Tuesday, 6 February 2024

George Swinburne

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (14:12): I want to draw the chamber’s attention to the sad and untimely death of George Swinburne, my friend and a strong Liberal. He was the loving husband of Maureen and the loving father of Caroline, Diana and Jane. His presence across the eastern suburbs of Victoria as a Liberal, as a person known widely in the legal community, is something that we will all remember. He was a person who was a strong personal supporter of mine, and I want to place on record my sadness at his untimely passing.

He was a person who was great fun. He could go out for a drink, have a meal. He loved to ski. He had enormous links and arrangements with Ormond College. He was often overseas. He was at the races. He was a person who had links, as I say, absolutely everywhere. George was also a very sharp intellect. George would provide you with an assessment of points of policy and ideas, sometimes not to your liking. But nonetheless he was always a person I listened to because he did provide that information and that feedback, and that strengthens the performance of MPs immeasurably.

It is particularly Maureen that I feel has missed out by George dying at an untimely point. She is a fantastic woman. He was a fantastic partner. They were a great pair, and George will be very, very sadly missed. I will treasure his memory, and I think that he should be recorded widely for his great contribution. Vale, George Swinburne.