AOF Essay Prize
The Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the AOF Essay Prize.
The AOF Essay Prize has been set up to encourage local orchid growers to participate in letting others know of their initiatives and practices in the cultivation and conservation of orchids.
It is an annual writing competition, established with a generous endowment by the Slade Family who have been actively involved with the AOF since its inception.
There will be three prizes –
1st Prize $350.00
2nd Prize $250.00
3rd Prize $150.00
The Foundation invites all Australian orchid growers to consider the topic for the year and submit an entry’. We would not only like to reward you, but we would like to hear about your ideas and experiences and benefit from them.
ESSAY TOPIC FOR 2023:
“How do you deflask your orchids and look after your seedlings?”
That question must be asked hundreds of times by new (and old) orchid society members. Hopefully everyone will try it at some time, a daunting and challenging task when first attempted.
The deadline for receipt of all entries is July 31st 2023
Send your entry:
- electronically to aof@australianorchidfoundation.org.au
- or AOF Essay Prize P.O. Box 440, Yarra Glen Vic. 3775
Please include your name, address and telephone contact.
Entry Rules:
- This competition is open to Australian residents only.
- The essay will be an original article, not previously published
- The essay must be no more than 4,000 words, short essays are most welcome
- The essay is to be in English and typewritten
- Entries may include art work or images
- The authors of the essays will remain undisclosed to the judges, whose decision will be final. If in the opinion of the judges, no worthy essays are received, there will be no award that year
- Non-winning entries will be returned to the sender if requested
- These entries may be submitted to the editors of Australian orchid periodicals for publication, with permission from the author
- The winning essay will be announced at the AGM of the Foundation in October.
- The winning entry will be published on the AOF website and in Australian orchid periodicals
2023: “How do you deflask your orchids and look after your seedlings?”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2023 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – David Butler Kincumber NSW 2251 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Stephen Cox, Hawthorne Qld 4171 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Sandra Rowcliffe Rockhampton Qld 4701 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2022: “Too many orchids- managing space and addiction”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2022 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Brooke Johnstone, Rosewood Qld 4340 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Equal 2nd Prize – Stephen Cox, Hawthorne, Qld. 4171 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Equal 2nd Prize – Neil Minter, Mt. Riverview, NSW 2774 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2021: “Getting young people involved with orchids”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2021 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Brooke Johnstone, Rosewood Qld 4340 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Callyn Farrell, West End Qld 4101 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Jacqui Culgan, Howard Springs NT 0835 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2020: “Growing orchids in a small area or balcony”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2020 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Trish Peterson, Wollstonecroft NSW 2065 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Helena Axelsson, Raleigh, NSW 2454 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Kate Collins, Belmont NSW 2280 CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2019: “How do my orchids survive when I’m away from home?”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2019 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Darryl Corbett, Ulverstone, Tasmania CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Equal 2nd Prize – Janice Heitman, Pelican Waters, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
Equal 2nd Prize – Jan Robinson, Engaline, NSW CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2018: “My greatest orchid disaster”
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2018 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Karen Quinn, Ningi, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Julie Copley-Bishop, Logan Central Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Sandra Rowcliffe, Red Hill Rockhampton, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2017: “Orchid ailments and their management“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2017 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Jan Robinson, Engadine, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Richard Molle, Bellbird Park, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Spikey Riddoch, South Hobart, Tasmania CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2016: “Hybridising orchids“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2016 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – K. Yin and Sau-wan Chan, Beecroft, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Daniel Coulton, Engadine, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Terri Bade, Hervey Bay, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2015: “How do you manage your orchid collection without relying on artificial heating and/or cooling?“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2015 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Brian Dear, San Isidore, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Richard Mollee, Bellbird Park, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Julie Copley-Bishop, Logan Central, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2014: “My favourite orchid“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2014 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Yin & Sau-wan Chan, Beecroft, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Jan Robinson, Engadine, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Myra Chalmers, Lilli Pilli, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
An AOF Special Award (the publication titled ‘Growing Orchids in Cool Climate Australia’) has been presented to Hayley O’Donnell, Willunga High School, South Australia. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2013: “How I became interested in orchids“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2013 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Chris Heysen, Auldana, South Australia CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – Greg Steenbeeke, Narellan, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Arthur Stafford, Eskdale, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
An AOF Special Award (the publication titled ‘Starting Out With Orchids’) has been presented to Brooke Felsch of the Woodburn Orchid Society, NSW.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2012: “Orchid conservation at Home“
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING 2012 ESSAY PRIZE WINNERS:-
1st Prize – Emily Noble, Montrose, Victoria CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2nd Prize – John and Ruth Allen, Bathurst, New South Wales CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3rd Prize – Arthur Stafford, Eskdale, Queensland CLICK TO DOWNLOAD