06-12-1950 – 06-08-2025

Dennis was born and educated in Goulburn, NSW. His ‘number’ came up in 1972 and he was enlisted to do his National Service, which was served with the Army Division as a Trooper in 2^nd Cavalry Regiment, Holsworthy (2CAV – driving APCs). After National Service Dennis worked for T & G  (Life Insurance).

Dennis and Dianne met in Goulburn, before Dianne was transferred to Griffith with her TAFE teaching position. Dennis & Dianne married in 1974 and Dennis asked for a transfer from Goulburn to Griffith, which was granted.  At that stage there were no T & G agents in Griffith, therefore no office, so he worked from home.  T&G eventually merged with National Mutual but the office remained at home for a number of years.  Dennis finally had an office downtown about 1988.

Their Poole Street home saw the exciting arrival of their three sons, David, Timothy & Christopher.

While living in Poole Street, Dennis commenced his orchid growing passion in 1976.  He bought his first orchids, six cymbidiums, but that number grew until the backyard was completely full. 

The first phalaenopsis were bought at Paddy’s market, because Dianne liked them! But sadly, with no heat and only sarlon covering they didn’t do well in the cold.

Dennis and Dianne built a house on Overs Road, and orchid growing got serious. The big shade house went up which covered about an acre and then the first tunnel house for when the cymbidiums were flowering. That area soon was full. When Dendi Orchids was established in 1987 it was a cymbidium nursery.

Dennis started the Griffith Orchid Society in 1979 with meetings and shows being held at Wade High School.

After heart by-pass surgery he found the large pots of cymbidiums too heavy to carry around.  He also needed to retire from work so orchids then filled his days. One project, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, was to make three short TV programs on growing orchids.

He started growing cattleya orchids and converted the flowering house for them.  As the number of plants increased so did the need to build another growing area.  As his passion grew so did the care that he put into growing them.  

An additional lean to glass house was added near the house because he decided to grow phalaenopsis. Soon the phalaenopsis took over the original flowering house and of course with them came the need for air conditioning and gas heating to cope with the extremes of temperature in Griffith and his love for growing them.

Like other orchid growers he had to try different varieties of orchids so had numerous types in his collection.  Paphiopedilums and lycastes were among his favourites.

He started breeding orchids, with a cattleya cross in June 1997 as the first entry in his breeding book. The first entry of phalaenopsis breeding was in January 1998

He watched with excitement and anticipation as his seedlings flowered for the first time and he and Dianne discussed each one that flowered.  He made over 120 crosses that have been registered, mostly with the first part of the grex name being “Dendi’s“.

His aim in breeding cattleyas was to make the perfect shaped flower and a top one for the show bench. He wanted to breed plants that were more compact so people with little space or only balconies could grow them, that had more flowers per plant and that had perfume. He was very interested in unusual colours and markings and that fed into the program.

He made almost 70 cattleya crosses that have been registered. The first was Cattleytonia Ainée, in 2003. Some of his most famous crosses came next, including Cattleya Dendi’s Princess, Cattleya China Doll, Cattleya Dendi’s Jewel, Cattleya Dendi’s Perfection and Cattleya Dendi’s Beau. He started registering the splash-petal crosses in 2009, including Cattleya Dendi’s Song. Some of his more novelty crosses, including Rhyncholaeliocattleya Dendi’s Gem and Cattleya Dendi’s Jungle were exciting for their vivid colours and spots. Nineteen of the cattleya crosses have been awarded.

It’s fair to say he loved his phalaenopsis above all other orchids. His breeding goals were the perfectly shaped flower with perfect arrangement on the spike and perfume.

He made over 50 phalaenopsis crosses that have been registered. He is probably best known for his breeding and promotion in Australia of the big-lip line of phalaenopsis. On a trip to Hawaii in 1996, Garrie and Lesley Bromley purchased a 2 plants of Phalaenopsis World Class ‘Bigfoot’,  brought them back to Australia, put them through quarantine and gave one to Dennis. Lesley crossed their plant with Phalaenopsis amabilis, which they registered as Phalaenopsis Sasquatch in 2005. That plant inspired Dennis to pursue a program of breeding big-lip phalaenopsis. He registered his first World Class crosses in 2009. Given the ubiquitous nature of big-lip phalaenopsis for sale now in Australia from breeding in Asia, it’s hard to remember what a hard time Dennis had convincing orchid judges these were desirable flowers, not malformed flowers.

 Amongst his proudest orchid moments was his plant of Cattleya Royal Beau ‘Dendi’ being award an FCC/AOC and the 2006 Australian Orchid of the Year. He received 89 Australian awards for his plants. He enjoyed speaking and judging at the World Orchid Conferences, having his flowers on display at world conferences and winning a Bronze medal.

Over the years he loved attending orchid shows, taking about his beloved orchids, gaining more knowledge, doing orchid displays and sharing his passion. He and Norma Stafford were key movers in the formation of the alliance of orchid societies in the South and West of NSW and the regional shows and workshops that have continued for well over 30 years. The Trophy for Champion Orchid of the Show has been named in Dennis’ honour. He was an influential orchid judge who shepherded the South and West Panel of the OSNSW until his passing. He loved seeing young children taking an interest in orchids and always gave them a couple of plants to encourage them.

But Dennis was a multi-dimensional man. His other passion was photography with sunrises and sunsets being his favourite subjects. He loved watching his sons play sport and took them to many competitions both in country towns and Sydney.  Over the years he became a hockey coach and umpire, athletic coach and an official at triathlons. He enjoyed playing golf and also was a lawn bowler for many years. In his early days did a lot of diving and was a member of the Griffith Aqualung Rescue Squad.

Dennis was very proud of his sons’ achievements, was thrilled with being a grandfather and adored his grandchildren.

Tribute: Orchid Society of Canberra Inc.

A donation has been made to the Australian Orchid Trust Fund by the Orchid Society of Canberra Inc.

AOTF receipt  4209.