Obituaries Australia

Mr. Leslie Willsallen, who died in Sydney last month at the age of 78, was a son of Mr. Thomas P. Willsallen, of Gunnible Station, in the Gunnedah district of New South Wales, which property he took up in 1868. Mr. T. P. Willsallen also owned Rangari, in the same district, which was later owned and run by Mr. L. Willsallen in partnership with his brother, Mr. P. S. Willsallen.

The late Mr. Leslie Willsallen was educated at The King's School, Parramatta, N.S.W., and went to World War I early in 1915. He served with the 7th Light Horse as O.C. in Palestine and Mesopotamia with the rank of Major and was awarded the D.S.O. as well as the Distinguished Order of the Nile.

Shortly after returning to Australia he sold out at Gunnedah and went to live at Moss Vale, N.S.W., where he was one of the pioneers of pasture improvement and one of the first breeders to send fat lambs to the Sydney market from that district. He was also interested in other grazing properties at Cootamundra and Young (N.S.W.), and for a time he held Stanley with his brother, Mr. Percy S. Willsallen. Subsequently, they purchased Widgeongully, Jugiong, N.S.W.

Mr. Willsallen married Mary Pearl, daughter of Mr. G. B. Gidley King, of Goonoo Goonoo, Peel River, N.S.W., who predeceased him. He is survived by his son Michael, of Dunolly Estate, Jugiong, while another brother, Mr. Bert Willsallen, died many years ago.