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Hebe 'Great Orme' (stamens and stigmas featured)
Alex Waterfield
2025 was a big year for The Hebe and New Zealand Plant Society – we officially turned 40! To celebrate, our annual general meeting (AGM) was held in Edinburgh on the 2nd of August, where decisions were made, competition results were revealed, and our chairman of 10 years stepped down.
Here are the minutes of the 2025 AGM, for all to see!
Minutes of the Hebe Society 40th Anniversary AGM - 2nd August 2025
The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society offices, Saughton Park, Edinburgh. EH11 3HR. 2pm in person and via Zoom. A recording was made.
Attendees
Sue Bosson (SB), Lewis Normand (LN), Josep M Vendrell (JV), Nigel Hutchinson (NH), Clive Winstanley (CW), Talea Harding (TaH), Stephen Harding (SH), Gary Firth (GF) (Via Zoom), Maria Firth (MF) (Via Zoom), Tony Hayter (TH) (Via Zoom), Gwen Scoble (GS) (Via Zoom).
Apologies for Absence
Sylvia Jennings (SJ), Jason Millen (JM), Mike Cherrington (MC), Murray Dawson (MD), Derek Leary (DL), John Saville (JS), (Rosemary Broadhurst (RB), Pat Marron (PM) – added during the meeting).
Chairman's Opening Remarks
SH welcomed in person and zoom attendees to the 40th AGM of the Hebe Society at 2.00pm. Thanks were given to Lewis for arranging the weekend and indicated that the visit to RBGE was excellent and a ‘real treat’.
1. Minutes of the previous meeting
These were published in Hebe News volume 39 No. 3 pages 12).
The accuracy of these was acknowledged, proposed by NH and seconded by SB. They were then approved and accepted unanimously to be signed as accurate by the Chair and Secretary.
2. Matters Arising
New Website (to be detailed later) was launched along with a 40th anniversary Logo. Revised membership costs now active. It was noted that nobody has left due to increased costs, though we have lost some members due to ‘natural wastage’. SB noted that one member leaving noted that they didn’t like all of the South-centred meetings, though it was commented that that was no issue in this meeting. Proposed name change to the Hebe and New Zealand Plant Society was identified as needing to be ratified at this meeting – Point 8.
3. Annual Report
Members were provided with the Annual Report and AGM agenda with committee reports in advance of the meeting via NewsBlast attachments. Members attending the meeting had access to print copies as well. The Chairman (SH) summarised his report, with his focus for the year having been supporting (TaH) develop the website and exhibiting at a couple of gardening shows, though these were not overly successful. SH is answering a lot of questions online and directing users to the Hebe Society Website and our Facebook Page. SH then summarised NH’s report, identifying the Hebe Registration programme taking a little longer than wanted to get started. 3 Hebes waiting to be registered. This information is then passed on to Murray Dawson (MD) and is reviewed by NH, SH, LN, MD and Keith Hammett, who form the International Cultivar Registration Group. NH has been contacting nurseries and plant breeders and building a database and herbarium. SH summarised LN’s work on NewsBlast and the success of this AGM. Weblink being added to the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society website and new links to the new Hebe Soc website. SH recounted SB’s report with 11 new members this year. SH recounted GF’s report on plant collections inc. the new Coprosma national collection. SH recounted TH’s editor report. TH has handed over the contents of the old website, which ends in Oct 2025 to TaH. The Hebe beds at Quinta Arboretum largely survived the winter and he has undertaken regular maintenance. TH reminded the meeting that he is retiring as Editor of Hebe News. Reports were proposed by SB and seconded by JV and therefore accepted.
4. Treasurers Report/Presentation of Accounts
The Treasurer’s report had been shared previously and a copy of the signed examined accounts, having been approved by JM, the Examiner of the Accounts was included. SH presented the report on behalf of SJ. Accounts this year saw a deficit in accounts with expenditure exceeding income by £636.88. Modest increase in membership subscription revenue and plant sales revenue of £188. Our primary cost remains the production and distribution of Hebe News. Finances are determined to be healthy, though slowly depleting. Vote to accept the audited accounts was proposed by NH and seconded by TaH and therefore accepted.
5. Confirmation of Subscriptions
There was a general discussion on the approach, this year, to maintain unchanged our subscription fees having raised them at the last AGM. It was discussed that a number of members are still paying lower fees than agreed and that they will be chased up to amend their payment.
6. Appointment of Examiner of Accounts
JM has agreed to continue as The Examiner of Accounts. LN proposed that JM remains as Examiner of Accounts, which GS seconded and it was therefore accepted. The letter of the examined accounts was then signed by SH and NH.
7. Election of Officers
SH confirmed that he is standing down as Chairman at this meeting. SJ is standing down as Treasurer. GS is standing down from her role as PBR/PVR recorder, but will remain on the committee. SH proposed that NH be elected to Chairman, which was seconded by LN, which was then accepted. SH also proposed MC as our new Treasurer. SB seconded this proposal and MC was elected to the committee as Treasurer. The Secretary (LN) gave thanks to those stepping down for their work for the society and then proposed SH be elected as Vice-Chairman to support NH with his transition to Chairman. NH seconded this proposal and it was accepted. All other existing committee members had previously agreed to remain in their roles for a further year.
NH then assumed Chair of the meeting and thanked all committee members and especially to the resigning committee members, SJ, GS and SH for all of there hard work and input to the society with special thanks to SH for his leadership over the last decade. NH recognised that he is the 5th Chairman of the society since its establishment. NH introduced the new website, revised logo and an exciting new year. NH declared that he would like to broaden the society appeal with a focus, not just on Hebe, but on all New Zealand Plants. GF asked the question on whether Hebe News would experience a name change. It was agreed that it would stay the same regardless of any society name change.
It was noted by LN that the bank account would not need to change even with a name change to the society and that changes would just be to appeal to a wider audience.
NH thanked SH with a gift for his Chairmanship.
There were no other proposed changes to the Committee. Re-election of the remainder of the committee ‘on block’ was unanimous.
8. Vote – ratification of society name change to Hebe and New Zealand Plants Society.
A vote of members at the AGM was held to determine the change of name from The Hebe Society to The Hebe and New Zealand Plant Society. It was deemed that a majority vote of those present in person and via zoom would be recognised as the decision to or not to ratify the name change. The vote passed in favour of the name change by 10 votes to 1 and it is agreed that the society shall now be known as ‘The Hebe and New Zealand Plant Society’, with the official launch coming in the first Hebe News of 2026.
9. Resolutions - None received
10. 2026 41st AGM proposal
The date of the 41st AGM to be held in Yorkshire, most likely at Harlow Carr. Date to Be Determined.
11. Douglas Chalk Award
Was issued to (TaH) in recognition of the work she has put in to develop the new website for the society. NH presented TaH with her award certificate and the Douglas Chalk Award Plate. The list of previous award winners is at the end of this document.
12. Presentation of RHS Awards.
RHS Awards were presented to JS and TH who are founder members and long-time supporters of the society. JS wrote prior to the meeting to wish attendees and the society well in the future. TH pointed out that over the years since he started in 1987 has produced around 150 issues of Hebe News, which was shared with the meeting. A great achievement.
13. Call for more help in running the Society.
General request made by NH for membership involvement and shows, projects and particularly to take over from TH as an Editor for Hebe News. Volunteers were requested. Please contact hebesociety@gmail.com if you are interested.
14. New Website & Social Media
LN expressed that he has not had enough time to really push the Society’s social media presence. LN indicated that it would be good to promote our social media accounts on the new website and that the New Zealand Tourist Board has been keen on sharing our posts, indicating that our international appeal may be higher than we think. LN indicated that our engagement on Twitter/X is less desirable due to algorithmic changes, which are making it more of platform of negativity and Instagram and Facebook are better for our needs.
15. Hebe Registration
NH has been working on the database of names, with 275 new Hebes, 26 Parahebe and 1 Chionohebe to the international list. 3 varieties will be verified at the next meeting. NH at the request of LN explained the process of a name being registered and recognised as unique and appropriate. The group approved 3 varieties of Cordyline in 2025, so it is all New Zealand Flora, not just Hebe. There is a call to have any new varieties from professional and amateur breeders to complete the registration documents.
16. Any Other Business
TH gave apologies from absence from RB and PM.
SH gave details on the new website and requested content in the form of images and text form species and varieties. The Photographic Competition was hosted on the new website and winners will be added in a slideshow post the AGM. Posts linked on Facebook.
TH asked that people put their membership number in as a reference when paying their subscriptions to make it easier for the treasurer. SH proposed that we stop taking cheques and avoid Standing Orders to give more control over payments for membership. GS asked if we could find out how people are paying currently, especially those paying by cheque to look at how we approach payment. BACS payments with membership number as a reference can be used.
CW again offered a gift of stamps to the society, which was gratefully accepted.
The meeting was closed at 14.53.
Existing Officers
President – Chris Brickell
Vice President – Murray Dawson
Chairman – Stephen Harding
Vice Chairman & Registrar - Nigel Hutchinson
Secretary – Lewis Normand
Treasurer – Sylvia Jennings
Membership Secretary – Sue Bosson
Editor & Webmaster – Tony Hayter
PBR Recorder – Gwen Scoble
Collections Coordinator – Gary Firth
Post 2025 AGM Officers List
President – Chris Brickell
Vice President – Murray Dawson
Chairman & Registrar – Nigel Hutchinson
Vice Chairman – Stephen Harding
Secretary – Lewis Normand
Treasurer – Mike Cherrington
Membership Secretary – Sue Bosson
Editor & Webmaster – Tony Hayter (until 2026)
Collections Coordinator – Gary Firth
Secretary Committee Member– Gwen Scoble
Douglas Chalk Trophy – list of recipients
