Neil Findley has been in the metal engineering business for more than 30 years and runs his own business in Orbost.
On a day-to-day basis, Neil is fixing heavy earth moving equipment and farm machinery.
Neil has always been a creator and enjoys making bespoke pieces commissioned by locals.
Inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the East Gippsland landscape, the abundance of Australian Animals in the area, and using recycled metal from equipment damaged by the recent bushfires in East Gippsland, Neil has started creating life-sized sculptures of the natives.
Neil created an emu from dozer plates, chains, and nuts. “His head is made entirely from nuts,” Neil said. “All materials on this piece are recycled from machines used to fight fires in 2019/20 in East Gippsland.”
‘Big Red’ the kangaroo is made entirely from the chains off dozers, used to build containment lines in the recent bushfires.
In 2018 Neil was commissioned by Rail Trail Community Fund to build a giant bike to sit on the Snowy Rail Bridge, to draw attention to the group’s fundraising efforts to restore the bridge.
The trestle bridge, at 770 metres long, is the longest timber rail bridge in Victoria and is an iconic feature of the East Gippsland Rail Trail.
Neil’s son, Ryan, who also works in the family business, has created some pieces, including ‘The Chainsaw Man’ which could be used for a more commercial venture.
Ryan was inspired by his time working on the bushfire recovery crew who cleared the roadsides throughout East Gippsland in 2020.