Condolences
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (12:20): I am pleased to rise to extend our condolences on behalf of the Nationals to John Delzoppo’s family. Growing up in Gippsland in the neighbouring seat of Morwell, John Delzoppo was a name that was known to anyone who paid a bit of attention to politics, particularly later in life when he became Speaker of the house in the first term of the Kennett government.
John was born in Flemington in 1931 on 3 December and was educated at Ascot Vale State School and Moonee Ponds Central School. But the lure of the country was too good perhaps, and he moved to Neerim South, where he was the pharmacist from 1954. As the Premier indicated, John’s service to the community, long before he came into Parliament, was exemplary. He was president of the Neerim South High School council from 1963; a member of the Latrobe Valley Water and Sewerage Board from 1973 to 1982 – that is the predecessor of Gippsland Water; and many others, including as a life member and council member of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association, no doubt with his involvement at that wonderful facility at Neerim South; and also a Buln Buln shire councillor from 1966, with three terms as its president.
I note that in his maiden speech John expressed a fear that he would not refer to ‘Mr Speaker’ but to ‘Mr President’ – and he did not do it; he got it right – but I think it is ironic that 10 years later he would be Mr Speaker himself, and only probably the member for Rowville could tell us what that must have been like in that first term of the Kennett government. Let Hansard record that was not meant to be a sledge on the member for Rowville. But dealing with the first term of the Kennett government when there was a lot going on and when the Labor opposition was going hard, no doubt, under Mr Brumby at the time, that would have been a trying time. Speaker, I am sure that you would say that all times for the Speaker are trying, but it is no surprise that Mr Delzoppo made that comment about meeting St Peter on the entry to heaven.
He was also an OAM, as the Leader of the Opposition indicated, receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009. But I am sure his greatest achievement was that extraordinary 69 years of marriage to Beth, and 69 years is an extraordinary time. I pick up a comment from an article in 1985 where Mr Delzoppo praised his ‘loyal and understanding wife’, who had doorknocked every house in Yallourn North. I know a bit about the valley and Yallourn North. Yallourn North ended up in the seat of Morwell, which the Nationals won in 2006. In 2010 the Nationals won every booth in Morwell except Yallourn North. So I know exactly how hard you worked there, Beth, and credit to you. It was a great achievement and great support for your husband. The challenge of course now is for the current member for Morwell to do likewise in Yallourn North.
John had an excellent period of service as the member for Narracan. He also spent 13 years as the president of the Victorian Parliamentary Former Members Association, for which I am sure the Parliament thanks him. John had an exemplary record of service to the community long before he came into this place and also after he left in 1996. We thank him for that, specifically for his service to the community of West Gippsland. I extend my condolences to Beth, to Ian, to Lindsay, to Clare and to Anne, who are here today. Vale, John Delzoppo.