John Easton Award

From its inception in 1976 until June 2022, the John Easton Award was administered by the Hawke’s Bay Orchid Society. Later in 2022, the Orchid Council of New Zealand accepted responsibility for the award, which was donated by Andy Easton, born in Hawke’s Bay but in 1976 living in Eugene, Oregon in the United States, and named in honour of his father. The award made annually, if there is a suitable candidate, is for the most outstanding contribution to the culture and promotion of orchids in New Zealand. Only members of OCNZ-affiliated societies are eligible. Before 2022 nominations for the award were made by individual societies; in 2022 and after the award will be made at the discretion of the Executive Council of the OCNZ.

John Easton was not an orchidist, but inspired his son to become a professional orchid grower and supported him through his botany degree in New Zealand and at graduate school in the US. Andy Easton continues: “He went to Waitaki Boys’ High School (Oamaru) and always reminded me that his maths teacher there, Arnold Nordmeyer, who went on to become the Finance Minister in a Labour Government, was the smartest person he had ever known! My Dad did not make old bones, sadly he died in 1975 at only 62 years old. He did get to travel with my Mother and visited us in Eugene, Oregon where I was managing a 29-acre greenhouse operation growing roses, orchids, gardenias and stephanotis. He teased me by asking if they paid me to do the job … I assured him that they paid me very generously and he replied that with my love of plants, he was sure I’d do it all for free!”

2025 John Easton Award: Allan Rae

Professor Emeritus in agri-economics at Massey University, Allan:

  • Is a foundation member, Life Member and past president of the Manawatu Orchid Society.
  • Has been breeding Cymbidium orchids, concentrating on ‘sunset’ colours, since 2002 and has registered 19 of his ‘Tipperty’ plants with the RHS. To the end of 2024 his plants have received 17 awards from the OCNZ, two from NZOS, and to the end of 2016 five from the CSA (NZ). Tipperty Orchids won the Best Table-top display at the 2010 National Orchid Expo in Palmerston North.
  • Has been an OCNZ-accredited judge since 2014.
  • Has been the Manawatu Supplementary Chair from 2020 to the present time. 
  • Has been on the OCNZ Committee from 2017 to present and has been vice-president from 2019 to the present time.
  • Was chair of the 2019 National Orchid Expo organising committee, held in Palmerston North.
  • Has been a member of the Iwitahi Management Committee since 2022 and has been instrumental in developing summer research projects in conjunction with Waikato University for the Iwitahi Reserve. For the first project with Georgia Steele Allan was also successful in obtaining funding from the George Mason Trust.
  • Has supplied a presentation on Cymbidium orchid breeding to the 2023 National Orchid Expo.
  • Has written articles for the OCNZ Yearbooks at various times.
  • Has been the editor of the OCNZ Yearbook from Orchids 2021 to present.

Allan holds a BHortSc and MHortSc from Massey University, a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of New England (Australia) and a DSc from Massey University. Much of his academic career was spent teaching and researching at Massey University where, before retirement, he was director of the Centre for Applied Economics and Policy Studies. He has held visiting positions in Austria, Sweden and England, and has also done consultancy work for FAO, ESCAP (UN), OECD, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and the World Trade Organisation. He received a Science and Technology Medal from the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2001, for his contributions to agricultural economics, is an Honorary Life Member of the NZ Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, and a Distinguished Fellow (and a past-president) of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. Allan has served as editor-in chief of the Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

 

The John Easton Award. Photo: Hawke’s Bay Orchid Society

Winners of the John Easton Award:

1977  A H Blackmore                           1996  R G Tomlinson                                2015  Lee & Roy Neale                                
1978  T P French                                    1997  J B Irwin                                           2016  Clive Perry         
1979  G Fuller                                          1998  Lyn Sherlock                                  2017  Martin Bonham              
1980  H J Poole, OBE                           1999  Alan Gray                                         2018  Margaret Harper              
1981  G G & P A Boon                           2000  Graham Jackson                          2022  Chris Hubbert               
1982  E T Bartosh                                  2001  Ray Dix                                              2025 Allan Rae
1983  I D James                                      2002  Kath Bruce                                          
1984  W Ross-Taylor                             2003  Joy Wray                                         
1985  R L Maunder                                2004  M Liddell                                         
1986  Des Leahy                                     2005  R Marshall                                          
1987 F A Ballard                                     2006  Ross MacDonald, QSM
1988  C Scott                                           2007  Joe Vance
1989  S Wray                                            2008  Cliff & Ruth Coles
1990  G L A Day                                       2009  Ray Albiston
1991  M M Gibbs                                     2010  Gary Cooke
1992  Ken Christie                                 2011  Bill Liddy
1993  Roy Clareburt                              2012  Barbara Johnson
1994  Franz Brljevich                           2013  Grahame Hill
1995  Patricia Elms                               2014  Annette Gillan