Former
Speakers

(Cyril) Thomas Edmunds
1925-2003
Speaker: 1982-1988
Legislative Assembly: 1967-1988

(Cyril) Thomas Edmunds was born at Essendon, an area with which he was associated throughout his political career. He was educated at Essendon North State School, and Essendon High and Technical Schools. During World War II he served in the RAAF Marine Section in the south west Pacific between 1943 and 1945. On his return he completed his apprenticeship and was employed as a lithographer, later becoming factory manager of a printing firm. In 1952 he married Vivienne Amy Ballantine, a teacher and librarian. They had three children.

In 1952 Edmunds also joined the West Essendon Branch of the Australian Labor Party. Over the ensuing years he held many offices in the ALP, and in 1967 he became the member for Moonee Ponds in the Legislative Assembly. When the seat of Moonee Ponds was abolished in the 1976 redistribution he stood for and won the new seat of Ascot Vale, which itself was abolished in the 1984 redistribution. Once again he stood for the new seat, this time Pascoe Vale, which he won in 1985.

During his time in the Legislative Assembly Edmunds was a member of a number of committees, including the Statute Law Revision Committee. He became Speaker in 1982 after the Labor electoral victory of that year.