Hibiscus have been bringing Queenslanders together for more than thirty years. Our new society follows in the footsteps of an earlier Hibiscus Society of Queensland Inc., which served growers across the state from 1993 until the early 2010s.
1993A society is born
The original Hibiscus Society of Queensland was formed on 18 April 1993 out of the need for a Society to foster the love of the Hibiscus and share the information and flowers with each other" Its first branch, at Redcliffe, opened on 18 July, and the society became an incorporated association that December, with its address at Caboolture.
Around 30 founding members elected the first committee: President Gynith Whatmough, Vice President David Hopkins, Secretary Blanche Ringrose, Treasurer and Editor Julie Lindsay, Publicity Officer Des Kearton, committee member Greg Lindsay, Show Manager Ian Wicks, Nomenclature Officer Noel Hedges and Principal Judge Ken Reed.
From the very beginning the society's Patrons were Colin and Bev Campbell. Colin, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Horticulture, was a presenter on ABC TV's Gardening Australia, and the couple were "wonderful ambassadors for all things horticultural" for nearly two decades.
1994The first Annual Show
On 5–6 February 1994 the society held its first Annual Show in the auditorium of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha. Despite being a very difficult time in the hottest part of Summer, it was a success, and the show became the society's biggest event for nearly twenty years. New branches opened at Buderim (7 August) and Ningi (11 August).
1995Judges and a new branch
The Redlands/Bayside branch opened on 27 August. In September, Megan Fraser was appointed Principal Judge at just 17, having already been accredited as a junior judge. Through the Redcliffe branch she trained the society's accredited judges, Thora Reardon, Michael Raabe and Anona Seib.
1996Hibiscus for Brisbane milestones
The society began its tradition of presenting specially named hibiscus. 'Courier-Mail' marked the newspaper's 150th year, 'Newstead' the 150th anniversary of Newstead House, Brisbane's oldest surviving residence, and 'Ansett' 60 years of Ansett Airlines. The Brightview branch, later West Moreton, opened on 24 November.
1997Australia Remembers
The Bundaberg branch opened on 24 May. In August the society released 'Australia Remembers', bred at Hibiscus Paradise Nursery, to commemorate the end of the Second World War. It was shown to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Bruce Scott.
1998Remembrance and recognition
For the 80th anniversary of the Armistice, the society named 'Remembrance Day', a full double red that "cannot replace the red poppy but reflects the thoughts that are embodied in the day". On 19 September Greg Lindsay presented 'Morayfield Magic' to Morayfield State School for its 125th anniversary. At the Bundaberg branch's first birthday, Kaye Stevans, after whom the much-loved hibiscus 'Kaye Stevans' had been named in the early 1980s, received honorary membership.
1999Towards 2000
At the "Towards 2000" show, Patron Colin Campbell was presented with 'Colin Campbell', bred by Norm and Betty Richardson of the Buderim branch. On 17 July, for the bicentenary of Matthew Flinders' landing near Bribie Island, the society presented 'Matthew Flinders' and 'Red Cliffs' at the civic reception.
It was a busy year of displays, from the Cairns Tropical Garden Show to Hervey Bay, the Ekka, the Nambour Garden Expo and the Redlands Horticultural Society's 50th anniversary. Sadly, accredited judge Thora Reardon passed away after a long illness. At the Christmas party, Hilary Crichton was presented with 'Gordon Crichton' in memory of her husband.
2000The first Thora Reardon Memorial Day
By 2000 the society had its own website, built and photographed by member Wally Morgan, and membership cost just $10 per family. On 16 April 'Friends' was presented at Newstead House for 25 years of the Friends of Newstead House. On 21 May the annual field day at Hibiscus Paradise Nursery became the first Thora Reardon Memorial Day, with a bloom competition in her honour.
At the Ekka in August, the society launched 'Ekka Anniversary' for the RNA's 125th show, in a rainforest-and-bush-hut display seen by some of the 600,000 visitors. The year ended with a Christmas party at the Caboolture RSL attended by more than 70 guests from as far away as Rockhampton and Maryborough.
2001Centenary of Federation
The March show released the Centenary of Federation hibiscus, bred by Phil Barry of Tin Can Bay, with Professor Ross Fitzgerald of the Centenary of Federation Queensland Committee. Savage storms the night before cut Saturday's crowds. The show was dedicated to the late Ron Spresser, West Moreton branch chairman. Greg and Julie Lindsay's 'New Idea' was named the Australian Hibiscus of the Year.
2002CHOGM and Eternal Hope
For the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on the Sunshine Coast in March, the society supplied more than 1,000 blooms a day to decorate the fountains and pools at the delegates' resorts. At the Annual Show it launched 'Eternal Hope', created after the September 11 attacks to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross, and presented 'Brunnings 150' to Brunnings Garden Products for its 150th year.
2003A vice-regal opening and a 10th birthday
The Annual Show was opened by the Governor of Queensland, Major General Peter Arnison, who was presented with 'Fernberg Sun', named after Government House and bred by Buderim member Richard Mansbridge. On 4 May the society celebrated its 10th birthday in Betty Goleby's garden at Mt Cotton, with badges for members who had belonged for all ten years.
The Toowoomba & Greater Darling Downs branch formed in June, and the Buderim branch won the sash for best overall exhibit at the Caloundra Show at Maleny. The society's calendar also listed a Proclamation Day presentation of 'Bright Idea' to Premier Peter Beattie at Newstead House.
2004Grafting days and historic blooms
The Annual Show featured floral arrangements celebrating historic moments, from the Queen's 1954 visit to the Moon landing, and the society displayed at Gardening Australia Live. In November members gathered at Fred and Elaine Westerman's home for a grafting party, swapping scion wood and learning to graft. Frank Tucker became an accredited judge.
2005RACQ Centenary
At the March show, 'RACQ Centenary' marked 100 years of the RACQ, 'Brisbane Lass' was presented to Brisbane City Council for a park garden, 'Beguiled' went to Councillor Margaret de Witt, and Patron Bev Campbell was surprised with a bloom named 'Bev Campbell'. Around this time the society also released its DVD, Everything Hibiscus.
2006Drought and tributes
With Brisbane's dams near 30% and hose bans looming, the April show still recorded its best plant sales in years. Hibiscus bred by Fred Westerman honoured Harold Caulfield, curator of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens from 1956 to 1979, and long-serving member Ken Ewing. Richard Mansbridge's 'Eric Robert' was named Hibiscus of the Year, and the West Moreton branch celebrated its 10th birthday with Life Membership for founding member Margaret Spresser.
2007Pink Ribbon
At the President's Luncheon in March, Patron Colin Campbell presented Gynith Whatmough with Life Membership. At the Annual Show the society launched 'Pink Ribbon' to raise funds for cancer research, at the request of founding member Julie Lindsay during her own recovery from cancer.
2008Scout Centenary
The Annual Show, now held in April, presented 'Scout Centenary' to mark 100 years of Scouting, alongside a dazzling display of Fred Westerman's seedlings. The Toowoomba branch celebrated its 5th birthday.
2009Queensland's 150th
The society joined Queensland's Q150 celebrations with a presentation luncheon, and Fred Westerman's 'Doctor David Grimes' was named Hibiscus of the Year. The Thora Reardon Memorial Day was held at the Westermans' garden at Lota, the Ningi branch became the North Moreton Region, and West Moreton ran its first fundraising sausage sizzle.
2010Bali Sunset
Fred Westerman's 'Bali Sunset' was Hibiscus of the Year. The Thora Reardon Memorial Day at Willowbank is remembered for a wind gust that carried off the marquee, blooms and trophies before the photos could be taken. At the Ekka, Gynith Whatmough and Des Kearton built a complete garden display, and in November the Campbells hosted a film afternoon of gardens from around the world.
In November 2010 the society helped the Queensland Maritime Museum celebrate the 85th anniversary of its historic steam tug, ST Forceful. It specially propagated a hibiscus, 'Forceful 85', and presented it to the museum as a gift. Planted behind the Bulwer Island Lighthouse by the museum's dry dock, the 'Forceful 85' hibiscus is still blooming more than 15 years later. The museum records the occasion in its 50th anniversary timeline and has shared a recent photo of it in flower.
2011A new Patron and the Lifehouse hibiscus
On 20 July, at the Royal Children's Hospital, the society welcomed Professor John Pearn as its new Patron and presented him with a hibiscus named in his honour. Later that year it launched three fundraising hibiscus bred by Fred Westerman, including 'Professor Chris O'Brien', with all profits going to the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse cancer centre in Sydney. 'Eye Do' made it three Hibiscus of the Year wins in a row for Fred.
2012The last archived year
The society's last archived calendar lists the Autumn Show at Mt Coot-tha in May, the Thora Reardon Memorial Day hosted by the Wynnum & Redlands/Bayside branch, the Nambour Garden Expo, and an AGM in September, with branch events from Toowoomba to Victoria Point.
2013Twenty years
The society had planned 20th birthday celebrations for 29 June 2013. Its website was last updated around this time, and we have not yet found records of whether the celebration took place, or of the society's final years.
Branches across Queensland
Most of the society's activity happened in its branches, which met monthly for bloom judging, talks and afternoon tea.
- Redcliffe (1993), later Redcliffe/Pine Rivers & Districts, then part of the North Moreton Region, meeting at the QCWA Hall in Redcliffe
- Buderim (1994), meeting at the QCWA rooms and later Buderim Gardens Village
- Ningi (1994), with regular displays at Morayfield and Burpengary shopping centres
- Redlands/Bayside (1995), later Wynnum & Redlands/Bayside, meeting at the Girl Guides Hall, Capalaba
- Brightview (1996), later West Moreton, meeting at the Uniting Church Hall, Rosewood
- Bundaberg (1997)
- Toowoomba & Greater Darling Downs (2003), meeting at Walsh's Seeds Garden Centre and later The Springs Garden World
Hibiscus with a story
Many of the society's commemorative blooms "honour ordinary people who have done extraordinary things", including 'Billie' and 'Marjory Brown' for leaders of the War Widows' Guild, 'Wings Away' for retired TAA air hostesses who raised money for children's charities, 'Norma Josephine' for the mother of Premier Wayne Goss, and 'Geoff Moor' for a respected school principal. Others marked milestones for Queensland institutions, such as 'Forceful 85', presented to the Queensland Maritime Museum in November 2010 for the 85th anniversary of the steam tug ST Forceful, and still flowering there today. Some of the society's named hibiscus:
Hybridisers and awards
Many members bred their own hibiscus, and several became nationally known, winning the Australian Hibiscus of the Year award for the best new hibiscus bred and raised in Australia:
- Greg and Julie Lindsay of Hibiscus Paradise Nursery: 'New Idea' (2001), with nominations for 'Newstead', 'Norma Josephine', 'Karamello', 'Tarantella', 'Penny Sue' and 'Work of Art'
- Richard Mansbridge of Buderim: 'Eric Robert' (2006), with nominations for 'Aussie Gold', 'Little Santa', 'Maroochy Tango' and 'Maroochy Princess'
- Fred Westerman of Lota: 'Doctor David Grimes' (2009), 'Bali Sunset' (2010) and 'Eye Do' (2011)
Other hybridisers in the society's records include Norm and Betty Richardson, John Richardson, Phil Barry and Milo and Leonne Courtenay. Michael Raabe and Wally Morgan handled cultivar registration for the society.
Traditions
- Bloom competitions: at monthly branch meetings, with annual trophies including the Betty Richardson Perpetual Shield (Buderim), the Shirley Ellwood Memorial Shield (Wynnum & Redlands/Bayside) and the Del Klupfel Trophy at the Ipswich, Boonah and Kalbar shows (West Moreton).
- The Thora Reardon Memorial Day: held each year from 2000, with the Thora Reardon Memorial Trophy and the Colin and Bev Campbell Seedling Trophy.
- Displays: ten days at the Ekka every year, the Nambour Garden Expo, the Courier-Mail Home Show, Newstead House's hibiscus festival, and agricultural shows and shopping centres across south-east Queensland.
- Sharing knowledge: a quarterly newsletter, the Hibiscus growing guide booklet, the Everything Hibiscus DVD, pruning and grafting days, talks to garden clubs, and hibiscus programs for students at Bribie Island, Beachmere and Banksia Beach schools.
- Friendship: Christmas parties, President's and Patrons' luncheons, picnics at Bribie Island, Lota and Roma Street Parklands, bus trips, and friendship days with other garden clubs.
The people
The society was built by volunteers. Alongside President Gynith Whatmough, long-serving contributors included Publicity Officer Des Kearton, photographer and webmaster Wally Morgan, Secretary and Principal Judge Michael Raabe, founding Treasurer Julie Lindsay and Greg Lindsay, and Vice-President and Show Manager Sharon Kennedy-Miles. Later Vice-Presidents included Avryl Hutchinson and Brian Baills. At the 10th birthday in 2003, badges went to members who had belonged for all ten years: Wally and Thelma Morgan, Bill Fraser, Graham and Merle Kennedy, Des Kearton, Gynith Whatmough, Julie and Greg Lindsay, Bev and Colin Campbell, June Harper, Michael and Robyn Raabe, Jan Simon and Peter Sleeman.
From the original society's flower album
A selection of hibiscus grown and shown by members of the original society. Many were bred right here in Queensland.
A new chapter
Today's Hibiscus Society of Queensland Inc. is a newly formed association, meeting on the second Saturday of each month in Ormeau. We are proud to carry on the same love of hibiscus and the same spirit of sharing plants, knowledge and friendship.
Were you part of the original society? We would love to hear from former members and their families. If you have memories, photos, newsletters or show records, especially from 2012 onwards, please get in touch and help us complete this history.
Sources
- The original society's website, hibiscus.org.au (1999–2013), preserved by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, including its history page, calendars (2000–2012), show reports and branch pages
- Hibiscus of the Year nominations and winners, as published by the Australian Hibiscus Society
- The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse at RPA, Spring 2011 newsletter
- Queensland Maritime Museum, QMMA 50th Anniversary timeline, 2010–2019, and Instagram post on 'Forceful 85'
- Photographs by Wally Morgan, reproduced with his kind permission
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