[1] He began his business career by helping his father, Engel, found the Purity supermarket chain.
They sold the Chickenfeed chain in 2001 for an estimated $35 million Australian dollars.
[1] Sypkes often quietly contributed to philanthropic causes throughout Tasmania using his personal fortune.
[2] Sypkes revealed in July 2007 that he had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and donated A$600,000 towards research into respiratory disease.
[1] Sypkes died suddenly and unexpectedly at a hospital in Tasmania on 8 February 2008.