Family donates significant orchid collection to Townsville conservatory

An orchid and pitcher plant collection that includes hundreds of individual specimens has been donated to Council’s Anderson Gardens and Queens Gardens by a generous Townsville couple.

Barbara and Christopher Callister have lived in their Rassmussen home for 43 years, cultivating their own slice of paradise in their backyard. But it wasn’t until Mr Callister’s colleague introduced him to keeping orchids that the pair’s obsession with the tropical flowers kicked in.

“The collection is in the hundreds. You might have one with a yellow flower and a strong fragrance, and the next flower would be totally different – and I like the whole lot of them. I couldn’t go past a stall or a shop without taking one home,” Mr Callister said.

“I used to be a train driver, so I wasn’t home much, but I’d often arrive home around 3am and get to work on them for the whole day.

“I have Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia now, so I won’t be around much longer. I wanted to give the collection to someone else to play with.”

Mrs Callister said with her husband’s diagnoses, the pair started to wonder how they’d keep up with caring for such an extensive collection of delicate plants.

“Council’s workers did a great job and were all very nice people to talk to. We’re very pleased it’s all gone to a good home where people can admire the plants and enjoy them,” she said.

The plants have been moved to the Anderson Gardens Conservatory for the community to enjoy.

Mr Callister said he hoped visitors got as much joy out of the plants as he had.

“We knew that if the plants were going to be looked after, these would be the right people to do it. I’m happy that they will be with someone who knows what they’re doing and can take care of them,” he said.

Anderson Gardens’ divisional councillor Liam Mooney said it was heartwarming to see this collection shared so selflessly with the community.

“This is a very special collection of plants which have been cultivated and cared for by two incredible Townsville locals. I’m glad to see that Council has been able to work specially with these residents for this unique plant rehoming,” Cr Mooney said.

“Seeing Barbara and Christopher work with Council’s teams to hand over these incredible flowers and pitcher plants has been wonderful. I hope visitors to the conservatory have a great time visiting and enjoying this generous gift.”

And as for the Callisters’ garden now? Well, it certainly isn’t empty.

“It’s only been a week since the last of the orchids were taken away, and we’ve already bought new plants,” Mr Callister said.

The couple’s plan is to fill their garden with low-maintenance ornamental plants and continue relaxing outdoors while watching the visiting cockatoos, finches and sunbirds together.

For more information on visiting Council’s botanic gardens.