Phyllis Bruce Award of Merit

This award was created in 2006 and named to honour Mrs Phyllis Bruce who had a vision to create a group of New Zealanders interested in Cactus and Succulents in 1947, and was the first Secretary/Treasurer, and Editor of the developing CSSNZ journal.

2007 Recipients

• Derek Gordon (Hawkes Bay)
• Herman Kortink (Wellington-Hutt Valley)
• Ted Verrity (Wellington-Hutt Valley)

Derek will be familiar to those attending annual conferences with his fine auctioneering skills. He is always willing to help at branch meetings, as well as transporting members to conventions, and giving talks to branches.

Herman is familiar face at coventions over the years, having joined the Hutt Valley branch in 1968, and held office as President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Wellington-Hutt Valley branch. His property has seen many branch and national events (crawls and BBQs) held there. Until recently he was responsible for distributing the journal.

Ted a member of the Wellington-Hutt Valley branch since 1981, has been treasurer and secretary for long terms. He was responsible for updating the CSSNZ constitution in 1994. He also has an interest in Sansevierias and Echinopsis hybrids, which he has taken to the members.

2008 Recipients

• Tim & Karyn Powell (Auckland)

Tim and Karyn were responsible for the cactus and succulent displays that won Gold & Silver medals at The Ellerslie Flower Show.

2009 Recipients

• Andrew Ross (UK)

Andrew, a member since 1984 moving from Hawkes Bay, then Wellington-Hutt Valley and finally Bay of Plenty branches and currently living in London, has been updating selected branch and the national CSSNZ wepages since 1996.

Honorary or Life Members of the CSSNZ

• Graeme Fieldes
• Elsie Graydon
• Karl Johnson
• Ted Lloyd
• Bruce Purdie
• Phylis Purdie
• Frances Verrity
• Joan Wells

Phylis and Bruce Purdie cutting the cake at the celebration of 50 years membership of the CSSNZ.