King of the turf Bill Casimaty remembered as the perfect gentleman

One of Tasmania’s best known agriculturalists has been remembered as a “kind, humble, selfless, dedicated, hardworking and generous” family man.

Bill Casimaty has been remembered as a “kind, humble, selfless, dedicated, hardworking and generous” man.

TASMANIA lost an industry icon with the passing of Bill Casimaty at the weekend.

The beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on Saturday aged 83.

Tributes have flowed for the respected agriculturalist — from his family, friends and community groups with which he was involved.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said Casimaty was a man of enterprise, innovation and vision.

“Bill’s significant contribution to Tasmanian agriculture and business is well recognised and he helped put Tasmania on the national and world stage,” he said.

Born on August 21, 1935, Bill was part of the large Casimaty family that migrated to Australia from Greece.

After moving to Sydney, most of the family relocated to Hobart and bought land near Cambridge, Richmond and in the Southern Midlands.

After winning a Nuffield Scholarship in 1966, Bill studied turf farming in the US and the United Kingdom and then set up his StrathAyr Turf business in Tasmania.

The famous turf has since been used in sports stadiums in the US, at Lords in England, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, race tracks such as Flemington, Sandown and Moonee Valley, and locally at the Mowbray and Elwick racetracks.

Bill Casimaty in one of his paddocks of turf, ready for harvest. Bill of StrathAyr turf of his family farm.

“It was a mark of Bill’s drive to provide the best product, and he invested heavily in research and development,’’ Mr Barnett said. “Bill’s children kept the business flourishing following his retirement and we offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends and, on behalf of all Tasmanians, acknowledge his outstanding contribution to this state.”

His son Frank paid tribute to his “very community-minded” innovator father.

“Many around the country and overseas can thank the quality of their playing surfaces to his innovation and he’ll be sad to miss the reopening of Elwick Racecourse, which StrathAyr is currently constructing,” he said. “He was also very much a family man.

“It was important to him that whatever spare time he had was spent organising family holidays.”

Casimaty co-founded one of the Coal River Valley’s first commercial vineyards, Tolpuddle, and was a life member of the Rotary Club of Hobart, with 56 years’ service.

In 2009, he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to horticulture.

Rotary Club of Hobart president Alicia Pelham described him as “the very definition of a gentleman”.

“Kind, humble, selfless, dedicated, hardworking and generous. He was the embodiment of what it means to be a Rotarian,” she said. “Bill gave 110 per cent in everything he did, which is a standard to which we can all aspire.”

Richmond Fire Brigade Chief John Knibbe said Casimaty was a founding member of the 55-year-old brigade.

“He was highly regarded, not just by us, but by all the surrounding brigades as well,” he said.

Casimaty’s funeral is on Wednesday.