Leighton Memorial Medal
Awarded in recognition of eminent services to chemistry in Australia in the broadest sense. The Leighton Memorial Medal commemorates the distinguished career of A E Leighton.
The Award was established in 1965 through the generosity of his daughter, Miss Anne Leighton. It is the RACI's most prestigious medal. AE Leighton CMG, FRIC, FRACI MIChemE, died in 1961 after a distinguished career as a chemist, technologist and administrator, in which he had served Australia's interests in both war and peace.
He was a staunch supporter of the RACI and during his frequent visits to England in the early years of the RACI, carried out an enormous amount of work to secure the RACI's Royal Charter. He was in the first group of Fellows elected (June 1920), served as Victorian Branch President in 1920-22 and was President of the RACI in 1952-53.
The Leighton Medal, designed by the internationally famous medallionist Andor Meszaros, is of sterling silver showing a profile of Leighton on the obverse, and a design symbolising chemical industry on the reverse.