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Book on Benalla woman’s grandfather celebrates the centenary of his greatest invention — Vegemite
For generations the thick brown spread that Aussies love has adorned breakfast tables across the country and around the world.
Vegemite has been a part of Australian lives since it was invented in 1923 by Victorian scientist Cyril Callister.
His granddaughter is Benalla local Deb Callister, whose brother Jamie penned a book on the history of Vegemite, and its inventor, in 2012.
And to celebrate this year’s centenary of the spread, he re-launched a special edition of the book at an event in Beaufort, where Cyril grew up, on May 2.
Deb said she remembered her dad telling the family over breakfast that his ‘old man’ invented Vegemite.
“And I remember Mum lining us all up to have a teaspoon of it before school,” Deb said.
“She really believed in the health benefits of it, as did Dad and Cyril.
“It wasn’t until a bit later in life that I remember Dad really embracing it.
“Then my brother started to do research into Cyril and we found out he was an extraordinary man.”
Deb said Cyril was a talented scientist and a man of integrity.
“When he was creating Vegemite it was not just as a food. It was also about the health benefits of the ingredients and the Vitamin B.
“It took him a long time to get the ingredients right.”
Jamie is an experienced author, speaker and story teller, and at the launch he explained that while everyone knew Vegemite, few knew how it was created.
“Whether you love it or hate it, it’s not just my story, it’s very much our story,” Jamie said.
The book shares the inspirational story of Cyril focusing on his invention, which would become an Australian icon, along with the story of its rocky road to acceptance.
Spanning the Gold Rush, the Depression and the polio epidemic, it opens a window on the evolution of modern Australia.
“My grandfather would be so proud to see his story recognised at the town where it all started,” Jamie said at the Beaufort launch.
“He came from humble beginnings, and it was a tough start as one of nine children. His mother died when he was young, leaving his father to bring up the family.
“They had little money but his father, a school teacher, valued education and it was fortunate Cyril won scholarships firstly to Grenville College, now Federation University, and later to Melbourne University, to study science.”
Jamie said his grandfather’s determination and perseverance contributed to Vegemite reaching its 100-year milestone.
“When my grandfather first invented it, it was particularly unpopular and at one time they changed the name to Parwill — a corny play on words: if Marmite, Parwill,” he said.
“For years more jars were coming back to the factory than were going out.
“The public just couldn’t stomach it and the head salesman didn’t help — he hated the stuff.”
Jamie said Vegemite already had a place in Australian households but he hoped Australians would soon know its story, its place in history and its inventor.