1937 ~ 2005

Joan Male touched the hearts of many people in many ways. There are so many organizations that are saddened by the sudden end of Joan’s life on Tuesday 7th June, 2005, but none more so than the Caboolture Orchid Society. 

Jim Male was a founding member of the society in 1969. After some years, Joan noticed that Jim was enjoying his new orchid club outings so much that in 1974 she also joined. Almost immediately Joan became part of the show committee and concentrated on arranging displays at the orchid shows.

Thirty years have passed and Joan was still putting up displays. Being a perfectionist in all that she undertook, many of her helpers were always quite amused with why each orchid needed to be placed in at least twenty different positions before she was finally satisfied with the result. In the end however, it was always spectacular.

Joan led the society’s participation in the very successful 1988 Orchid Expo at Caloundra and was also involved in the 2002 Mountains to Coast Expo. She also was involved in the running of the society with being the assistant secretary, vice president, the second female president in 1994 and always readily helping out with catering needs.

In 1986 Jim and Joan were presented with Life Membership to the society for their outstanding and tireless contribution. Their daughter Caroline is the current Patron of the society. Joan’s passion for beautiful orchid blooms continued to grow and in order to learn more about them she began a judging course.

After many years of study Joan became a dedicated orchid judge for the Sub-Tropical Regional Judging Panel. That was some thirteen years ago and this year she was the Deputy Registrar and currently training a group of new judges.

She was a member and past president of the Sub-Tropical Orchid Council. She loved and appreciated all orchids, but her favourite appeared to be Australian native orchids. Following more study she became a member of the Australian Orchid Council Judging Panel and a Native Orchid Judge.

Joan was a member of the North Moreton Judging Panel. She was Show organizer and past president of the Australian Native Orchid Society as well as a member of the Orchid Species Society. Judging took up a large portion of her life. Together with Jim, she would travel south to Ballina and north to Hervey Bay judging orchid shows, sometimes almost every night of the week.

Joan’s other passion in life was her family and grandchildren. It was often wondered how she fitted in all her activities.

Joan was truly a remarkable lady and will be sadly missed by all.

A donation has been made to the Australian Orchid Trust Fund by the Sub-Tropical Orchid Council Queensland Inc.

AOTF: 3002