Happy Birthday T.O.S. Inc.

This year is the 60^th anniversary of the foundation of Townsville Orchid Society Inc., known affectionately by its many friends as T.O.S. As one who has been associated with T.O.S. for some time, I would consider myself delinquent were I to let pass this important occasion without setting down a brief review of the Society’s history.

During the years of the Pacific War, Townsville was much influenced by the influx of servicemen and women from the southern states and from the U.S.A. Those visitors who were orchid lovers soon made contact with the local growers, in many cases bringing them plants from the war zones, and leaving them with a greatly stimulated interest in their hobby. Perhaps the most distinguished orchid visitor was Reg. S. Davis, a colonel in the United States Air Force Intelligence Section, who with joint author Mona Lisa Steina was to publish “Philippine Orchids” in 1952. The former sleepy town was to grow into a lusty city and the T.O.S. was to become part of the cultural, social and civic life of Townsville.

It all began one evening early in June 1947, at Stan Brock’s house in North Ward, when he and four fellow orchid enthusiasts decided to convene a meeting to form an orchid society in Townsville. This meeting, minuted as an “Inaugural Meeting”, was held at Willmetts’ Chambers, Flinders Street, on 20 June 1947, with twenty-two persons in attendance. Mr. P.K. Searle, acting as Secretary, opened the meeting by calling for nominations for Chairman and Mr. R.P. Kirke was elected and took the chair. It was then resolved that a society to be known as “The Townsville Orchid Society” be formed. It was resolved also that the acting Chairman and Secretary remain in office until the next meeting, and that subscriptions be 10 shillings ($1) for city members and 7/6d. (75¢) for country members. A committee was elected to draw up rules to be presented to the next meeting.

The next meeting held on 2^nd July 1947, minuted as “the First General Meeting”, set a subscription of 5s. (50¢) for juniors, adopted a set of rules, and held an election of officers with results as follows:-

Patron: Dr. John Breinl           Secretary-Treasurer: Mr. P. K. Searle       President: Mr. R. P. Kirke      Vice Presidents: Mr. C. Freeman, Mr S. Brock, Mr. S. Short Mr. P Bretherton; Mr. C.W.Dette;

Committee: Mrs. I Nott; Mr. J. Sim;

Technical Adviser: Mr. S Brock, Mr. P. Johnstone, Mr. K. Kennedy.

The tabling of plants and their appraisal by the Technical Adviser commenced at this meeting. Plants exhibited were Cadetia hispidim, Dendrobium d’albertisii; Spathoglottis plicata and Vanda lamellate var. boxallii.

At the second General Meeting on 25 July 1947 Phalaenopsis rosenstromii was adopted as the emblem of the Society. This orchid featured on the first and subsequent letterheads and, later, on the Society’s badges, and is still its esteemed symbol. In the early years the infrastructure of a society was put together. As funds became available items such as typewriter, duplicator, projector, library cabinet and the like, were purchased.

The first Annual General Meeting was held on 27^th August 1948. The Annual Report for the year ended 30^th June 1948 showed a membership increase from 21 to 49. I feel the sentiments expressed in the conclusion of the report are worth repeating here:

“Members have been given the opportunity of acquiring plants, of meeting in friendly discussion over exhibited plants and of gathering knowledge from our more experienced members who have been extremely generous with guidance and advice. Let us look forward to a continuance of this good fellowship arising from a common interest in beautiful flowers and unusual plants.”

The activities of the T.O.S. revolved around the general meeting where benched plants were the subject of the Technical Adviser’s talk for the evening. Supplementary activities at the meetings included lectures, demonstrations, slide shows and plant sales and raffles. Subscriptions to journals were taken out at an early stage, and these formed the nucleus of a library to which books were added as finances permitted. A colour slide library was established also. Publication of the “Bulletin” was undertaken promptly and continues to the present day.

A prime concern of the founding members was the purchase of plants and accessories. A Buying scheme was introduced to facilitate the bulk purchase of plants, pots, peat and so on, and to co-ordinate plant purchase from overseas. As well, a plant exchange scheme between members was initiated.

The Society’s first show was held on 24^th September 1948 at the A.W.U. Hall in Denham Street. In 1949 it was decided to make it an annual event – I understand that this is now the oldest regular spring orchid show in Australia. The spring show grew rapidly until it became a gala event in Townsville’s social calendar. For some years the T.O.S. Spring Show was the occasion for a new dress and perhaps shoes and handbag, or even a new hat! Somewhat like the old style agricultural shows. As befitting the oldest continuous horticultural society in Townsville, the T.O.S. has a long record of cooperation with various institutions and charities. It has always been ready to assist by the provision of an exhibit or by a donation from the proceeds of a show. Ted Boon was the first Junior Member in 1955.

Autumn shows were recommenced in 1984 after being abandoned for a few years. For a number of years in the eighties our shows were all held at the Townsville City Council, Walker Street Chambers, with complete cooperation from the Council. In the late eighties Winter Shows were commenced, so that Paphiopedilums and many Australian Natives, which flowered at that time of year, could be displayed. When the Council needs outgrew their accommodation all of the shows were moved to our own hall at Pioneer Park, commencing with the first Winter Show.

As more and more T.O.S. members became experienced growers demand grew for the provision of plant judging facilities in the district. When the Queensland Orchid Society introduced the Affiliated Societies Secretariat late in 1964, it appointed P. K. Searle (who had been a foundation member of the T.O.S.) as its Secretary. His recommendation, by circular letter, that all Societies form study groups for prospective judges, with the ultimate aim of establishing regional judging panels, was taken up by the T.O.S., who appointed Georgina Ridge as Liaison Officer of the T.O.S. Study Group. At its meeting on 19^th February 1965 a circular explaining the T.O.S.’s action was drafted, and sent to all orchid groups in the north.

The enthusiastic response climaxed in the Tropical Queensland Orchid Study Group Conference , held from the 12^th to 14^th June 1965 – the first regional orchid conference to be held in Australia. From this conference came a meeting of delegates from orchid societies in tropical Queensland, held at Townsville on 31^st July 1965, at which the body was officially formed under the title Tropical Queensland Orchid Council (T.Q.O.C.) and office bearers elected. The T.Q.O.C. Conference has been held on Queen’s Birthday weekend each year since, with the venue rotating among the constituent Societies. For sentimental reasons the 21^st, and the 32^nd conferences were allocated to Townsville. At least two others have since been hosted by T.O.S.

On Christmas Eve 1971 disaster struck Townsville in the shape of Cyclone Althea. In the midst of great damage to buildings, orchid houses and plants suffered very heavy losses. T.O.S. members turned to, renewed their shade houses, repotted the sorry remains of plants and proceeded to rebuild their collections as best they could. That the 8^th A.O.C. was held in Townsville in 1983 is a measure of their industry.

Since the 1^st Australian Orchid Conference held in Brisbane in 1967, the Australian Orchid Council has awarded a conference to a State capital city every second year (except when it would clash with a World Orchid Conference). In a break with this tradition Townsville was asked to stage the 8^th Australian Orchid Conference in 1983, thus being the first provincial city to be so honoured. In what may well have been the T.O.S.’s finest hour, a vast company of orchid personalities descended on Townsville to enjoy a conference, which many still declare, was the best ever.

In 1985 the T.O.S. became the first (and I believe still the only) orchid society in Australia to purchase its own premises. Over the years T.O.S. had met in many and varied locations, both in committee and in general meetings. In 1978 the Society settled on Souths Junior Rugby League Hall, built in 1974, in Pioneer Park, Kirwan, which it hired as required. In 1984 the hall was put up for sale, the T.O.S. made an offer, which was accepted, the Special Lease was transferred, the hall renamed Townsville Orchid Society Hall and, on 26^th April 1985, T.O.S. held the first meeting in its own hall. It is worth noting that the Society’s loan, taken over eight years, was repaid in just eighteen months. We wouldn’t have been able to undertake such a purchase except for the astuteness of those responsible for the success of the 8^th Australian Orchid Conference. The Society became Incorporated in December 1985 and the word (abbreviated) “Inc.” added to its name.

In 1998 the T.O.S. Inc. hosted the 6^th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference, which too was very successful with profit allowing for extension of the hall. Only one other A.P.O.C. has been held in Australia, that being at Adelaide S.A. The Townsville conference brought to the city over two hundred southern and international orchid enthusiasts. Only recently, while visiting Korea for the 9^th A.P.O.C., a leading Japanese delegate commented on the quality and uniqueness of the Townsville conference. At the conclusion of the conference the chairman of our organising committee (our Secretary at the time and current president) was appointed chairman of the International Main Committee for the following three years, with our then president (now secretary) appointed secretary. Our president is still a member of the Main Committee, the sole Australian representative. Surely this is acknowledgement of the standing of the T.O.S. Inc.

Since then Pioneer Park became the nucleus of Thuringowa’s Riverway project and our hall was demolished with the last meeting being held there on 27^th August 2004. We met in temporary, Thuringowa Council provided premises in Bamford Lane, commencing September 2004 till June 2005, while we negotiated with Thuringowa Council for compensation, and then allocation of land, with finally construction of a new building.

Because of delays and escalation in building costs, we were forced to borrow twenty thousand dollars, as well as expending all of our reserves, namely thirty thousand dollars. Subsequently we received a grant from Gambling Community Benefit Fund for kitchen appliances and computer equipment. The official opening of the new hall at Joe Kirwan Park was held on 17 July 2005 with our inaugural Patron Dr. John Breinl officiating. The debt was repaid within months and for the first time T.O.S. had its own computer.

What does the future hold for T.O.S.? We have much to do yet with drainage of the adjoining land, completion of parking facilities and extension of the building, which projects we are confident of achieving. No doubt the challenges ahead will provide plenty of material for the compiler of the Centennial History.

Presidents of T.O.S. Inc.

R. P. Kirke, S. Brock, P. Warner, R. Merritt, F. Tooth, R. Robinson, J. Barlow, J. McArdle, A. C. Nielsen, J. Berge, S. Hinds, M. Watson, D. Greenway, W. Nicholson, M. Korsman, D. Kemp, J. Kirke, J. Tait, I. Walters, N. Ludwig, M. Richards, G. Reid, J. Nicholson, W. Nicholson

Life Members of T.O.S. Inc.

Lister Arrowsmith (dec’d), Mick Keith, Ron Merritt, Georgina Ridge (dec’d,) Clara Sewell, Edward (Ted) Boon, Jim Kirke (dec’d) ,Jean Nicholson, Ray Robinson , Warren Sewel, Alma Davidson (dec’d), R.P. Kirke (dec’d), Wal Nicholson, Alf Schnepel (dec’d), P.H. (Slim) Warner, Bill Griffiths (dec’d), Phyllis MerrittI, Ivy Nott (dec’d), Dick Searle (dec’d), G (Bert) Weale (dec’d)

I acknowledge that much of the material up to our fiftieth year was borrowed from an article written by Len Lawler