Gordon McKern
Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (09:38): On Monday Bendigo farewelled the great Gordon McKern. Gordon passed away on 29 November 2020 after living a full and fabulous 85 years. I came to know Gordon following my election as the member for Bendigo East in 1999. It was hard not to get to know him given he was a leader in our community across a range of fields: business, the arts, Rotary, education, local government, water, transport—the list could go on. Much of Gordon’s work was centred on Eaglehawk, the community he and his family had moved to in 1976. I admired Gordon greatly. There was always much to talk about and much to learn during time spent with Gordon. He was thoughtful and firm in his views and he always had a way of making people feel special. He also knew how to get things done, and done in a way that brought great benefit to our local community. It was reflected on during Gordon’s funeral service that his style in how he got things done was part of his great success. Gordon enjoyed his time as a cricket umpire perhaps because he liked being part of a committee of one of which he was the chairman.
Sadly, Gordon’s wonderful wife Anita passed away eight years ago. I always looked forward to seeing Anita at functions and events because I always knew the conversation would flow easily and there would be more than a few laughs. Together Anita and Gordon were quite the team. They were, as Howard Nathan described them on Monday, a duet. My deepest sympathy to Gordon’s large and loving family on his passing after a life well lived. I would finish with a farewell from Gordon’s good friend Monsignor Frank Marriott at the end of Monday’s service: Gordon, job well done.