea are included. Neville Anderson, president of the Woolgoolga Orchid Society is to share his experience. So if you are interested in orchid culture, do feel welcome to come along.

Our recent Autumn Show at the Maclean Bowls Club was full of nature’s beauty to peruse on the show benches. Thanks go to our valued members, judges, sponsors, and the public, for your appreciated interest, goodwill and support.

Raffle winners as follows: fruit tray and voucher – Judy Abbott; Sugar Mill pack 1 – Kay Crook; Sugar Mill pack 2 – Sue King; Yamba vouchers – Annie Hubbard; orchid – Tony Jones; Home Hardware pack – Judy Abbott; Iluka vouchers – Pete Graham; blue gift bag – Wanda; yellow gift pack – John Hughes; Maclean vouchers – Geoff.

Congratulations to winners whose beauties found a place on the tables of Champions, as follows: Grand Champion and Oncidium Alliance Oncostele Wildcat – Dianne Moran; Reserve Champion and Cattleya other, C. CRB’s nice spots – Danny Bell; culture, specimen, species, all Gomesa Radicans – Brian Donaghy; the Encouragement Trophy – Jim & Beth Organ; Cattleya exhibition Rlc. Burdekin Bells “Rosco”, Vandaceous V. Ashley Lowe “Cerise” and Miscellaneous Paph. Transvaal, all went to Terry & Penny Bird; Dendrobium (D. Patricia Ward x Kuranda Classic) x Dal’s Dream, Foliage Bromeliad, and cut flower Coleus, all went to Brian Donaghy; Floral Art with orchid – Helen Connolly.

At our previous pre-show meeting, 86 beautiful plants were benched, and VP Terry Bird had the orchid winners, as follows: Judge’s Choice Vanda Haad Ravai x V. Guo Chia Long, also tying with two more of Terry’s for Popular Vote: Aliceara Pacific Nova “Okika” and the stately classic Ctt. Porcia “Canizaro.” In the flower section, club secretary Sue King won with her large orange Dahlia. Guest speaker Brian Heath (president of the Grafton Orchid Society), shared his much appreciated experience on Vandas.

Penny Bird