27-12-1941 – 06-09-2022

Tony’s introduction to orchids occurred following a visit to Ezi Gro Orchids to buy a flowering Cymbidium orchid more than 25 years ago. Tony instantly became a convert and as they say, the rest is history. Tony and Mavis soon joined the Wanneroo Joondalup, Northern Districts and Species orchid societies, and almost immediately, Tony was growing and showing orchids and winning major championship prizes. This was recognition for his skills and passion for growing orchids, and the life memberships he and Mavis were awarded are a fitting reward for the lifetime of working with and assisting orchid clubs.

Tony and Mavis joined the Species Orchid Society in April 1996 and joined the management committee the following year. Tony served several terms as President, firstly in 1999 and then again in 2003 and in later years. Tony and Mavis were awarded Life Membership of the Society in 2014. At the same time, Tony was President of the Wanneroo Joondalup Orchid Society, a position he held for more than 20 years until his death in September 2022. Both Tony and Mavis were awarded life membership of WJOS, and Mavis continues as a member of both committees.

Tony was a highly regarded AOC judge and was a member of both the State and Southwest judging panels. Along with other WA representatives had just returned from the 22nd AOC Conference & Show in Queensland in 2022 where he participated in the judging and was part of the Orchids WA team who staged a display to promote the planned WOCC to be staged in Perth in 2023 when suffered a heart attack and died.

Tony was a key member of the Orchids WA team responsible for many successful orchid conferences & shows, a member of the WOCC Bid Committee and was present in Ecuador when Western Australia was announced as host for the 24th WOC to be staged in Perth 2023. He had been involved in the WOCC bids lodged in Singapore (2012), South Africa (2014) and the successful bid in Ecuador in 2017. He took responsibility for designing speaker programs and negotiating with speakers, attracting orchid and other vendors, helped with event design, venue identification and negotiation, sponsorship and grant funding, marketing and event promotion.

Tony was a collaborator who always sought to involve and recognise others, while bringing a sensible, calm & fun approach to growing orchids at which he excelled. Tony was an enthusiastic photographer, and the societies of which he was a member enjoyed the benefits of this passion. For this and many other reasons, Tony was unique. Tony was always searching for ways to promote and attract others  to orchid growing. As the technology developed, Tony taught himself how to build websites and create society internet presence. Many local societies relied on him for this service. He set up the WJOS, SOSWA and Orchids WA websites in 2002.

In addition to all of this, Tony and Mavis planned and organised orchid trips to many South-East Asian countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Sabah and more. Many WA orchid growers were fortunate to be part of many of these trips with other orchid enthusiasts., and to take advantage of the opportunity to see orchids in the wild and purchase orchids which were quarantined at a private quarantine facility in Henley Brook. The success of ‘Tony’s Tours’ can best be measured by the fact that the boxes of orchids being imported often took up much of the luggage allowance on the return trip. Tony established relationships with suppliers in Thailand that exist to this day

In this busy life we lead, we often fail to appreciate just how much someone else does until they stop doing it. Tony was that someone else for the Species Orchid Society and Wanneroo/Joondalup Orchid Society. Only now, do I and many others appreciate just how much Tony did for us without being asked to do it. Not only have we lost a valued member of the WA orchid world, but local orchid society members also lost a unique and special friend. At his funeral on Tuesday 20 September 2022, we celebrated the remarkable and interesting life of our dear friend Tony with many of his orchid friends.

Farewell Tony – you made a difference in our orchid world, and we are the richer for having known you as a friend, enthusiast and wise counsellor.

Tribute by Ken Jones, Secretary Species Orchid Society of WA Inc.

AOFT receipt 4208  The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia Inc.