The death of John Mildren OAM marks the end of an era in Ballarat.
John didn’t enter politics for fame or power, he did it to make a difference for his own community. First and foremost, John believed that being the Member for Ballarat was about service to our local community.
Being elected after a career as an academic and lecturer, John never forgot the power that good politics and good policy have to change the lives of working people for the better.
The last time I met with John was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Medicare – a lasting reform of a government of which he was a part.
John spoke about how before Medicare, he and his office fielded calls from women and families desperate for health care for themselves and their children. Before Medicare, many had nowhere to turn; after its introduction, we can all access the healthcare we need.
That is part of John’s legacy.
Personally, John was a mentor to me over many years and his example of how to represent a regional community like Ballarat is one that I will forever cherish.
Before John, Labor was in the political wilderness in Ballarat. He was elected after 25 years of Liberal representation. His service and example reconnected our party with regional Victoria – a legacy that lives on to this day.
Following politics, John took just as much interest in his community as he ever did before. Drawing on his own life experiences, John played an important role as Chairman of Pinarc supporting members of our community living with disabilities, and as a member of Alzheimer’s Australia.
In his later years, John could still be found holding court and solving the problems of the world from his table in L’espresso.
John’s sharp mind remained with him to the last. My thoughts are with his children, grandchildren and all who loved him.
