Neil Finch Influence and Later DUNO Creations

Neil Finch was one of our many talented epiphytic Australian native orchid breeders. Unmatched was his involvement and contribution to our great course. He was the first person to really take hot cold mix of Australian Dendrobiums to a class on their own and getting worldwide recognition. He does not even know that many growers now believe him to have been one of our very best. The hard struggles he went through to make a business out of it and try and prove to the establishment the direction we should be taking with our native hybrids fell on deaf ears. This ignorance drove him crazy with frustration as he was snubbed by other top growers which I personally witnessed. With limited supporters at the time willing to spend real money on his seedlings; recognise his great talents and strong enthusiasm; he finally succumbed and sold out. He has never taken up where he left off, but maybe the great man now might be tempted, after years in the wilderness. We all finally realised with his magic productions that are now popping up everywhere, how stunning and important they are to our future breeding of quality Australian Dendrobiums. Neil said as quoted by Bill Skillicorn in the late 90's, “I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THERE IS A NATIVE ORCHID ADORNING EVERY KITCHEN WINDOW SILL AND PATIO IN AUSTRALIA.”. Let’s all think about this statement by the little Aussie down under orchid breeder.

(DUNO – Down Under Native Orchids (incorporating Elermore Orchids). – Editor)