Cyril Callister facts for kids

Cyril Percy Callister (born February 16, 1893 – died October 5, 1949) was an Australian chemist. He was also a food technologist. He is famous for creating the popular Australian spread called Vegemite. Besides Vegemite, he also helped develop processed cheese.

Early Life and Education

Sign marking the birthplace of Cyril Callister

Cyril Callister was born on February 16, 1893. His family lived in a place called Chute, Victoria, near Ballarat. He was one of seven children. His father, William Hugh Callister, was a teacher and postmaster.

Cyril went to the Ballarat School of Mines. He also studied at Grenville College, Ballarat. He was a very good student and won a scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to study at the University of Melbourne. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914. Later, he got his Master of Science degree in 1917.

Working During Wartime

In 1915, Cyril started working for a food company. But soon after, he joined the army. This was during World War I. However, he did not stay in active combat for long. The Minister of Defence ordered him to leave the front lines. This was because of his important chemistry skills.

Cyril was sent to Britain to make explosives. He worked in different places like England, Wales, and Scotland. He worked as a chemist at a factory called HM Factory Gretna. In 1918, he became an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. This showed he was a skilled chemist.

After World War I ended, Cyril met Katherine Hope Mundell in Scotland. They got married. In 1919, they moved back to Australia. Cyril then started working for the same food company again.

Creating Vegemite

In the early 1920s, Cyril Callister began working for Fred Walker. Fred Walker wanted Cyril to create a new yeast extract. At that time, it was hard to get Marmite from the United Kingdom. This was due to problems after World War I.

Cyril experimented with leftover brewer's yeast. He worked hard and created a new spread. This spread was first sold in 1923. It was named Vegemite.

Cyril also helped create processed cheese. He used ideas from a patent by James L. Kraft. The Walker Company made a deal to produce this cheese. In 1926, the Kraft Walker Cheese Co. was started. Cyril became the main scientist and production manager for this new company.

The Callister Children

Between 1919 and 1927, Cyril and Katherine had three children. Their names were Ian, Bill, and Jean. These children were often called "the original Vegemite kids." Sadly, Ian passed away during World War II.

Later Years and Legacy

Cyril Callister earned his Doctorate degree in 1931. He got it from the University of Melbourne. His work on creating Vegemite was a big part of his studies.

He was also an important member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. He helped this group get a special recognition in 1931.

Cyril Callister died in 1949 at his home in Kew, Melbourne. He had a heart attack. He had experienced heart problems before. He is buried at Box Hill Cemetery.

Cyril's grandson, Jamie Callister, wrote a book about him. It is called The Man Who Invented Vegemite. It was published in 2012.

Cyril Callister is also the great-uncle of Kent Callister. Kent is a professional snowboarder. He has even competed for Australia in the Winter Olympics.

In 2019, the Cyril Callister Foundation was created. This foundation remembers his life and work. It also runs a museum in Beaufort, Victoria.

See also

In Spanish: Cyril P. Callister para niños