Australia Burnett Leaphart was born in Whitaker, North Carolina on September 24, 1915 to her loving parents, James Edward Burnett and Sahar Garrett Burnett.  Her upbringing was full of love and joy.  Her large family consisted of seven boys and two girls.  She attended Whitaker Elementary School in North Carolina where she excelled as a student and mastered her natural skills set as a creative innovator.    

Later in life she met and married Robert Leaphart in North Carolina.  Here she worked as a cook in a cafe and Robert served time in the military until he retired.  This loving union created one son, Chester Burnett (a.k.a. Bernie) who predeceased them in death. Bernie was her pride and joy.    

In 1999 Bernie moved Australia to Roseville, California to be closer to him and the family.  He and his wife, Rosetta Burnett, made sure they tended to her every need and she felt their love and concern. In California, she enjoyed watching baseball, cooking cakes for her neighbors and tailoring clothes for friends and family.  Her attention to detail and words of wisdom gained her friends from all walks of life. 

On September 26, 2017 she fell asleep in death.  She is survived by her grandsons: Duane Burnett and Brian Burnett, and a host of granddaugthers, grandchildern, cousins, family and friends.

Australia was predeceased by her son, Chester Burnett and daughter-in-law, Rosetta Burnett.