NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — Leigh Youdale, an award-winning longtime miller, died Aug. 26.

Youdale began his milling career in 1957 at John Darling’s Rhodes mill, where he was prompted to study the City & Guilds correspondence course in Flour Milling Technology. He would later win the bronze and silver medals awarded by the institute for his achievements in the courses.

After passing his first year as the top student in Australia, Youdale was sent to Bristol, England, to undergo further training at Hosegood’s Avonmouth mill. While there he learned the trade hands-on in a mill that was large by Australian standards.

He relocated in 1960 to London working with Spillers at its Millennium Mills and in the company’s Central Technical Department, where its mills were designed.  During that time, Youdale finished as the top student worldwide in the C&G Flour Milling Technology course and was invited by the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim) to write a thesis about the milling industry. He wrote “Recent Developments in Flour Milling Technology.” For his work, nabim awarded Youdale a gold medal in 1963.

During his career Youdale worked for a wide range of companies, including: Thomas Robinsons, Gold Star Bakeries, Henry Simon Australia, Hutmill (now known as Barastoc) and CSR, where he was in the sugar division. His last position in the industry was at DuPont, where he worked as a consultant for 12 years before retiring at the age of 70.

Youdale’s great-grandfather J.N. Mitchell was a milling engineer who emigrated from Cornwall to become the miller at Crago’s Bathurst mill and Henry Simon’s Australian manager between World War I and World War II.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at time of service to the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Unit Michelle Roffe Funeral Services 17 Hill Street Camden, NSW, Australia 2570 46552800.