Leigh Crayford Tyzack’s life straddled almost seventy years of significant world events and spectacular national growth, and was centred on small towns: Yapeen, Guildford, Castlemaine, Port Augusta and Burnie, Australia. Growing up in old gold mining areas of central Victoria Leigh eventually settled permanently in Burnie, Tasmania.

From potatoes to inventive engineering and creative machinations with chemicals to produce paper for Australia and the world, the tiny agricultural town of Burnie grew into an industrial giant. Along with thousands of clever people and hard workers, Leigh contributed to these changes.

From humble beginnings as a fitter and turner, promotion into planning and maintenance roles gave him opportunities to work in different parts of the Australian Pulp and Paper Mills complex. Leigh’s engineering expertise and broad knowledge of the APPM behemoth paved the way for him, in the early 1960s, to become one of Australia’s first Safety Officers at a time when relevant legislation and practices were non-existent.

Leigh was an early trail blazer working to make a difference to the health and safety of workers and, in turn, to improve productivity for the company. Leigh worked hard and played hard.

Active involvement in community groups such as Freemason Lodges, North West Fisheries Association, Rostrum, St Georges Church of England, North West Philatelic Society, and Probus supplemented his engagement as a totally devoted family man who loved to party and to travel, explore and learn. Leigh Crayford Tyzack’s legacy is one of example.

His model of behaviour as an ethical human being, one who could be counted on when help was needed was enriched by a cheery friendly disposition. His achievements are those of an active participant in a small community.

‘He shaped a little bit of Burnie itself because his name is remembered here’ said Burnie man, David Cherry. .