Bruce Alfred Finch (25/08/1913 - 15/11/2002)
Desmond Cyril Finch (22/02/1915 - 14/09/1990)
In continuing with the pioneering history of the area, two reserves in the local area called "Ray Park" and "Hazlewood Rose Park" both on Plympton Road Carlingford and Beecroft, are in recognition of the Ray and Hazlewood families who were pioneers who toiled to create what became known as the “Fruit Bowl of the Sydney Metropolitan Area”.
As the western reserve originally comprised 4 lots, these would all have likely been dedicated by different landowners. It has been recognised that the West Bushland Reserve which is nearest to these parks, also has a history with the Finch family’s early pioneering spirit who worked and toiled to produce the crops which fed early Sydney.
Desmond Cyril Finch and his brother Bruce Alfred Finch, first rented the 10-acre property named "Norwood" at 557 North Rocks Road, Carlingford in 1937 and then purchased the property in the 40's. This property adjoined the Overseas Telegraph Station which is now Roselea Public School and ran down to the creek and up into part of the Plympton West parkland. This area of Plympton West parkland was donated to Hornsby Council by the Finch family as part of the subdivision that progressed in 1964/1965.
Desmond and Bruce gradually cleared the orchard and planted vegetables for the Sydney market. They grew vegetables, then flowers for the Sydney cut flower market and sold their flowers at the wholesale flower markets at Haymarket and later at the Homebush wholesale flower market.
In 1939 Desmond enlisted in the Army and served overseas in the Middle East, Greece, Crete, Syria and Australia. Desmond returned to civilian life in 1944/1945 and worked the property where they then grew flowers focusing on roses which were sold at the Sydney Markets at Haymarket. As the flower farm thrived a tractor surpassed the horse and plough, though one or two horses remained to live out their lives in sunny paddocks.
Bruce and Desmond Finch supported the Epping Local Junior Farmers Group in the 1960s' which was very popular this being a farming district.
Desmond Finch helped establish the 2nd West Epping Scout Group in 1958, where he helped with the building in Dent Street, West Epping of the Scout Hall and also raised funds to maintain the Group & building by bottle drives, where the Group also used his property as a bottle storage area.
Desmond and Bruce originally lived in Wingrove Avenue, Epping with their three siblings and their parents Elsie and Robert Finch from the 1920's, and the children attended Beecroft Public School. Desmond passed away in 1990 and Bruce passed in 2002.
