Mike Leyland, the elder of the Leyland Brothers, has died at the age of 68 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

A former cameraman for regional television station NBN, Mike and his brother Mal produced a documentary on the Darling River that was sold to the Nine Network and subsequently sold worldwide. The pair later produced the long-running documentary series Ask The Leyland Brothers, which ran on the Nine Network from 1976 to 1984, often touring remote areas of Australia with their respective families.

In 1980 the pair were jointly awarded an MBE in the New Year’s honours list.

The success of the series inspired a theme park in New South Wales though rising interest rates in the early ‘90s saw the brothers go bankrupt in the venture. The older Leyland continued to tour and produce films, including a series of documentaries for the Seven Network, with his wife Margie.

Mike Leyland is survived by Margie, daughters Kerry, Sandy and Dawn, step-daughters Sarah and Alison, and seven grandchildren.

Source: ABC, News.com.au, Cooper Tyres