Person

Crofts, William Leslie Joseph (Les) (1923 - 2010)

OAM AMTC FIBF

Born
9 November 1923
Orbost, Victoria, Australia
Died
7 April 2010
Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Metallurgical Engineer and Metallurgist
Alternative Names
  • Crofts, Les

Summary

Les Crofts was born in Orbost, Victoria in 1923 and after completing an apprenticeship in Jobbing, Moulding and Coremaking, and five years as a tradesman, he joined the DSTO Materials Research Laboratory in 1947 and began working in the field of cast metals technology. He continued his studies and graduated AMTC (metallurgy) in 1952. In 1960 he was seconded to the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association, London, for 12 months were he undertook research in cast metals. He has made several overseas visits related to casting for Defence projects. He has published several technical papers and for 20 years was a part time lecturer in cast metals technology at RMIT.
[Adapted from the 1988 MRL report]

The W L J Crofts Reserve in Blackshaws Road, Altona North is named in his honour.

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Details

Chronology

1952
Education - Associate Diploma of Metallurgy, (Associate), Melbourne Technical College
1960 - 1961
Career position - Seconded to the British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association, London
1966 - 1994
Career position - Councillor, Altona Shire Council / City of Altona
1968 - 1969
Career position - Mayor, City of Altona
1976 - 1977
Career position - Mayor, City of Altona
1984
Career position - Mayor, City of Altona
26 Jan 1984
Award - Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - in recognition of service to the community and local government
1992 - 1993
Career position - Mayor, City of Altona
2010
Buried - Altona Memorial Park, Victoria

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

See also

  • Horsley, Ray; Howe, John; O'Reilly, Jan, Materials Research Laboratory: Structure and Information 1988 (Melbourne, Victoria: Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 1988), 149 pp. Page 56. Details

Ken McInnes

Created: 2 May 2024, Last modified: 20 August 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P007375b.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
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