Upton, Walter (1922 - 2012)

Summary

Walter Upton was a key figure in local orchid societies in the Sydney arrea after he migrated to New South Wales in 1950. His had long been interested in natural history, particularly orchids. With his wife Jill he established an orchid nursery for both native and exotic orchids at Elanora Heights, New South Wales. The "Double U Orchids" became a focal point for orchid enthusiasts. He registered over 165 orchid hybrids. Upton was an accomplished artist, making drawings (including dissections) of every orchid he found. These were widely published in orchid journals and were deposited in the Mitchell Library, Sydney. The first society he joined was the Manly and Northern Beaches Orchid Society (President 1970 - 1971) which amalgamated with a neighbouring society to become the Manly-Warringal Orchid Society (President 1971 - 1974). In 1963 Upton played a key role in the foundation of the Australasian Native Orchid Society (ANOS) to promote the protection and conservation of Australia's indigenous orchid species. He served two terms as President of ANOS. Upton's publications included books oncultivation orchids, and on the genera Dendrobium and Sarcochilus.

Details

Chronology

1940 - c. 1945

Military service - Served with the Royal Air Force

1945

Award - Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

1950

Life event - Migrated to New South Wales

1958 - 1960

Career position - Member of Committee, Manly and Northern Beaches Orchid Society

1960 - 1970

Career position - Secretary, Manly and Northern Beaches Orchid Society

1963 - 1964

Career position - Co-founder and Honorary Secretary, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1964 - 1967

Career position - President, Warringah Group, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1967 - 1971

Career position - Member of Committee, Warringal Group, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1970 - 1971

Career position - President, Manly and Northern Beaches Orchid Society

1971

Award - Ira Butler Trophy Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Development of Australian Native Orchid Hybrids, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1971 - 1974

Career position - President, Manly-Warringal Orchid Society

1973 - 1979

Career position - Member of Committee, Orchid Society of New South Wales

1979 - 1981

Career position - Vice-President, Orchid Society of New South Wales

1981

Career position - Chairman, Committee for the Orchid Symposium, 13th International Botanical Congress, Sydney

1981 - 1984

Career position - President, Orchid Society of New South Wales

1982 - 2012

Award - Patron, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1984 - 1985

Career position - Vice-President, Orchid Society of New South Wales

1986 - 1987

Career position - Member of Committee, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1987 - 1988

Career position - Vice-President, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1987 - 1992

Career position - Editorial Associate, The orchadian

1988 - 1991

Career position - President, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1989

Career position - Foundation Member, Orchid SPECIES New South Wales

1990

Award - Meritorious Service Award, Orchid Society of New South Wales

1990

Award - Meritorious Service Award, Orchid SPECIES New South Wales

1991 - 1996

Career position - Member of Committee, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1992 - 1996

Career position - Editor, The orchadian

1994 -

Career position - Patron, Australasian Native Orchid Society

1998

Award - Award of Honour, Australian Orchid Foundation

2007

Award - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the conservation, cultivation and recognition of native Australian orchids

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• Upton, W. T., Growing orchids (Adelaide: Rigby, 1970), 64 pp. Details
• Upton, W. T., Sarcochilus orchids of Australia (West Gosford, N.S.W.: "Double U" Orchids, 1992), 119 pp. Details
• Upton, Walter T., Dendrobium orchids of Australia (Ferntree Gully, Vic.: Houghton Mifflin Australia, 1989), 237 pp. Details

Resources

• Australian Orchid Foundation, 'Upton, Walter (1922 - 2012)', Award of Honour, Auatralian Orchid Foundation, Yarra Glen, Vic., 2024, https://australianorchidfoundation.org.au/walter-upton-aoh/. https://australianorchidfoundation.org.au/award-of-honour/. Details

Resource Sections

• Corrigan, Murray and Clemesha, Steve, 'In memory of Walter Thomas Upton DFM, OAM', in Australian Orchid Foundation memorial register, Australian Orchid Foundation, Yarra Glev, Vic, 2012. https://australianorchidfoundation.org.au/walter-thomas-upton-dfm-oam/. Details