State’s best at Wonthaggi orchid show this week

SINCE making the jump from the Wonthaggi Town Hall to the Wonthaggi Workmen’s Club last year, the South Gippsland Orchid Society hasn’t looked back.

They welcomed record entries last year and look like doing the same this year, and as a bonus, organisers expect to have several of the club’s award-winning entries at the recent OSCOV Melbourne Orchid Spectacular on display.

President of the society, John Betts, is welcoming all comers, not just orchid enthusiasts, to come along and see what will be Wonthaggi’s own spectacular show this Friday and Saturday.

“There are a lot of orchid growers in the area. We’re a strong club with 50 members and we had quite a bit of success at what is effectively the state championships, the Orchid Societies Council of Victoria show with two firsts and three seconds I believe.

“That’s quite a haul against dozens of societies throughout Victoria, and some very big ones.”

One of the local blue-ribbon winners was show secretary Julie Kilgour.

“I’ve had that one for a few years now and has been looking particularly good this year, she said of an especially pretty and healthy pink Phalenopsis.

“I was lucky enough to get a blue ribbon for that at OSCOV and it might still be good enough to bring along this week,” said Julie.

Mary Morgan of Wonthaggi was another of the local blue ribbon winners, with Julie also taking a couple of seconds, along with Colin Wilmot, winning a second-place ribbon.

“We had a great show last year, our first at the Workmen’s Club and after Thursday, we’ll know how many are coming this year, but it should be a really lovely show again.

“It’s easier at the Workmen’s Club, people can come and have a look while they’re out shopping and there’s plenty of parking.”

The 33rd Annual South Gippsland Orchid Society Show will be held this Friday and Saturday, September 8 and 9, from 9.30am both days.

Plant sales, orchid supplies and repotting demonstrations are a feature of the event.