10.06.42 – 09.01.24
Leigh Tierney was an incredibly creative, passionate and kind human being.
Son of Wilma and Bill, brother to Daune, Glen and Janet and uncle/best friend to Tim and Steven, Leigh’s passing on January 9 has left a huge void in many of our lives.
He was incredibly proud of his achievements at the ABC as a production designer and the comments left by his colleagues on the ABC Facebook page are testament to his legacy.
It is impossible to describe the impact Leigh has had on everyone he met in a few sentences, so I hope we can continue to share our favourite Leigh moments for many years to come.
Leigh wouldn’t want us to sit in a church singing hymns, so please join us to celebrate Leigh’s fabulous life over drinks and nibbles.
. . .
Watch Leigh’s tribute video here:
Leigh’s Memorial Service
Time & Date:
An incredible service was held on Monday 22nd January 2024
Location:
Ripples Chowder Bay, Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman NSW
WATCH: To view a recording of Leigh’s incredible memorial CLICK HERE
Notes:
Please keep Leigh’s spirit alive by continuing to share your memories & messages in the Guestbook below
Dear Leigh, we only met few times, but I really had great time with you. You were so kind to me. Thank you for visiting all the way down from your place. I wish I could spend more time with you. Rest in peace, and I will miss you my friend. xx
To Leigh’s family, friends and colleagues – sincere condolences.
Leigh was a generous mentor. Before I entered the Industry, he gave me the courtesy of an interview in 1991 when I was researching for my Architectural thesis “Set Design for Film and Television”.
He told me that he owned his own architectural design practice since graduating in interior design; won an international scholarship, studied in Europe and worked with Terence Conran. At the ABC, he designed (including, but nowhere near limited to!) The 7.30 Report, Police Rescue, GP, The Mike Walsh Show; also designed the film “Wendy Cracked a Walnut”.
Dear Leigh – Thank You forever for your kindness, and for being an absolutely positive influence.
I was honoured to speak at the memorial and wanted to share this with you all here as well
My memory of Leigh is so strong as he was always around in the design department at the ABC he turned up every day to work dressed so stylishly and smartly with amazing positivity and kindness, always available to support anyone who knocked on his door.
From Walter
As we look back on Leigh’s life as a superb ABC production designer AND a compassionate, supportive friend, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that, above all else, Leigh was driven by FUN!
While down-to-the-line deadlines stressed us all, there was always time for a joke (often at the extras and directors expense); time for an extravagant cold collation quickly-assembled for lunch, and time for a spontaneous ‘catwalk’ embellished with an hysterical hat (and in the way of his spirit-guide, the Absolutely Fabulous Patsy, “with shoes and gloves to match!”).
Never was this more so than on the 8-year drama series “G.P.” Here Leigh created a welcoming home that quickly became known as ‘The Fun Place to Be’ for both cast and crew. Whether it was our little Fibro Majestic adjacent to the Canteen or the Tin Can unceremoniously dumped in the Lancely Place driveway, Leigh ensured it was decorated with only the best props and dressings. “We NEED an Alessi fruit bowl in Episode 42….hang on, I think there’s one on my desk!”
For our core family of Designers – Steven (Gow), Theo (Benton) and myself (Walter) – Leigh was not only our guiding light for blending authenticity with style, a support to the many Designers who made, as we said, “Guest Appearances”, he was our kooky, delightfully imperfect, occasionally too-grand, Fairy Godmother. And an inspiration for our Work-Life Balance, forever more….
Carlo Cresini –
Leigh gave me my start in the industry, as a young wide-eyed naive uni student doing work experience at the abc. What an amazing first mentor, so generous with his time and sharing his vast knowledge and amazing talents with me… I will be forever grateful he and Helen took me under their wings. He was a beautiful man, who I respected so much, and taught me the sacred art of tzoojh-ing.
Helen Baumann
In 2004 I became really close to Leigh when I worked as Leigh’s Art Director on Strictly Dancing – 2- 3 series
This was a ballroom dancing competition & Leigh was totally in his element! he loved working on it so much !
The set was of course another fab” Leigh Tierney “ Set – always breaking new ground with a large oval dance floor surrounded by audience, cafe style
& a live band !
I remember Leigh even used to enjoy seating the audience before the evening show !
Leigh really loved being on set !!
I also worked with Leigh on Mondo Thingo – where he designed this fabulous set – all white , again breaking all the rules but it worked beautifully.
with movable set pieces with Amanda Keller on a gorgeous sofa talking popular culture.
working with Leigh never really felt like work ,
watching him design was always a joy, set design came really naturally to him ! he was able to draw /communicate all his ideas very easily & quickly
the coloured pantones were often out ! and he always had a design on the go !
– In those days the ABC was Leigh’s home, he had a gorgeous office full of design books /references & memories
i recall he was often first in and last to go !
He was always happy to have a chat and i cherished the times i would sit in his office helping him once again with his tech ie mobile phone /computer
& discussing the news of the day or his next holiday !
Leigh was very keen on helping mentor younger designers at the ABC & also at UTS
He was always very interested & encouraging of everyone’s achievements around him
and he loved being a team leader ,although he happily shared the glory & always described it as collaborating!
If you had a design question /query Leigh’s office was the place to go.
thankyou Leigh for all your support in my personal & professional life,
I learnt a lot of design skills by working alongside you & i often think now designing interiors what would Leigh do here !!
i will miss you & always think back to our happy times working together
Leigh was part of designers that made the ABC so wonderful – Thank you Helen
Fiona Donovan
Leigh was a lot of things, he loved traveling he was a very funny person and he lived life to the fullest but a core part of who he was being a designer at the ABC
Leigh was there at a time when the ABC was so important to Australia screen industry , not just producing great tv but also a key place where all aspects of the craft were taught , trained and mentored. Coming through this amazing training people either continued this tradition at the abc or took this training out into the broader industry – that essentially was what Leigh was all about , dedicated to a high standard of quality work, often on the smell of an oily rag from the staging department.
Leigh had the opportunity to work on so many great shows, he set the standard for the election sets here in Australia and his Q & A set was beautiful. He was also an integral part of the community at the ABC – a huge part of his contribution to us all was mentoring other designers and colleges at the ABC -that was so key to who he as he truly loved the ABC
When I think of Leigh that is what I think of, he was an absolutely pillar of the dedication and attitude to production and the ABC and all the it stood for. The dedication towards quality TV production and design and having that support the kind of community around our work and what we do. He touched the lives and careers of so many people who worked and went through the ABC. Not to mention the audiences who saw the beautiful shows and productions that he designed that they loved. Other people who knew him will know about other aspects of his life but I was a designer, I came to the ABC when he was the senior designer and that is how I knew him, and that is what it means to me it was an amazing time and it is impossible to imagine the design department without Leigh being there
Leigh has the most amazingly loving and supportive family and friends. I was honoured to be the Celebrant on Leigh’s service and I thank Tim and the family for entrusting me in that important role.
Leigh obviously was a talented, creative, colourful and extremely kind man. Forever in the hearts of those he encountered.
Vale.
Oliver Thomson
Thank you for all the shared moments, dearest Leigh. I’ll miss you forever. xxx
To Leigh’s family sending my condolences at this sad time.
‘For those that didn’t hear me at the back of the room’
I crossed paths with Leigh back in the 80’s at the ABC, where I worked within the costume department. Leigh worked as a production designer, and more often than not, worked as a costume designer. (And I’m quite certain Rhys would have had a huge impact on Leigh’s costume design aesthetic). I’m not exactly sure how many decades Leigh worked at the ABC on a multitude of productions, but he was always kind and generous with his time. And mentored many young upcoming designers over the years.
Leigh was incredibly intelligent and talented and wasn’t one to suffer fools, and with that razor sharp wit and playful charm he would strut into production meetings (puffing out his chest) and navigate the many unrealistic visions directors and producers presented him with. Yet, somehow with little or no budget, which was often the case at the ABC, he would band together and to everyone’s surprise, formulate a vision far beyond what was expected of him. He really was a national treasure.
Whilst our professional relationship was relatively short in the scheme of things, our friendship and love for one another spanned over many decades. Leigh was an integral part of our family, and both my partner and kids cherished his warmth, kindness and playfulness. I’ll treasure all those golden moments we shared and look forward to exchanging anecdotes throughout the afternoon.
I just want to thank Tim and Leigh extended family, for being there for Leigh. And particularly to Tim, who kept us all so well informed of Leigh’s progress throughout what would have been an emotionally trialling time. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim in recent years and observed the incredibly special bond between Uncle and Nephew. And I don’t think a father and son could have been any closer, it was beautiful to observe their bond.
And lastly, one of our last conversations revolved around the bloody feature walls in his home. I’m quite certain there would be many many layers of paint on those walls, and he’s most likely mapping out the next colour palette up there.
And with that said, I’d like to make a final toast to Leigh.
And now I cannot make the memorial service. Damn. Whatever they put on won’t come close to the measure of the impact that you had on all of us.
I am glad I had a chance to say thanks last year when I bumped you in Pott’s Point. You were another of those terrific talents that the ABC will never see the likes of again.
You were always fun to work with, talented and tasteful. The studio 21 crew had more eyes than a sack of spuds. when the glamourous opera singer Carole Farley swanned out in the silk chemise you made for her.
You will be missed. We were lucky to have lived in your era. Thanks.
Leigh, what an inspiration and gentlemen. You treated, even the most inexperienced of us, with kindness and encouragement. I can still hear your (cheeky) laugh. I remember so well the accident, where you fell from a balcony on location. I was the First Aid officer – even in your obvious pain you were smiling and trying to make us all feel better. What a loss you are. RIP x
Leigh, sorry I can’t be there today for your memorial service. You were a character for sure, always your own man always had an interesting story to tell about your past and always made me laugh. I felt comfortable and at ease in your company and I know so many others were as well. While we didn’t know each other very long it felt like we had been friends for a long time. Rest in peace Leigh.
Leigh, you made a difference in so many lives including our own and we’re so grateful to have been your neighbour. You will be dearly missed.
We worked on many projects together, GP, Grass Roots, Love Is A-Four Letter Word’ and many more, but more importantly we laughed! RIP Leigh xxx
The world will be a lot less bright without your presence uncle Leigh. You always made me feel so welcome and of value in a world where I didn’t experience either often at all. You are so incredibly talented and yet so humble. I am so sorry for your amazing family… your absence will be profound. I hope you are making your mark in heaven as you did so deservedly here. Love and enormous hugs xoxo
Leigh will always be remembered as our bright, kind and funny friend. Our sincere condolences to Stevan and the family 💐
Enjoyed the few shows we were able to work on together.
Sending condolences to his his family.
RIP dear Leigh
I’m so saddened hearing of Leigh’s death. He was always a joy to work with, so thoughtful, creative, kind and just such fun to be around.
Leigh, you are talented, professional, glamorous, wicked and fun!
How wonderful it was to work with you and how grateful I am to have laughed with you.
Travel on. I know wherever you arrive will be more beautiful for having you.
Thank you for being you.
Growing up you were my idol and you still are. You taught me how to see the beauty in everything, be it a lamp, a painting, a piece of furniture, architecture, a table setting, or flowers in the garden. I have you to thank for my taste in film and music. I have you to thank for introducing me to Ab Fab and Barbra Streisand. Thank you uncle Leigh for not only being the best uncle a nephew could have wanted but thank you for being my best friend. I will be lost without you but I know you will always be around xx
Leigh was a very dear & special friend to me and I will miss him terribly. Talented, kind, generous, funny – I will think of him often & cherish the many happy memories of times together filled with fun & laughter.
Fond memories of Leigh during my happy time at the ABC. Talented and approachable. R.I.P. to one of the good guys.
Remembering some special family times. Always fun to be around. Looked forward to your visits to the Tweed/Gold Coast especially at Christmas times. Watching you play tennis with mum and those Chrissy cocktails😜. Much of my growing up years include special holiday time with you included always waterskiing, river swimming, fun in the sun. A special childhood school time friend to my mum and the brother of my aunt was definitely an interwoven family. Rest peacefully now as your spirit soars. Thanks for the special memories and fun times. Was always proud hearing of your achievements knowing you were a fun “uncle” as part of our truly blessed extended family.
My dearest Leigh – so many years, so many memories of adventurous and funny times too numerous to mention and some of sadness. Thank you for deciding to leave Australia exactly the time I did and being in my life forever after. You will be so missed by me and your family and friends. The sorrow of your death will eventually be replaced by the joy and love you brought to us.
So sorry to hear this news. When Leigh had a glint in his eye you knew you were up for a wonderful belly laugh. He was so very cheeky.
Dearest Leigh, it feels like an unfinished conversation, I will miss you forever Auntie Mame xxx
Leigh, with you it was never a dull moment. Thank you for your beautiful friendship. Will miss you dearly
For two people who were born in 1942 in the Tweed who went to school together and in most classes together, whose middle sister married my younger brother, two families have had some wonderful gatherings. Memories of you making cocktails for my daughters at those gatherings bring a smile to my face. You will be missed xx
Thanks Leigh for the privilege of having known you. A man of extraordinary talent and wit who brought light and humour to all that had the good fortune to come in contact with you. You will be missed by so many. Fond farewell dear friend, a life well lived.
I first met Leigh at Sydney Uni where we both played tennis, it was the start of a great friendship. I loved his sense of humor, our conversations, and will defintely miss the regular dinner catch ups.
Remembering Leigh with a smile. Sending condolences to his family and many friends.
My darling uncle. Josh and Braedens great uncle and Ella Imogen and Ziah’s great great uncle. A life well lived . Im sure Nana Wilma was pleased to see you and no doubt Josh was waiting for you also. Fly high Uncle . Love all of us in Perth. 🥰🥰
Our lovely uncle Leigh
We will miss your joyful presence
Rest in peace 💕
Leigh,what an amazing person and what a remarkable life you had. I / we are so lucky and privileged that we got to know you. You believed in uplifting everyone in your circle, and that you did my dear friend.
We shared many beautiful times and gatherings when ever it was possible for us to get together. You will be missed by many but you will never be forgotten!
Thank you Leigh for those wonderful memories! 🌸🥰❤️🥂
I am so lucky to have called this very special person my friend. Not many people in this world have half of the talent, warmth and wit that Leigh possessed in spades. I am gutted that he is gone and I will miss him dearly always. ❤️❤️❤️. Clark
I will miss you uncle Leigh! You had a lot of love to give and I’m glad you shared some with me. Thank you for being the funny and kindhearted person you are. Rest easy 💕
I will always cherish your love and support and our friendship. As Barbra sings:
“So it’s the laughter, We will remember, Whenever we remember, The way we were”
Wow ,this beautiful man gave me a chance on an ABC drama ,a long time ago called ,Grass Roots .Kind ,supportive,funny and caring .RIP my friend .x
I had the opportunity to know a wonderful man, loved by my family and by many people in Mexico. Leigh will always be in our hearts. All the best to his family and friends.
So much laughter, so much fun….thank-you darling Leigh
Leigh, loved our special moments over 55years at family gatherings, the bubbles & laughs made for some fond loving memories of you & your life that I was privileged to share💖💖
Leigh, I enjoyed having to know you. We had some helpful conversations over the years. You will be sadly missed.
To Leigh’s family & friends, sending our condolences at this very sad time. We hope to help you celebrate Leigh’s life in a very personal and fitting way. Kate & the team at Tomorrow Funerals