General News
20 March, 2026
Orchid book launch on Sunday
The “most complete book on native orchids” of central Victoria is launching at Rheola Hall this Sunday.
The collection is titled The Native Orchids of Victoria’s Central Goldfields detailing around 130 species and several hybrids in the region.
Captured in the book’s pages are orchids from Bendigo, Axedale, Maldon, Castlemaine, Taradale, Maryborough, Avoca, St Arnaud, Donald, Charlton, Boort, Mitiamo and all the areas in between.
It’s the culmination of three years of work from the book’s author Russell Stanley.
“I embarked on a three year quest to catalogue the orchids of the Central Goldfields, battling some terrible seasons and using knowledge and photos I’d already acquired up to that time and doing a lot of enquiring and searching,” he said.
Mr Stanley’s first foray into orchids began at a young age but, upon discovering a Spider Orchid when he was 18 years old, he was hooked.
“Life took a turn when I got married and moved to Charlton. Less time pursuing my own interests and more time running after those of my children,” he said.
But his interest remained until retirement approached, and like-minded orchid enthusiasts were easier to find, so he joined the Australian Native Orchid Society.
Here he’d meet someone who would introduce him to the Friends of Kooyoora, a community group who protect and promote the nearby state park, who are now helping with the book launch.
The event will be held on Sunday, March 22, at the Rheola Hall at
1 pm.