PNG celebrates world orchid awards

THE crowning of Papua New Guinea as the world orchid champion in Singapore is a positive change to a long stint of negative news.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said on Monday night during the PNG Orchid Society celebration in Port Moresby that the country needed to start putting itself on the world map on “positive” developments as often as it could.
He thanked the society for an excellent job in showcasing PNG’s orchids among 80 of the world’s best and known orchid countries.
He said the hardworking staff and committee members, the orchid society and its corporate sponsors had done PNG proud with the achievement.
Team PNG worked hard for 18 months to prepare for the world orchid conference in Singapore.
They spent an intense hour to set up the award winning 100sqm display.
The orchids arrived late in Singapore, leaving the exhibitioners just an hour to decorate before the closing time for judging.
The PNG delegation had taken with it carved Sepik and Bird of Paradise sculptures from the Botanical Gardens,
which were all decorated in traditional PNG colours as part of the display.
The display won awards in the best 100sqm display, a reserved overall winner second to Thailand in displays, 15 individual awards for the orchid growers and the overall title of world champions.
The next world orchid conference will be held in South Africa.