About the Orchid Society of Canberra
Trichocentrum pumilum
Paphiopedilum insigne
Oncidium edwallii
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 around 100; meetings are informative 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). These supplies are for purchase by members only.
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. Information on the next show.
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.
The Society has recently published a second edition of its 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.
Committee Members 2025-26
- Executive President: Jane Wright
- Vice President: Bill Ferris
- Treasurer: Scott Mann
- Secretary: Claire Turner
- Public Officer: Peter Coyne
Ordinary members:
- Brian Dear
- Krysia Szkiela
- Jacqui Turner
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 and full time students): $5.00
To obtain an application form to join the Orchid Society of Canberra, please download the application form
Complete and post to the Society at:
Orchid Society of Canberra Inc
PO Box 3312
Belconnen DC, ACT 2617
Alternatively, bring your completed form to a meeting or email to treasurer@canberraorchids.org
Please note: payment of annual subscription should accompany application for membership. The Society can accept cheques, money orders or cash, EFTPOS or by direct deposit to the Society account. Please indicate on your application if payment is by direct deposit.
The Society meets on the first Wednesday of each month from February to December at:
the Ainslie Football Club, 52 Wakefield Av, Ainslie ACT.
beginning at 7:30pm, with setup from 7:00pm.
New members and visitors are always welcome. Advance notice of meetings is placed on our events page and in our Bulletin.
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
At the 2014 Annual General Meeting the Society adopted a new constitution. The new constitution follows closely the Model Code of the ACT Office of Regulatory Services.
Period of presidency extends from June of the first year to May of the second. Under the Society’s constitution, a member can serve as president for no more than three consecutive years, but can more than one term as president.
Presidents of the Orchid Society
- pre 1988 tba
- 1988-90 Bill Handke
- 1990-91 Judy Osborne
- 1991-92 Geoff Dyne
- 1992-96 Sheila Cudmore
- 1996-98 Jane Wright
- 1998-2001 Laurie Woods
- 2001-04 Jane Wright
- 2004-05 Bob Bush
- 2005-08 Ben Walcott
- 2008-11 Robyn Noel
- 2011-14 Jane Wright
- 2014-17 Bill Ferris
- 2017-19 Jane Wright
- 2019-21 Mike Pieloor
- 2021-24 Bill Ferris
- 2024- Jane Wright
Life Members of the Orchid Society
- Tba Joyce Linden
- Tba Judy Osborne
- Tba Sheila Cudmore
- 1999 Jane Wright
- 2001 Les Lincoln
- 2003 Lawrence Woods
- 2005 Robert Rough
- 2006 Audrey Rough
- 2009 Mark Fraser
- 2010 Bob Bush
- 2011 Robyn Noel
- 2018 Bill Ferris
- 2022 Karen Groeneveld
- 2024 Derek Corrigan
No more than two persons can be made a life member in any one year (2014 Constitution)
- 1999 Audry Rough Meritorious Service Award (NSW)
- 1999 June Alden Meritorious Service Award (NSW)
- 2001 Lynne Phelan Meritorious Service Award (NSW)
- 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)
- 2012 Bill Ferris Meritorious Service Award (NSW)
- 2022 Derek Corrigan Meritorious Service Award (NSW)
At each meeting when plants are benched, members attending vote for the plant they consider is the best in each category and the best overall. The award goes to the member/s who have the highest aggregate for the year.
Prior to 2012 the winner held the Graham Phillis trophy for the next 12 months. With the move away from perpetual trophies, separate trophies are presented each year.
In 2018 the Society also introduced a Popular Vote for novice growers to encourage them to bench plants.
- 1989 David Rentz
- 1990 Jane Wright, Judy Osborne
- 1991 Judy Osborne
- 1992 Judy Osborne
- 1993 Brian Phelan
- 1994 Jane Wright
- 1995 Keith Alden
- 1996 Robert Rough
- 1997 Priscilla Greve
- 1998 Priscilla Greve
- 1999 Robert Rough
- 2000 Brian Phelan
- 2001 Robert Rough
- 2002 Robert Rough
- 2003 Robert Rough
- 2004 Robert Rough
- 2005 Robert Rough
- 2006 Robert Rough
- 2007 Robert Rough
- 2008 Mark Clements
- 2009 Robert Rough
- 2010 Robert Rough
- 2011 Karen Groeneveld
- 2012 Karen Groeneveld
- 2013 Karen Groeneveld
- 2014 Jane Wright
- 2015 Karen Groeneveld
- 2016 Karen Groeneveld
- 2017mKaren Groeneveld
- 2018 Karen Groeneveld
- 2019 Karen Groeneveld
- 2020 Karen Groeneveld
- 2021 Karen Groeneveld
- 2022 Karen Groeneveld
- 2023 Karen and Zoe Groeneveld
- 2024 Mike Pieloor
- Novice Growers
- 2018 Andrea Robold
- 2019 Tony Tritschler
- 2020 Tony Tritschler
- 2021 Nick Westerink
- 2022 Nick Westerink
- 2023 James Jonklaas
- 2024 James Jonklaas