Thursday, 10 February 2022

Members statements

Sidney Baillieu ‘Bails’ Myer

Ms CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (10:08): Sidney Baillieu ‘Bails’ Myer AC was an extraordinary Australian, a man of great principles and a man of great generosity. Yesterday at his memorial service his children, Sid, Rupert and Samantha, and his grandson Walter spoke about Bails—first and foremost a man who loved his family. They also spoke of his love of his farm, his love of the arts and the numerous successes he has had in business. Victoria of course has largely been the big beneficiary of what Bails has achieved, but so has Australia. He has been a mentor to so many of Australia’s business and community leaders. His generosity, as his family described, was not about philanthropy but about giving. Bails gave back to the community in so many ways.

I was lucky to know Bails. He and my father were old friends, although Bails was slightly older than Dad. They went to school together and then attended Cambridge University together. They also served in the Royal Australian Navy through the Second World War. My father has recounted to me on numerous occasions that Bails served during World War II and became a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. Bails was a man of an era that served this country with distinction.

I spoke with Bails only a few weeks ago. I was organising a lunch with him and Sarah and Dad, and as always he was so enthusiastic and looking forward to catching up with his old friend. Sadly that did not happen. Bails certainly lived his life to the full, and that life was an extraordinary one of loyalty, devotion, success and generosity.