Journal Number 100
August 2006

ORIGINAL PAPERS

The Genesis of our Group
By Gordon Sylvester

About 1977-78 the Wellington Orchid Society had its first orchid show in the green room of the old Wellington Town Hall. I rang the Secretary and asked if they wanted a display of the native orchids from the Wellington region as part of their display. This offer was taken up. It was there I first met Dot and Roger Cooper. We developed a friendship and formed a loose arrangement to go searching for orchids in and around the Wellington area. Dot was also publishing a series of short articles on the native orchids she had found while accompanying Roger in the Cobb Valley area carrying out some of his work related research.

Together these events generated a bit of interest among other orchid growers. They wanted to accompany both of us on our forays, this led to several field trip and day trips into the local easy bush tracks. With up to forty pairs of eyes joining in, it was a much simpler task to cover larger areas in the search for new records. Some of these trips extended to Kapiti Island.

The only published material was the second volume of the Flora of New Zealand, and other much older publications available in the local libraries. Then we discovered that the Royal Society of New Zealand had copies of ED Hatch's papers available as well. This to us was a real treasure trove of illustrations and descriptions.

Several discussions occurred over several months about the interest in forming a native orchid group, but not affiliated to the Orchid Council of New Zealand. Some discussions at several Council meetings as well as some articles published in their journal revealed there were a few like minded individuals scattered around the country. The earliest decision was to keep it simple: a foolscap newsletter and casual meetings in the field. Several likely contributors were approached for a store of articles for the first few issues. And suddenly the group was born.

The first 20 issues were printed in Lew Wyatt's garage on an old AB Dick press belonging to the Wellington Orchid Society, printed double sided on foolscap paper and simply stapled at the top.

Dot decided to step aside from the editorship and asked Phil Tomlinson and myself if we would take over the editorship: we both declined. An appeal in the journal produced a response from the depths of Dunedin and Ian St. George assumed the mantle.

Some discussions over the years revolved around affiliation with the OCNZ but this was always politely and firmly vetoed, on the grounds we could remain neutral if any controversial matter arose.

Where to now? We are still relatively unknown outside of the group and in some respects this is an advantage. We are not seen as a pressure group and some land stakeholders are willing to allow access to areas that would otherwise be "off limits".

As for publications this takes an enormous amount of time and up front resources. And of course materials to sell onwards, which then becomes a balancing act between relevant and current, and waste paper and redundant. The Field Guide is a good publication and I have always said it should be loose leafed format, so that any updating could be carried out to subscribers, who of course would be the original purchasers - if those purchasers decide to take up the offer - who would then get updates when they were issued.

The Journal? well what can one say? From a modest printed foolscap newsletter to an A5 format journal with colour, and we don't have to separate the various illustrations and then paste them up in the appropriate boxes.

I will close with a resounding thank you to Ian and later to the editorial team for the time and
effort they have put into the publication. It has not been an easy ride but our heartfelt thanks
go to all those involved over the years in producing a publication we can be proud of.

Finally congratulations to the Group on achieving our 100th Journal: may we go from strength
to strength.