Final, sad farewell for 'social warrior' Les Twentyman

Les Twentyman who worked for Melbourne's disadvantaged has been farewelled at St Patrick’s Cathedral (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Political leaders and family have led tributes to prominent Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman.

A state funeral was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday after Mr Twentyman's death in March aged 76.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said Mr Twentyman was "darkly funny, fiercely honest" and well known for his big heart.

"(Since Les' passing) we have witnessed an outpouring of grief and gratitude," she said. 

"Stories from the many people whose lives were changed through Les' work, saved by Les' work."

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan
Jacinta Allan admitted "Les put me through my paces" while advocating for disadvantaged youths.

Ms Allan spoke about how every youth minister would meet Mr Twentyman upon taking up the role, something she did in 2002. 

"Les put me through my paces. And I know from many of the faces here today, I was not the only one," she said.  

"You (Les) simply refused to give up on this case, or allow them to give up on themselves.

"You lived a good life and on behalf of a grateful state, thank you Les, for your words and your work."

Federal Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, who was a friend of Mr Twentyman, said he was the same in public and in private. 

Federal Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten
Bill Shorten spoke of Mr Twentyman's his passion and determination to make Melbourne fairer.

"I learned that with Les, there was never a performance. It wasn't just an act," Mr Shorten said. 

"He was straight, no artifice, nothing put on. 

"No distance between his beliefs and his passion and his determination to make this city more fair."

Mr Shorten also paid tribute to Mr Twentyman's work that "reminds us of a part of Australian life which perhaps seems a memory".

"Les represented the Australian tradition, the old-school tradition, of showing kindness in another's troubles and courage in his own," he said.

"Les opened the eyes of so many to disadvantage, so we couldn't pretend it didn't exist."

Mr Twentyman was best known for his advocacy for disadvantaged and vulnerable Victorians, tackling issues such as youth homelessness, drug abuse, prison reform and social welfare.

The hearse carrying Les Twentyman's casket at St Patrick's Cathedral
Mr Twentyman's family asked people to donate to the Les Twentyman Foundation in lieu of flowers.

A foundation bearing his name, worked to engage young people with their education, families and communities.

Garry Twentyman said his brother would have been taken aback by the honour of a state funeral service. 

"I'm quite sure that Les is looking down here now thinking 'Geez, I'd have loved to have been up on that microphone in front of all those people'," he said.

"I never got a crowd that big before'."

Mr Twentyman's family requested people contribute to the Les Twentyman Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Born the eldest of five children to fruit shop owners in 1948, he was raised in Melbourne's western suburb of Braybrook.

He was a member of the Save the Dogs committee when the Western Bulldogs AFL team, then known as Footscray, were close to merging with Fitzroy in 1989.

The club's head coach Luke Beveridge also attended the memorial.

Mr Twentyman was a candidate for Victorian parliament's upper house in 1992 and 1996 and in the lower house at the Kororoit by-election in 2008.

He received an Order of Australia in 1994 for his service to youth as an outreach worker and was named Victorian of the Year in 2006.

Australian flags flew half-mast on Victorian government buildings on Tuesday as a mark of respect.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store