It has been my great pleasure to know Lyndon for three decades. I first met him in the late 1970s when he was contracted by the Office of Research and Social Policy in DCWS to undertake research on recidivism patterns of violent offenders. He had been undertaking research in the non-government sector for some time before that in social policy areas such as the treatment of Aboriginal people and programs for the unemployed. He joined the Victorian Public Service in the early 80s (?), working in a variety of roles over his career, and we kept bumping into one another and keeping in touch. We did this via lunches at places like the Waiters Club, tennis after work at one stage, co-working in the employment division of the former Department of Labour, in adjacent branches of the Premier's department during the Kennett era, and in the New and Emerging Skills area of the former OTFE in his last days in the VPS. In DPC, we fought together with our fellow colleagues for the right of a collective employment agreement , and succeeded, to Lyndon's great and oft-expressed joy.
In recent years, Cate and I have had many memorable evening catch ups with Lyndon and Sherinda after work, including with Jasminda on special occasions. We have always savoured and looked forward to those occasions, which typically involved stimulating discussions on various topics. We have been privileged to share in the Shea's excitement and dreams from their engagement and wedding, to building their home and the establishment of their highly successful business partnership. They have always been such a dynamic and interesting duo, and they together have built strong and durable foundations for their family.
On a one to one basis, Lyndon and I spent considerable time with each other philosophising on life, politics, and in dark times, some of the more profound and challenging aspects of life, love and relationships. Lyndon was always a man of strong convictions, blended with a commitment to social justice principles. With this came a generous heart of empathy and compassion for the disadvantaged, and individuals he came across in trouble. I was not surprised when I joined the Employment Division of DOL in the 1980s to find Lyndon beavering away, in his own inimitable way, on Aboriginal employment issues, doing everything he could to improve their situation and conditions.
When I visited Lyndon in hospital in early June, he was not a physically well man, yet he remained mentally astute and focussed, describing to me with his customary, discerning observational powers the urgent need for Melbourne Private to improve its dehumanising outpatient facilities for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. He expounded to me in great and pithy detail, why. But it didn't end there, as with many just causes Lyndon came across in his life - he wasn't letting this one go just because he happened to be in poor health. He went for the administration's proverbial jugular - in his wonderfully articulate and urbane way, of course. What an example to us all!
Lyndon was an intense, highly intelligent and gentle man, with a strong sense of history, a heart for the underdog and a passion for his family and friends. He was also enigmatic and unfathomable in many ways. He could keep much to himself at times, often just smiling in his characteristic, knowing way if he was disposed to keep things to himself. But he could then just as suddenly spill over with his innermost feelings, and often tears, if he was moved by someone else's hardship or predicament. He loved his reading, his writing, his music, his food , his wine, his wilderness adventures and his uncountable friends. He adored Sherinda and Jas. He was a very hard and ambitious worker, a great listener and impressive raconteur and writer. He was the sort of person you would always relish catching up with, and always look forward to seeing again after you parted.
Cheers,
Michael