revive the municipality.
became memorable. Although people had been enjoying the first of the mazes much earlier, Brian’s dream had been fully realised. “If you can have an 80-year-old saying they’re having too much fun, we’ve hit on something pretty special.” - Laura Inder He worked tirelessly on the attractions which still prove a hit today, often literally building everything by hand, fuelled by an ambition far larger than himself. It was a trait which he carried right up until his passing in 2019, following a battle with cancer. His death was a profound loss personally and for the community he helped reshape. Laura promised herself she would never run Tasmazia alone, yet she found herself continuing it anyway. “That was Brian’s passion. He loved it and providing for the families and the kids and to bring people together,” she says. “I always told him I didn’t want to run the place without him, because he was so
“One of the other local residents came up with the idea of the murals, similar to what had taken place in Chemainus in British Columbia in Canada,” Laura says. “I had to go back to the States, because I was only out here on a visitor’s visa initially. So when my six-months was up, Brian sold a bit of the farm so we had enough money so he could come with me, and could get us both back here. We went home to Montana and had a wedding reception, and all my friends got to meet him and everything. “But he also wanted to go to Chemainus. I couldn’t go because I had to sort everything out for the move to Tasmania, so he and my mother actually went to Chemainus and checked it out. They got back and Brian knew it would work for Sheffield. He was as passionate about that as he was Tasmazia really, because his focus was always on trying to create employment in the area and build the town up, so the young kids didn’t have to move away.” By the time the tea room was up and running in 1994, there were enough facilities in place for Tasmazia to open to the world, becoming not only a business, but a place where ordinary days
21 Tasmanian Hospitality Review December/January Edition
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