Les Parsons OAM remembered as a founder of Australia’s olive industry

The death of Leslie “Les” Parsons OAM on Aug. 3 has renewed attention on the volunteer growers who built the Australian Olive Association before it became the national peak body in 1996. His legacy includes helping launch the industry group, expanding its technical base and backing olive production in New South Wales.

Why it matters: - Les Parsons helped shape Australia’s modern olive industry before there was a formal national body to lead it. - His death has put the Association’s grassroots origins back in focus. - The story matters because the industry’s early history was built by volunteers, not an established national structure.

What happened: - Leslie “Les” Parsons OAM died in hospital on 3 August 2026. - Parsons was the inaugural president of the Australian Olive Association and a founding leader of the modern Australian olive industry. - The Australian Olive Association said farewell tributes are recognizing Parsons’ role in building the organisation, not just leading it. - A historical tribute by Amanda Bailey says the Association’s story began with growers working together before formal national recognition in 1996. - The full tribute, historical timeline and photographs are available here.

The details: - Regional olive associations formed in Inverell, Moree and Kingaroy in 1994. - About 160 people attended the Olives and Carobs for Landcare and for Profit symposium at Adelaide University’s Roseworthy Campus in April 1994. - Another 100 people were reportedly turned away from that symposium. - A focus group at the symposium identified a need to form an olive industry group to network information. - Seven people formed the committee that drafted the first Australian Olive Association constitution: Farnell Hobman, Luigi Bazanni, Les Parsons, Michael Burr, Mac McCulloch, Ray Archer and Margi Kirkby. - About 100 people gathered at Mildura’s Grand Hotel on 13 May 1995 to consider the proposed constitution. - The constitution was adopted at that meeting, 65 people joined the Association and Parsons was elected president. - The Australian Olive Association was formally established as the national peak body on 21 February 1996. - By then, the Association already had a constitution, members, elected leaders and a national publication, The Olive Press. - During Parsons’ presidency, the Association launched technical workshops, set research priorities, adopted its first five-year strategic plan and supported creation of Australia’s first olive oil sensory panel. - The sensory panel received International Olive Oil Council authorization to assess olive oil under international standards. - Parsons said at Wagga Wagga in 1997: “We must all pull together if the industry is to get up and go.” - As a director of Gwydir Olives Pty Ltd, Parsons helped establish New South Wales’ first full-scale olive oil processing plant at Inverell in 1998. - Parsons and his wife Heather built Olives of Beaulieu, a family grove, olive oil business and cellar door near Inverell. - Olives of Beaulieu’s extra virgin olive oil won a silver medal at the 2004 Australian Olive Oil Awards. - Parsons also served as an Inverell Shire councillor and contributed to regional development, tourism, the Inverell Bushfire Brigade, Inverell Pioneer Village and the Inverell Macintyre Lions Club. - Parsons received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Australia Day Honours for service to the Inverell community and local government. - The funeral service for Parsons will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, 21 August 2026, at the Anglican Church on River Street in Inverell. - The service will be followed by graveside interment and a wake at the Inverell Club.

Between the lines: - Bailey’s tribute argues that the Australian Olive Association’s formal 1996 founding date tells only part of the story. - The broader point is that the industry’s early growth came from regional cooperation, technical problem-solving and local leadership. - Parsons’ career connected industry-building with community service, which helps explain why his influence reached beyond olive growing.

What's next: - The Aug. 21 funeral service will mark the main public farewell. - The historical materials tied to the tribute are likely to keep the focus on the Association’s founding generation and its early institutional work. - The tribute frames Parsons as part of the foundation story that will continue to be revisited as the industry marks its origins.