Obituaries

Dr Ross Ewen Beever MSc (Auckland), PhD (Leeds), FRSNZ, FNZIAHS, FAPPS 3 January 1946 – 3 June 2010

Ross trained as a botanist at Ross received many awards during Auckland University and although his career, including Fellowship of he later specialised in the study of the Royal Society of New Zealand. fungi, he retained an interest, indeed One award that gave him particular a love, for our native plants. He was pleasure was being elected an encouraged in this by his father, Honorary Life Member of the Jim Beever, author of the book A Auckland Botanical Society, in Dictionary of Maori Plant Names, by recognition of his work for the Society, mentors such as Lucy Moore and Bill an honour that had previously been Hamilton, and by his wife Jessica, one bestowed on his father. Another was of New Zealand’s most distinguished his nomination for the Allan Mere, Dr Ross Beever was a mycologist bryologists. given each year to a distinguished New Zealand botanist. In November and plant pathologist with Landcare For Ross, botany was a hobby but 2010, Dr Jessica Beever received on Research in Auckland. His main he was much more than a mere his behalf the posthumous award of professional interest was in fungi, enthusiast or hobbyist – he brought to the Allan Mere. their taxonomy, their genetics, their his botanical studies the same rigour physiology and the diseases that they that characterised his work on fungi. Ross was a skilled naturalist with cause. He studied the large-leafed variants an extensive knowledge of native Early in his career he collaborated on off-shore islands, he studied the plants and fungi. He was always in novel and innovative research on incompatibility breeding systems of willing to share his knowledge with the uptake of phosphorus by fungi, cabbage tree (Cordyline) species, and others, scientists or amateurs. He work that had important implications with Warwick Harris demonstrated was committed to his research and for both our native plant communities that cabbage trees are adapted to undertook research that was relevant and for agricultural and horticultural their local environments. This interest to the needs of New Zealand. He crops. Many soils in New Zealand are in cabbage tree biology meant that he was an excellent mentor of younger low in phosphorus and plants rely on was well placed to lead the team that scientists and students and a good symbiotic fungi for its uptake. successfully investigated the “Sudden friend to his many colleagues. Decline” of cabbage trees. The cause Ross Beever was a good friend and Another major interest was control was found to be the phytoplasma he will be missed. of Botrytis cinerea, one of the most “Candidatuss Phytoplasma destructive of fungal pathogens. In australiense”. More recently, he was Obituary compiled by Ross New Zealand it is a particular problem leading a team from different scientifi c Ferguson. Ross Ferguson and of grapes, kiwifruit, berryfruit and groups studying the death of kauri Peter Buchanan published a many ornamentals. Ross and his caused by Phytophthora species. more detailed obituary in the co-workers made a long-term study New Zealand Journal of Botany On a happier note, by physiological of fungicide resistance in Botrytis. 48(3–4): 139–151 (2010). This work established the genetic and manipulation he was able to biochemical basis of fungal resistance obtain viable seed of the single to dicarboximides, one of the more remaining plant of Pennantia important groups of fungicides used baylisiana, a female plant lacking for control of Botrytis. This work the corresponding male, and the was the basis for practical advice many hundreds of offspring grown on managing fungal resistance in have ensured the survival of this general. endangered native of the Three Kings Islands.

28 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) Dr Eric John Godley OBE, Hon. DSc (Cantuar), FRSNZ, AHRIH 10 May 1919 – 27 June 2010

Godley, a former senior-grade rugby He was a kind and considerate boss player, chummed up with Molloy, a who “rescued” many botanists from former All Black. The pair spent many jobs in which they were unhappy and a Saturday afternoon on the bank at provided positions for them, Molloy Lancaster Park (AMI Stadium), rounding says. “He was always friendly. His door it off with a couple of pints at their was always open, to staff and visitors.” favourite pub. He employed only one secretary and Molloy remembers leaving the park did most of the division’s administration after a Canterbury defeat, amid the himself. “He was an unobtrusive scowling faces of disappointed fans. communicator and an administrator Godley commented on what a miserable extraordinaire.” evening these fans would have. Then he Botanist Dr Colin Meurk says Godley added: “But we’re all right, Brian. We’ve was “very supportive of young, budding got our plants.” scientists, took them under his wing and Eric Godley with his favourite native plant, Godley was a contented and accepting helped them get a foot on the career kowhai. He grew this tree from seed man. Even in later years, with ladder”. collected from Ohingaiti in the 1960s. In declining health and in pain from a He trusted people to do a good day’s 2001 it was described as a new species and leg amputation, he never complained. named Sophora godleyi in his honour. work and developed a “great esprit Photo: Peter Heenan. Godley died aged 91. de corps in his staff”. He won the Father of post-war botany and old- Raised in Auckland, he was head affection of staff members. He was a school scientist Dr Eric Godley prefect at Takapuna Grammar School classic example of the “gentleman and combined science with “people skills”. and starred in rugby, cricket and scholar”. athletics. He graduated with an MSc The eminent botanist popularised the Godley’s research led to many from Auckland University in 1942, then publications in his speciality, the study of plants. He was able to relate to served with the army in Italy. people at every level. He was a down- reproductive biology of New Zealand’s to-earth bloke who enjoyed watching After World War II, he completed his native fl ora. His work in Chile and rugby and having a few beers. PhD in Cambridge, England. He married on sub-Antarctic islands sparked in 1955, but the marriage did not last. international interest in the link between Fellow botanist Dr Brian Molloy says He had no children. New Zealand and South American of Godley: “Very few scientists could Godley lectured in plant genetics at native plants. He suggested the communicate with the general public as Antarctic had played a role in the link, well as he could.” Auckland University from 1948 to 1951, then joined the Crop Research Division as some form of bridge. Godley’s long-running magazine of the Department of Scientifi c and He established New Zealand’s column, A Botanist’s Notebookk, Industrial Research at Lincoln as a national herbarium and a network of introduced many people to the science geneticist. botanical stations around the country. of plants. It later formed the basis of He was director of the division from He took lead roles in many research Godley’s popular book of the same organisations. In retirement, he name1. 1952 to 1958, when he was made director of Botany Division, a position researched and wrote on the history of “Eric was a scientist of great eminence, he held for 22 years. Then, freed from botanical study in New Zealand. especially in plant breeding systems, administrative duties, he continued with His work in explaining the variation in the botany of the sub-Antarctic islands, the division for fi ve years as a scientist. kowhai was acknowledged with the relationships between New Zealand His successor as director of the Botany naming of a previously unknown species and South American plants, and his after him, Sophora godleyi. He was favourite plant, the kowhai. Division, Dr Henry Connor, says: “I would call him the father of post-war the fi rst president of the New Zealand He was known internationally in the botany in New Zealand.” Botanical Society and a Fellow of the botanical sciences and he received Royal Society of New Zealand, and was many awards2,” Molloy says. Godley oversaw the botany division’s awarded the OBE in 1990. shift in 1960 from central Christchurch For many years, Godley spent the to Lincoln, where it expanded However, his honorary Doctor of Christmas-New Year break botanising in signifi cantly. Science, from the University of the mountains around Maruia Springs. Canterbury, meant the most to him. Molloy says his leadership style was “He believed you learnt most from direct based on trust. He left his staff to get on Meurk says Godley was of the “old contact with the plants. He belonged with their work. He once said that, if he school”. He was critical of modern with the plants and he enjoyed being spotted a staff member on the beach structures governing science and 3 with them,” Molloy says. during work hours, he would not mind, research . He agreed with the concept as the staff member would be thinking of accountability, but not with “the about botany. sledgehammer approach” to it.

1 Reviewed in the New Zealand Garden Journal, 2007, Vol. 10(1): 27–28 2 For example, Eric Godley was made an Associate of Honour of the RNZIH in 1984. 3 Godley, E. (1986/87): Editorial: A set-back for science. Annual Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture 14: 91.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2) 29 Reproduced with permission An obituary written by A day-long commemoration to from an obituary prepared by Dr David Galloway, along with Dr Godley was held 29 Nov 2010 Mike Crean and fi rst published remembrances by others, are at Lincoln University. in The Press, 10 July 2010, published in the New Zealand section C, p. 13. Botanical Society Newsletterr, No. 101, Sept 2010 and No. 102, Dec 2010.

Rene Orchiston AHRIH 3 January 1919 – 19 October 2010

local Gisborne rose gardens, and Rene didn’t just collect and maintain Wellington’s Lady Norwood Rose these special varieties of harakeke. Garden. Rene’s marvellous legacy is that she Rene was a talented spinner and freely gave away numerous divisions weaver of wool, and founded a craft of the plants – to keen individuals, group at Matawhero and later, with weaving groups, schools, marae, public sisters Joyce and Margaret, at Muriwai gardens – so that anyone with an Marae. It was during this time that Rene interest in weaving could have the very noticed that much of the harakeke that best material to work with. Landcare Rene Orchiston (centre) at the National Ma¯ori friends were using for weaving Research has continued this philosophy, Weavers Hui at Takitimu Marae, Wairoa was not very good. Ordinary fl ax can and today these taonga (treasures) are in October 2009. She is holding a small be tough to plait, is hard on the hands growing in gardens and public places all feather kete made by Mere Cousins (left) of to manipulate, can have edges that fray over New Zealand. Palmerston North. and split, and the fi bre used for cloak After husband Ralph died in 1990, Rene At Labour Weekend, family and friends making is diffi cult, if not impossible, moved to Aberdeen Road, Gisborne, gathered in Gisborne to celebrate and to extract. Rene knew from listening beside the river. In the distance, Rene farewell Rene Orchiston, who died to older weavers, and also in reading could look out on 12 tall scarlet oak 19 October 2010, aged 91. histories and stories of early times, that trees which she had propagated to Rene was a woman of many talents, better quality selections existed – and mark Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in hugely creative, with a quick mind she made it her mission to fi find nd them . 1953, and then gifted for planting in and generous spirit, who has left a And fi nd them she did – around 60 Mangapapa Park. She developed and signifi cant public legacy – particularly selections, travelling with husband looked after another beautiful garden her collection of weaving cultivars of Ralph throughout the North Island, and continued to express her creativity harakeke (also called New Zealand visiting weavers and marae, tracking through painting, photography and fl oral fl ax or Phormium) for which she was plants down through old records, art. awarded the Associate of Honour of swapping harakeke fans of good As reported in the Gisborne Herald the Royal New Zealand Institute of varieties or exchanging them for fruit (6 Nov 2010), her daughter Louise Horticulture in 2003 (New Zealand and honey from their farm. The newly said “I always see mum’s life as being Garden Journal, 2003, Vol. 6, No. 2: obtained varieties were planted out in a a kaleidoscope of colour, design and p. 20). paddock at their home. beauty ... all woven together with Born Irene Alison Witters in January As well as collecting these fi ne immaculate craftsmanship”. 1919, Rene grew up on family farms in harakeke, Rene did another thing Rene was a plantswoman, talented the Gisborne area. She married Ralph that has increased thehe value of the artist, a methodical collector and Orchiston in 1940 and they bought a collection markedlly.y Sheh carefully recorder, and a generous and beloved property ‘Weka Lodge’ at Hexton, a recorded the nammess of thhe individual friend to many. The legag cyy of her viv sion site previouo slly owned byb Thompson’n s selectioi ns, descriibeb d thheie r traditional ana d pap ssion for fl axa is a gift that will Nurseries. uses, their form andd leaf chharactersr and continue to connect people right across As well as raising a family of four coc mplemented this infoormmata ioon wiw th the Neew Zealand. children, Warwick, Allan, Don and results of her own expx ere immentss. Thhe Obituary compiled by Sue Louise, Rene developed her skills documented collection waw s donaated Scheele. Sue says that Rene annd as a plantswoman. She was an to the Departmennt of Sciene tifi c ana d heh r family were veryr pror ud of the enthusiastic member of the Poverty Bay Inddustrial Reseaarcr h ini 1989 77, where RNZIH awarrd ana d heer AHAHRIR H tititlt e Horticultuural Society and grew hundredds it now forms the coro e of the National waw s printeed ono theh bacck ppaagee of ofo heritagage roses.s She imported NeN w Zeeala ana d Flaxx Colo leecctioon deevev lol peed her fuunenerar l seservr icce cacardd. budwood anand ded veloped planntst which ana d maainntatained by Laandndcac re Reeseae rcr h were sububsequuene tlt y donated too the ata Lincoc lnn.

30 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2010, Vol. 13(2)