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VICTORIAN ORCHIDS OF THE YEAR 2001 by Brian Milligan

The Victorian Orchid of the Year competition was introduced by the Orchid Societies Council of Victoria (OSCOV) in 1992. Photographs of all orchids that have received OSCOV awards in the current year are considered, together with any others submitted by Victorian growers. Interstate exhibitors may also enter but only if their orchid(s) had been shown at an OSCOV-judged show during the current year. Success in this competition relies not only on growing an orchid of award quality but also on taking photographs of an equally high standard. The OSCOV Judging Panel meets each February, first to select the winners in various selected categories, and then decide the overall best – the Victorian Orchid of the Year.

The Victorian Orchid of the Year for 2001 was won by Dieter Weise with a magnificent specimen of Maxillaria sanderiana ‘Tahlee’ AM/OSCOV. Dieter was presented with an OSCOV Gold Medal and (for one year) the Perpetual Trophy of an original Syd Monkhouse painting of Rossioglossum grande at the presentation dinner held in conjunction with the OSCOV show at Collectors’ Corner in August. Dieter’s orchid also won the Victorian Species of the Year category.

The Victorian Cultural Certificate of the Year was awarded to Lloyd Perryman for an impressive specimen of Sarcochilus hartmannii ‘Anurat’ CC/OSCOV. Lloyd received a silver medal and the Gunter Haar memorial trophy, a large framed photographic print of his orchid at the presentation dinner.

Victorian Australian Native Orchid of the Year was Sarcochilus George Colthup ‘Ethereal’ HCC/OSCOV, grown by Brian and Lorraine Milligan. It received its award on the same day that the racehorse Ethereal won the Melbourne Cup! Andrew Francis and John Martin of Castle Creek Orchids won Victorian Cattleya of the Year with Slc. Dal’s Marvel ‘Castle Creek’ HCC/OSCOV, and Victorian Paphiopedilum Hybrid of the Year with Paphiopedilum Raisin Candy ‘Castle Creek’ HCC/OSCOV (this orchid was also Victorian Seedling of the Year). Victorian Paphiopedilum Species of the Year, grown by Norman Williams, was Paphiopedilum insigne ‘Norman’ HCC/OSCOV. The Victorian Cymbidium of the Year was Cymbidium One Tree Hill ‘Beenak’ HCC/OSCOV, grown by Terry Poulton.

Clive and Agi Halls of Mt. Beenak Orchids won Victorian Odontoglossum of the Year with Maclellanara Pagan Harry ‘Beenak’ AM/OSCOV. The Victorian Award of Distinction of the Year went to Sarcochilus Roy Gill ‘Spotty’ AD/OSCOV, grown by R. Wootton, and Victorian Masdevallia of the Year was won by Ted and Margaret Elgood with Masdevallia coccinea var. alba ‘Goodwood’ HCC/OSCOV. Any Other Hybrid of the Year was Dendrobium Memoria Christobel’s Glory ‘ Garfield” HCC/OSCOV, grown by Kantu Rama. Finally Andy and Jan Leamon won the Victorian Award of Quality of the Year with five impressive seedlings of Cymbidium Ruby Valley.