The South and West Regional Show 2023
The South and West Conference of Orchid Clubs held the biennial Regional Orchid Show at Cobargo NSW on Saturday 30 September and 1st October 2023 hosted by the Sapphire Coast Orchid Club. The theme of the event was ‘Australia in Poetry and Song’.
Plants were placed into displays by Canberra, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, and Sapphire Coast Clubs as well as on the bench. Plants were of a high standard and featured some very fine examples.
The prestigious Norma Stafford Trophy for the best display was won by Shoalhaven Orchid Club with their display which took the John O'Brien poem, The Old Bush School, as a starting point. He was writing poetry in Australia during the reign of King George V at the height of the British Empire hence the props - a world map coloured with red and the portrait of the king on the wall. (What classroom didn't have a picture of the reigning monarch on the wall in those days?) The old school desk, the blackboard easel. etc were additional props to take the classroom to the orchids to make it The Old Bush School of Orchids.
Other displays themed ‘The Man from Snowy River’ Eurobodalla, ‘Mulga Bill’s Bicycle’ Canberra and songs from the 70’s Sapphire Coast.
The Dennis Diehm Trophy for the Grand Champion of the Show was awarded to Gordon Marion for his magnificent Brassoepilaelia (Bpl) Golden Peacock, this very large plant supported a large number of deep golden flowers and was also awarded Champion Laelia and Champion Specimen of the Show.
Reserve Champion and Champion Vandaceous, benched by Martin and Sue Montebello, was a Phalaenopsis Bigfoot, this large plant, which had several stems of large white flowers, was the focal point of the Shoalhaven display .
Champion Novice was awarded to Tony and Glenda Clapin, Eurobodalla Club for their Cymbidium lowianum.
Other Champions went to Sapphire Club grower Jeff Knox who dominated the Cymbidium classes with Cym. Foxfire Amber ‘Dural’ over 90mm, Cym. Narbo ‘Dark Silk’60 -90mm, Cym. Street Tango ‘Templestowe’ under 60 mm and Champion Cymbidium seedling Cym Marylin Thomas 5043 x Foxfire Amber Dural.
Champion Paphiopedilum went to David Judge of Canberra with his Paph. Bel Royal ‘Memoria Terry Turner’ FCC/AOC and also the Champion Seedling Other Than Cymbidium with Paph. Mrs. Reginald Young. Champion Species Orchid, Phalaenopsis lobbii, was presented by Jane Wright also of Canberra.
Sapphire Club had success with Graham Gray’s Masdevallia Carnival ‘Jester’, Champion Orchid Any Other Genera, and Les Tudberry’s Champion Australian Native or Native Hybrid, an unknown Sarcochilus, along with Champion Fern or Foliage which went to Keith Barrett for his immaculate Viresea Jack’s Angel ‘Sweetheart’ and Helen Fraser was awarded Champion Floral Art for her work ‘Macey.’
The Show was supported by vendors, Kings Orchids, Orchids of Distinction and Brogo Nursery. Financial support came from our Major Sponsors, Robert Smith Homemakers, Pambula, and Club Grants, from Merimbula RSL and Club Sapphire for which we are very grateful.
