To encourage the study of Australia’s flora and help un-lock its true significance, Mr McNair donated his life’s work in the form of a 12,000-plant herbarium to the University of Newcastle.

This year he established a $30,000 perpetual scholar-ship for students of natural history illustration and the environmental and biological sciences.

The 89-year-old scientist from Whitebridge has devoted most of his life to the study and identification of flora species but did not have the opportunity to undertake formal training in his school years.

Instead, Mr McNair trained as an auto electrician and pursued botany as a hobby.

His hobby eventually bec-ame all consuming and led him to work at the University of Newcastle, where he has helped teach students the art of collecting, identifying and storing specimens.

In 1993 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by the university, in recognition for his contribut-ion to botany.

This year will be the first year students can apply for the Don McNair Scholarships in Taxonomy and Illustration.

Mr McNair hopes it will provide passionate students the opportunities to study that he did not have as a young man.

He said there were not many people who studied native plants in the Hunter.

He hoped his scholarship would generate more interest.

With several hundred specimens in his collection still to be identified, Mr McNair said he had “a few years work a head of him” before considering retirement.

He hopes by that stage he will have contributed all the tools necessary for Newcastle students to continue his legacy.