Thursday, 11 September 2025

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Finance) (10:27): Chris Gibbs was a Moonee Ponds local for nearly 40 years. He passed away recently following a short but aggressive illness, and he leaves behind a profound void in the lives of all who knew him. He was a proud and loving husband to Lynn, who is in the gallery today; brother to Michael, father to Claire, Dominic and Alex; and grandfather to Elkie and Andy. He was a man of warmth, good humour and kindness, whose presence enriched the lives of all who knew him. Professionally, Chris dedicated his career to mental health, holding significant leadership positions within the Victorian mental health sector, including at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as head of North Western Mental Health and as a founding CEO of the Mental Health Professionals’ Network. His career path reflected the strong set of values that Chris lived by personally: that people deserve a chance, support when they needed it and to be treated fairly and with respect. To those who knew him, Chris was remarkable in his capacity to make people feel seen, understood and valued. His extensive and close friendships were a testament to this, and he could always be depended upon, whether it was with a listening ear or a great song recommendation. Often the latter was non-negotiable. To his family he will always be remembered as an extraordinary dad, partner and grandparent who they felt so lucky to have had and will be so deeply missed. Vale, Chris Gibbs.