`Australia's National Preservation Journal' – 'to encourage and publicise the preservation, cultivation and development of the native flora of Australia, our natural heritage' – to enlist support from 'other societies, the public libraries, local government authorities and the professional botanists' – 'not to deal with internal society affairs or to seek members'. This was the personal charter of Bill Payne, dedicated editor of Australian Plants for a good part of half a century from September, 1959 to May, 2002. (Vol. 1, Sept 1962).
In September 1993, William H. 'Bill' Payne, an engineer, received the highest honour from the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). On the nomination of his colleagues in the NSW Society, he received the Australian Plants Award in the amateur category. This is awarded for an outstanding contribution to the knowledge of Australian plants through primarily amateur or voluntary work or interest in Australian plants. His nomination, compiled by those that had observed and enjoyed the fruits of this contribution over the years, provides a valuable testimony of his worth. Throughout this tribute the italicised text is drawn from that citation.

Bill has dedicated his life to the pursuits of knowledge and growing of Australian plants. It is through his determination and dedication that the Society in NSW was founded and that the Society's journal 'Australian Plants' was established to promote knowledge and interest in our unique flora. He has provided the link for all those interested in the Australian flora, from the professional botanist to the home gardener, to share their knowledge and experience so that all may learn from each other, the varying aspects of cultivation and preservation of our flora.

Bill Payne is a foundation member who attended the first meetings of the Society in Melbourne and Sydney. Since March 1957 he has worked tirelessly at the district (local), regional and Australian levels of the Society encouraging members' interest, finding office bearers, promoting membership and actively growing much of the flora himself. Life Membership of the Society in NSW was conferred on him in March 1972. He has been editor of the journal 'Australian Plants' since its first issue in December 1959 and was President of NSW Region for the 1976-77 year.

The early records show that Bill played a supportive role in the leadership of the newly formed Society and was elected to the Executive Council in January 1958. At the following AGM he was elected Plant Steward. Notices of meeting state that Mr Payne would be in attendance from 7:30 p.m. to assist in displaying exhibits of plants from members' gardens. A `point score' competition was regularly held throughout the year for both "flowers" and potted plants - Bill figured prominently in the awards and in one year headed the points table for potted plants.

At the same time in his local East Hills in October 1957 he established the district group, often holding meetings in his own home.

He has encouraged local members to participate in projects at Picnic Point from schools to conservation areas. He has held various positions in the East Hills Group, arranged speakers, involved new members and conducted many social activities to make the Group a cohesive one. There was always a local flower show and, thanks to Bill, many active helpers. One highlight was the opening of Bankstown Town Hall where Bill organised Banksias to be flown in from all over Australia. They made a spectacular display. Much credit goes to Bill for his help and direction in the Group.

Norm Denovan, who had a plant nursery at Panania, recounts how Bill 'got hold of him one day' and persuaded him to 'grow more natives'. Overcoming difficulties to obtain suitable stock to do this, his business 'took off'. In the process a customer, Noel Gane, who became a prolific grower and East Hills stalwart, was `hooked' on native plants. Norm also describes assisting Bill prepare for flower shows at the Sydney Town Hall and Anthony Horderns' department store, on one occasion carrying upstairs a five gallon drum with a magnificent Lechenaultia biloba in 'half soil and half Picnic Point sandstone’!

This story of his confrontation of the nurseryman is exemplary of Bill's outstanding role as a catalyst in the Society... Bill's powers of persuasion have been experienced by all. Coupled with his ability to conceive new ideas, he has been able to ensure that NSW has always had many office bearers, maintained a General Meeting and been involved in many projects. Bill has always been keen to encourage and involve as many members as possible.

The projects he has undertaken are too numerous to list, but among them are the establishment of a flower show, Waratah Park Reserve, sale of plants at meetings and the importation from interstate of plants for distribution amongst members and for research, support for Burrendonq Arboretum, support at Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium, the use of interstate speakers for general meetings and the encouragement of the Society sponsoring projects.

Bill Payne's greatest achievement undoubtedly, is the conceptualising and establishment of 'Australian Plants’, the Society's journal.

Until March 1959, the Victorian organisation published a national journal for which it received a proportion of all subscriptions. In July the NSW division considered the publication of a journal itself and subsequently canvassed its membership on the type of publication they would like to see. From the SGAP Country Letter (NSW) of August 1959, the issues centred on whether 'to hand over the entire responsibility of determining the editorial policy and actual selection of articles to one person or to a well-balanced committee', the format of the Journal and the cost.

This is not the place to relate the detail of their deliberations, described as 'lively discussion', nor the arrangements with the other regions. A history of the Society is planned to be published for the jubilee of the Society in 2007 and will no doubt follow up the 'politics' of such important debates.

In December 1959, Volume 1, Number 1 of Australian Plants was published with a striking picture of Waratahs on the cover and a series of articles on the family, Proteaceae, and the genus Telopea in particular.

There is no fanfare, no introductory editorial to which we have now become accustomed. W.H. Payne is listed as Managing Editor with L. Cady, H. Boyd and P.D. Leak as the Publishing Committee for the issue. In subsequent early issues a different composition of names of active NSW members appears. His most regular assistant, Phil Leak, has been proof reading for Bill throughout his editorship. The office-bearers of the other regions are listed in the same format we know today but including sales and advertising representatives.

During the 1970's for a time Bill was responsible to a Federal Publishing Committee that had oversight of Australian Plants.

Another prime-mover in the foundation of the Society and early office-bearer, made an honorary life member of the Society at the outset, was the botanist educator and writer, Dr Thistle Harris (Stead). Her biographer, Joan Webb, writes that from the day Bill Payne accepted the position of Editor, 'Thistle was outspoken in her opposition to him, claiming he didn't have the experience or the ability. Some years later she was to concede that Bill had produced a first-rate publication.' (p. 114)

Without Bill's drive and persistence, the flora of Australia would not have had the promotion, or prominence it has today. He has travelled Australia-wide, seeking articles and photographs from all people associated with Australian plants. The journal reflects these travels. The articles are donated by professional scientists and horticulturists and by lay gardeners alike. All have their place and their interest. There is something for everyone.

As a result, much of our flora has been photographed, written about and published. With some of our flora, this may never have happened if Australian Plants' had not been in existence. The journal is now recognised world-wide. Since the first issue in December 1959 (which by the way was reprinted three times), Bill has done it all. Not only has he edited, set the lay out and proof read, he has also administered its finances, services and distribution.

With Bill Payne's encouragement Study Groups, originally called 'Study Sections', were formed and are now an integral part of the Society. The earliest mention of them was in the first issue where he announced that Mr H.G. Bleakley was leading a Study Section on Waratahs. By the end of Volume 1, eighteen groups had been listed. He described them as being for 'those who wish to learn more about growing wildflowers but do not have any experience'. By Volume 6 another dozen or so groups had been named.

The first ASGAP Study Group Co-ordinator, Bob Ross, was appointed at the Federal Conference in Canberra in 1971. Jan Sked, the current coordinator, (and from 1990-1993), in her History of the Study Groups, reinforces the catalytic nature of Bill's work in the Society... It is interesting to note just how many Study Groups were listed in those early years. In the beginning, many of them had no names and addresses for leaders, and interested members were advised to address their inquiries to the Editor of ‘Australian Plants'. This suggests that Bill Payne, in his inimitable way, was initiating an interest in the study of various genera and other aspects of the cultivation of Australian plants in the hope of 'persuading' someone from amongst the inquirers to take up the Leadership and form a Study Group.

Bill has used the journal to promote many organisations and projects both within and outside the Society. The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority and the Australian Flora Foundation, which fosters research into the biology and cultivation of Australian plants, were established. He was a driving force in their initiation and has remained on their Committees, continuously urging Member Societies and Groups to join and to support them.

He has always encouraged the wider publishing activities of the Society and pressed the claims of a number of now established titles. His contacts have led to the publication by NSW of books such as Friends and Foes by David Hocking and the Banksia Book by Alex George. One of the first, The Language of Botany, is into its ninth reprint.

By the time Volume 2 was embarked upon a purpose-produced binder was available for Volume 1 and individual back copies were being advertised, a process which has been on-going. Volume 2 introduced continuous page numbering throughout the issues of a volume.

Another commitment was to the production of bound volumes of earlier issues. The first three volumes have become collectors' items and now attract prices in excess of $60.00 per volume. From Volume 2 to 9 Bill adopted the practice of including other Society publications including The Language of Botany, Australian Plant Genera and George Althofer's Cradle of Incense about the prostantheras of the Central West of NSW. Volume 3 is the plant catalogue of nurserymen, E. and E. Boddy of Geelong, Victoria, the same company which Norm Denovan used when he obeyed Bill's edict to grow more natives. Publications concerning the flora of Northern Australia and the horticulture of the flora of Western Australia have also been included.

A keen photographer himself, Bill significantly insisted on the production of good colour illustrations. For publication in the journal he inveigled slides out of the Society's best photographers of native plants and gardens.

The receipt of Bill's Australian Plants Award at the ASGAP Biennial Conference in 1993 coincided with the award of the Olympic Games to Sydney. Bill directed his endeavours to the Society's promotion of the use of native plants wherever possible, which in turn led to his taking a keen interest in the native cut flower industry whose activities he still supports.

Bill used the approach of the Centenary of Federation to highlight a number of important national issues and travelled widely to urge the establishment of more regional Botanic Gardens to depict and preserve local flora.

Bill and the journal have had a myriad of loyal supporters but there have also been critics of editorial and management practices and strong debates. The controversial issues must not be allowed to detract from our commendation of his vision, his consistency and tenacity, nor acknowledgement of his amazing achievement in producing four journals a year for forty-two years in the promotion of his stated aim 'the preservation, cultivation and development of native flora'.

In all, Bill Payne has been a tireless worker, donating many hours of his own and family's time to the cause and promotion of the Australian flora. He is an extraordinary member in every sense.

A tribute from the Australian Flora Foundation