Derrick Leather
BUNINYONG has lost one of its hardest workers with last week’s death of Derick Leather after a short illness.
Mr Leather, who was born Frederick Bryan but went by the name of Derick, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1923. He became a Buninyong resident after he migrated to Australia.
He was a Buninyong Shire councillor twice, in 1981-82 and in 1990-91.
He was also a member of the Buninyong and District Historical Society, the Buninyong Progress Association and the Buninyong Cemetery Trust.
He was also a regular volunteer at the Buninyong Visitor Centre, helped found the Buninyong and District Community News and was instrumental in redeveloping both the Buninyong swimming pool and the Buninyong Gardens.
Buninyong Cemetery Trust secretary Frances Winnell said Mr Leather did a tremendous amount of work for the town.
“He was a long-standing member of the trust and a very hard worker,” Mrs Winnell said.
“It’s just like what the historical society said in their notice, you only have to look at Buninyong to see his legacy.”
She said Mr Leather used to transport water to the Avenue of Honour during the drought to help keep it alive and was the driving force behind the Buninyong Cemetery’s facelift.
“He was a very generous man with his time. He was an incredible person.”
During World War II, Mr Leather was both a RAF pilot and an Army captain.
He is survived by his wife Shirley and children Harry, Janet and Richard.
fiona.henderson@thecourier.com.au