Our front cover features the fiftieth year of the Redcliffe Orchid Society. Doug & Kathie Wanka were original foundation members, and still today are growing orchids. In 1970, Dr Graeme Chammon was the foundation president, with 43 members. The Redcliffe Orchid Society meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at the CWA Hall on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Georgina Street, Woody Point (Map 515 D7) commencing at 9.30 am. Visitors are welcome. Contact Miriam 0429 989 665. The celebrations for 2020 will be joined by the current ninety members of the Redcliffe Orchid Society.

Helping them celebrate, will be the members from the Pine Rivers Orchid Society which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary in 2020.

When: Saturday 18th April and Sunday 19th April 2020
Where: At Redcliffe Showgrounds, Scarborough Rd, Redcliffe (Map 498 F7)
Buses welcome - ample parking
Open to all exhibitors Local and international wholesalers
There will be plant sales and Refreshments available. Admission $4.
For information phone Lionel 0408 626 124 OR email: brimar813@gmail.com

Members of both societies will be showing and competing with their orchids; some will have their local Redcliffe-grown orchids on sale.
And plants will be available, as rarely is there such a list of professional orchid wholesalers at the one event. These will include:

Robertsons Orchids - Specialists in Paphiopedlium, Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids

Windemere Orchids - Located on top of Mt. Tamborine, supplying a range of orchids from Cattleyas, Oncidiums etc.

Sakdisri Daughters Nursery - An international grower from Thailand. Many flasks available.

Woolf Orchid Culture - One of the largest orchid nurseries in Australia producing a wide range of species and hybrids

Orchid Mania - Mainly species with some flasks

Ivan’s Orchids - A passion for Paphiopedliums

Foliage Plus - Anthuriums, ferns etc.

Tinonee Orchid Nursery - Specialising in the breeding & propagation of many genera from natives to the popular genera from many countries around the world

Orchidaceous Supplies - Offering an extensive range of orchid supplies from bark to pots & fertilisers etc.

Darryl Banks Orchids – Family owned business with a wide range of genera

Aranbeem Orchids - Best known for his Cattleyas, they also continue to improve and change the range of Dendrobiums, Vandas and many other genera and species.

Red Fox Orchids - Stocking a sourced from all over the world large variety of genera & species

Orchids Mackay - Located near Mackay stocking Vandas, Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Oncidium alliance & various species.

The club:
Lionel Kirby is the Treasurer of the Redcliffe Orchid Society and the main organiser of this April weekend. Lionel has been growing orchids for about six years, but he does have some prior knowledge: He and his wife grew 120 acres of small crops at Kallangur for some twenty years, and then he ran the LJ Hooker franchise in Redcliffe for ten years.

He said that membership has grown a lot in last 3 or 4 years, mainly retired people. As well as magnificent gardens, members in units, with just a few orchids. Lionel says: "Quite tough plants really; not as delicate as people think. But if you look after them, you'll get a great reward. Because I have such a large variety of orchids, every week I have something flowering through the year. Some only flower for one day, some a few days, some a few weeks. Even in 38 degrees." Many people grow them in flats or units , in small and large gardens, in pot plants, on the balcony. The first meeting 50 years ago was held at the old RSL Hall.

The society has some detailed growing information, some of which is at justsayah.com.au For more information contact:
Miriam Garnham (Sec.) 0429 989 665
Margaret Beckett on 0478 934 993
Lionel Kirby on 0408 626 124
E: brimar813@gmail.com
E: secretary@rdos.com.au
W: justsayah.com.au
PO Box 51, Margate Qld 4019

Our thanks to Miriam, Margaret and Lionel for their photos. Written by Gerry Clarke, B.PED
PBezy Pocket Books