BY DYLAN DE JONG 

A love of native plant species and a dedication to conserving the natural environment is front of mind for Pomonal’s Matilda Venn.  

The young aspiring orchidologist is set to receive a Young Best Friend Award 2020 as part of the Victorian Environmental Friends Network. 

Matilda, 15, was nominated for the award because of her research around native orchid species as well as participating in voluntary tree-
planting efforts with landcare network Project Platypus.  

Matilda’s affinity with Pomonal’s native orchid species has even extended to teaching others. 

In 2018, aged 12, she started to take groups of people on tours to see the orchids as part of Pomonal Native Flower Show.

Earlier this month, Matilda spoke to crowds on a virtual platform as a part of the 23rd annual Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar. 

“I definitely like sharing my love of plants and orchids,” she said.

“I know I’ve taught a fair few people about what an orchid is and where to find them.”  

Matilda took part in Stawell’s ‘Biggest Science Experiment’ earlier this year, creating a survey to collect information about native orchid species, including numbers and locations that could be used to identify the impacts of a changing climate.

“I wanted to see if the number of species all together would go up or down each year and see how the climate was affecting them,” she said.

Matilda has discovered about 23 orchid species in the Pomonal area, including the pink fingers orchid and the veined helmet orchid. 

“The most common would either be the wax lip, a purple orchid, or the mantis spider orchid,” she said.

“My favourite would have to be the large flying duck orchids, or caleana major.”  

Matilda’s mother Barbara Venn said her daughter’s interest in the environment started from a young age.

“In prep, Matilda was struck by a variety of orchids we would pass on our walk to school,” Mrs Venn said. 

“From our place to the primary school is about 500 metres and there’s about 12 varieties of orchids that come out each year. She would tell her teacher about the orchids and they were always really embracing and encouraging her interest.”

From there, Matilda started taking her peers on orchid walks, which later extended to walks for the native flower show. 

“Matilda has just always said yes and put her hand up for things and then all of sudden there’s a group of 20 flower-lovers in a hall waiting for her to take them on a walk,” Mrs Venn said. 

“The Australian plant society in Pomonal is quite big and there’s some passionate people in that group who have inspired and mentored Matilda as well. The community we’re in is super supportive.” 

Mrs Venn said she was proud to see her daughter take on leadership at a young age. 

“We care about the environment as parents and we want to put a bit of optimism in our children for the future and help them take a bit of ownership as well,” she said. 

“You don’t have to sit by idle watching things you might not like happening to the environment – you can step up and take leadership and ownership of some issues.

“One of the biggest leaders in that is Greta Thunberg in Sweden. 

“Matilda went to the environmental climate change protest in Melbourne last year and she really aspires to be like those environmental leaders.” 

The entire September 23, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!