From the Editor’s Desk | Bs : 
oF 
hen it first started in early 1992, the Orchid Societies Council of Victoria 
(OSCOV) was instantly criticised as being a “rebel” organisation, not 
only from a minority in Victoria, but also from other States. Almost two 
decades on, OSCOV is the major force of orchids in Victoria currently with 30 
member societies. The parent body provides guest speakers and judges at their 
meetings and shows held around the state. The organisation and its members 
are clearly very proactive in promoting orchids within Victoria and further 
afield. 
For many years now (since 1997) OSCOV has underwritten the highly suc- 
cessful “Victorian Orchids of the Year” initiative. We have been very proud to 
have showcased the winning plants from this annual competition within the 
pages of the AOR. In this issue Brian Milligan walks us through the winners, 
and as you will see from the photographs there are some stunning plants 
amongst them. 
: I am aware that other states also present similar awards to their state cham- 
Au stra | j an pions, but who finds out about them? How is it promoted? I wonder what is the 
- point of awards if no one ever hears about them. Again J put out an open invi- 
0 rc h I d Fo u n d all 0 n tation to the State Judging Registrars to consider promoting their annual major 
P.O. Box 322, prize-winners through this magazine. Perhaps it’s time for orchid judges, and 
Essendon North, Vic. 3041 the exhibitors themselves, to ask why nothing has been done. 
Phone/Fax (03) 5627 6303 Gary Backhouse is fortunate to have the opportunity of studying and pho- 
www.australianorchidfoundation.org.au tographing orchids in the wild, both within Australia as well as in more exotic 
locations. In this issue, Gary discusses some of the South African summer- 
flowering species from the terrestrial genus Eulophia. These orchids are still 
scarce in Australian collections, but as you will see, many of them have sig- 
nificant horticultural merit. 
Clive Halls of Mt Beenak Orchids (sino mtbeenakorchids.com.au) contin- 
ues his series on Masdevallia breeding with the “spots and dots” hybrids dis- 
cussed in this issue. Clive will be speaking on Masdevallias for the New 
Millennium at this years Australian Orchid Conference (www.mosorchid.org) 
being held in Victoria from 8-13 September 2009. In upcoming issues Clive 
will be discussing warmth-tolerant masdevallias and boldly coloured hybrids. 
Wally Suarez described two new species of Thrixspermum from the 
Philippines. These dainty orchids have very intricate blooms that fascinate 
those with a passion for the more “botanical” species. 
In the comprehensive Cymbidium Section, Rob Smith tackles the issue of 
unethical proliferation practices. It is well-known that there are some opera- 
tors who will “clone mericlones” before they have even bloomed — obviously 
without checking they either haven’t mutated or been something completely 
different. It’s fitting to discuss this now, as in this issue there are two out- 
standing first release mericlones from George Serhan. If you want these highly 
awarded and first class plants, buy them from the originator, they are worth 
every cent. You all know what I will be thinking if these plants appear in num- 
bers elsewhere in a few years time, as it will take another couple of years before 
these will be blooming size anyway. Same thing TIES to Gordon Giles’ 
Cym. Wyong Flame ‘Dural’. 
My colleagues Mark and Barry have written a fitting tribute to Cathy 
Mansergh, who sadly passed away in March 2009. Cathy was the contact point 
for subscribers and general enquiries for the AOR over many years, and would 
have been known to many of our readers. 63 
David Banks 
Australian Orchid Review 
david@hillsdistrictorchids.com 
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2 The Australian Orchid Review, June/July 2009 
