Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Esmond Julian Curnow

Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Finance) (09:44): I rise to remember the life of Esmond Curnow. Esmond was born at the end of the war years into a strong left-wing family in Bendigo, his grandfather Arthur Cook having been MLA for the seats of Bendigo and Bendigo West for 25 years. As the Premier said, Esmond was elected to the seat of Kara Kara at the age of 23, the youngest MP elected in Victoria at that time. He won the seat, which no-one except for Esmond himself thought was possible, and this off the back of Country Party preferences at the time when Labor was at its lowest ebb. He served two terms and was a strong and vocal advocate for regional and rural communities throughout this time, gaining the respect of his community while happily irritating the governing coalition parties.

The seat of Kara Kara was dissolved in a redistribution, and Esmond moved on with his life elsewhere in the labour movement. He was secretary of the Bendigo Trades Hall Council, then moved to Melbourne to work as a training officer with the Trade Union Training Authority where he met his long-time partner Beth, and went on to work for the storemen and packers union and the National Union of Workers, where he served in many roles, ultimately as assistant secretary. He was a man of integrity and conviction, never afraid to voice his opinion and to stand up for what he believed in. He was kind, compassionate and generous and had a wicked sense of humour. He did not suffer fools.

After retirement he had many interests – travel, gardening, horseracing – until the toll of living with Parkinson’s disease resulted in him suffering a number of falls, ultimately leading to residence in an aged care facility. He was always appreciative of the kindness and care he received during his time. He died gently and peacefully with Beth, as always, by his side. Vale, Esmond Curnow.