Awards

It would assist Show Marshals, Registrars, and owners of plants if the material in the information sheet is published in your Bulletin or Journal. We would be grateful if State Societies would publish copies of both Nomination Forms for the use of their Affiliated Societies. The competition runs from 1st January to 31st December and all entries for Trophies must be in the hands of the Committee, by the 2nd Monday of January without exception. Please note that the address for entries is Ira Butler Committee PO Box 5396, Chullora NSW 2190.

Conditions for Nomination

Please note that the Committee has resolved that once a plant has won the Gold Ira Butler Trophy, Bill Murdoch Trophy or G Hermon Slade Hybrid or Species Trophy, it shall be ineligible for further nomination unless, having previously won a quality award it receives a higher award, or, not having previously won a quality award, it receives one.

1. Nominations for the Ira Butler Trophy may come from the Champion Australian Native Orchid Hybrid of a Show, or the winner of its section or class if there was no Champion. Similarly, the nominations for the Bill Murdoch Trophy may come from the species which is the winner of the class or section for Australian Native Orchid Species of a Show, or, if there is no separate section for species, the Champion Australian Native Orchid of the Show or Grand Champion of the Show. The winner of its section or class if there is no Champion. Nomination for the G Hermon Slade Hybrid Trophy may come from the Champion Australian Native Orchid Hybrid of a Show or the winner of its section or class if there was no Champion. G Hermon Slade Species Trophy may come from the species which is the winner of the class or section for Australasian Native Orchid Species of a Show, or, if there is no separate section for species, the Champion Australasian Native Orchid of the Show or Grand Champion of the Show. The winner of its section or class if there is no Champion.
   For all trophies, nominations may come from plants which have been awarded an FCC, AM, HCC or AD by any recognized judging authority.
2. There is one Ira Butler Trophy for the Champion Australian Native Orchid Hybrid of the Year, and 5 Silver Certificates for the runners up. Owners of all other plants nominated for the Ira Butler Trophy will receive a Certificate indicating they had been nominated.
3. There is only one Bill Murdoch Trophy for the Champion Australian Native Orchid Species of the Year, and 5 silver certificates. However it has been resolved that the Committee may, at its discretion, award up to two Certificates of Special Recognition. Owners of all other plants nominated for the Bill Murdoch Trophy will receive a Certificate indicating they had been nominated.
4. There is one G Hermon Slade Trophy  for the Champion Australasian Native Orchid Hybrid of the Year. Owners of all other plants nominated for the G Hermon Slade Trophy will receive a Certificate indicating they had been nominated.
5. There is one G Hermon Slade Trophy  for the Champion Australasian Native Orchid of the Year. Owners of all other plants nominated for the G Hermon Slade Trophy will receive a Certificate indicating they had been nominated.
6. Nomination Fees. $15 for any nomination to the Ira Butler Trophy Committee. This was found necessary in order to defray expenses.

Nomination Forms

• Ira Butler Trophy
• Bill Murdoch Trophy
• G. Hermon Slade Trophy –  Hybrid
• G. Hermon Slade Trophy – Species

When completing forms please answer ALL questions. Ensure that a good description of the plant and its flowers is given. Remember that in judging shape, colour, size, texture, floriferousness and habit of the inflorescence are all taken into account.

What to include with your completed Nomination Form

The Slide or Digital image 3 original slides or images on CD which must not be copyrighted, see below. The entries should be sharp, clear and of good quality, since judging is based on the images and information you supply. Digital imaging will be accepted in raw and jpeg format on CD.

The 3 slides and/or digital images shall include the following:

1. the whole plant including the base of the plant
2. a front view of a flower
3. an inflorescence to show the side view of some flowers

• Label each slide or image either A, B or C as appropriate, and please include the name of the plant and its owner on each slide or CD.
• No embellishments such as plant labels, place cards or rosettes should be shown.

Note: To qualify you must abide by the rules and provide the 3 requisite slides and/or images.

Remember that when any image is submitted to the Ira Butler Committee for consideration for either Trophy, the photographer, owner, Group or Society submitting it shall be deemed thereby to agree that the image become the property of the Ira Butler Committee and invest with it the copyright, in the slide and the right to reproduce it.

Any nomination not complying or attempting to evade this requirement will not be accepted.

G. Hermon Slade Memorial Trophies

Champion Australasian Native Orchid Species of the Year

Definition: An Australasian orchid species is a taxon found growing naturally in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Irian Jaya, Ceram, and the Aru, Kai and Tanimbar Islands. Where a species is shared between one of these countries or islands and Australia, (eg. Den. discolor, Den. nindii, Den. bigibbum etc.), the exhibit is only eligible for the award of the trophy if there is positive evidence that the exhibit originated from outside Australia. This may take the form of the exhibit being of a recognisable sub-species or other lower order taxon, or be of known provenance, or be bred from parents of known provenance.

Champion Australasian Native Orchid Hybrid of the Year

Definition: An Australasian orchid hybrid shall be the progeny exclusively of an Australasian orchid species (as defined above) or their hybrids, or a combination of Australasian orchid species or their hybrids and Australian native orchid species or Australian native orchid hybrids.