Thursday, 18 May 2023

 Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (09:56): I rise to recognise the wonderful life and incredible community contribution of my good friend John Perryman. John slipped away peacefully surrounded by family on 7 May 2023 at the age of 88. Bigger than life, John had this booming voice and never left you in any doubt about what he thought about things, particularly politics. John was a loyal, dedicated and very active member of the Australian Labor Party for over 67 years. He immersed himself in local branches at Clayton, Frankston and Carrum and in all election campaigns. He was one of my fiercest supporters, particularly on the front line of pre-poll. I am forever grateful to him and his wife Rosemary for their incredible support, guidance and friendship over the years. Politics, service to his community, his beloved St Kilda football team and of course his family drove John every day to make a difference, and make a difference he did.

For 24 years John was a councillor with Oakleigh council, from the 1960s to the 1980s. In 1966 John was elected mayor, making him the youngest councillor and youngest mayor ever elected to council. He was mayor twice again, from 1977 to 1979. John got things done. He connected people and worked all levels of government. He believed everyone should have equal access to a great local community with good roads, transport, parks and green spaces, community facilities and public open spaces. Significantly, he worked closely with the Victorian government, Monash University and the health department to help make the dream of a world-class hospital in Clayton and the south-east a reality with the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. We are all richer for John’s incredible contribution, his integrity, his wit and his living his Labor values every day.