I am the youngest grandchild of Cyril Percy Callister—the man who invented Vegemite, our iconic black paste that has transcended the pantry to become a cultural symbol. My grandfather was my father’s father. He died not long before I was born, but I became aware of his life and remarkable story as a young girl.
I have a vivid memory of Dad sitting at our kitchen table, with Mum in her pink dressing gown, holding a knife thick with Vegemite and insisting we have some before school: “It’s good for you!” she said. “You know it’s full of vitamins!” Dad, enjoying his favourite breakfast—buttered toast smeared with Vegemite and topped with baked beans—looked at me casually and said, “Not only is it rich in vitamin B, but you should be proud—very proud—your grandfather invented it.”
Fast forward to April 2025. Morning radio’s leading story: Vegemite. An Australian living in Toronto, running a trendy café, is in trouble for selling it. The alleged crime? Apparently, it’s too rich in vitamin B. After intense Australian and international media coverage—and even intervention from the Prime Minister—the embattled café owner is finally allowed to continue supplying Vegemite to expats and curious Canadians. Yes, Dad, I am proud.
In my early twenties, I was working as a nurse at Box Hill Hospital. It was Vegemite’s 65th birthday, and Dad had been asked to contribute a story to the Herald Sun to mark the milestone. He often felt that Cyril hadn’t received the recognition he deserved as the inventor of Vegemite. He asked me to pose for a photo at Cyril’s gravesite in Box Hill Cemetery.
I recently revisited the cemetery. Staff told me they often find old Vegemite jars filled with flowers placed on his grave. Random visitors seek out his resting place to pay tribute. I’m now working with Box Hill Cemetery and the Cyril Callister Foundation to secure funding for restoring the grave site and finally giving Cyril the posthumous gift of a tombstone worthy of his legacy.
Before I became a nurse, I travelled through Europe on a Top Deck bus tour in 1983. We were a group of 20 young people of various nationalities, with an English bus driver and an Irish tour guide. One of my most vivid memories is of a tall German man singing along to “Down Under” by Men at Work, booming from a cassette tape. When it was my turn to prepare breakfast, I smiled and made him a Vegemite sandwich. I still remember the look on his face—he didn’t love it. We all laughed.
A few days later, at a lunch stop in Switzerland, I offered him Vegemite again—this time, a thin, even layer with butter on fresh bread. He smiled, and I could tell he actually liked it.
I’m a board member of the Cyril Callister Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving Cyril’s legacy and celebrating Vegemite’s unique place in Australian identity. We’ve established the Vegemite Museum in Beaufort, Western Victoria—chosen because it’s where Cyril grew up. The museum is an interactive space offering educational workshops for students and tourists, highlighting the importance of science and innovation. It also showcases a unique collection of Vegemite memorabilia, representing more than a century of history.
The Foundation is proud to offer scholarships to students undertaking science degrees at Ballarat’s Federation University and Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast. Many of these students travel great distances and face financial hardship to pursue their dreams. As a board member, I hope we can support them in becoming future leaders in science and innovation. I also hope they come to know Cyril’s story—because, as my father said, Australians should know who Dr Cyril Percy Callister was. He was the inventor of Vegemite.
I’d like to thank my brother Jamie and his wife Libby, who have given so much time and effort over the years to ensure our grandfather’s legacy continues. Jamie’s thorough research over several years culminated in the publication of his book, The True Story of the Man Who Invented an Australian Icon (Murdoch Books, 2023).
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Liza Robinson. Without you, there would be no Vegemite Museum in Beaufort. Thank you for all you’ve done—and continue to do—to ensure Cyril Callister’s name lives on.
— Deborah Callister