John Becquet, husband of former Victorian Police chief Christine Nixon, passes away

John Becquet, the husband of Victoria’s former police chief, passed away at the Royal Melbourne Hospital late last week.

Christine Nixon is mourning the loss of her husband John Becquet. Picture: Rob Leeson

The husband of former Victorian Police chief Christine Nixon has died.

John Becquet, who was Ms Nixon’s husband for more than 30 years, passed away at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on September 12.

Mr Becquet was a former Qantas executive who had a number of business interest after leaving the Flying Kangaroo.

Mr Becquet – who once quipped “the next person who calls me Dennis Thatcher will get thumped” — met Ms Nixon at a dinner party in the Blue Mountains in Sydney when she was working as a police officer in that state.

Mr Becquet was a constant presence at Ms Nixon’s side, including during the Victoria’s Bushfires Royal Commission which probed the Black Saturday fires.

“John passed peacefully at the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Thursday,” a funeral notice said.

“His family wish to thank the team at Palliative Care Centre and Peter MacCallum for their support over the last four years.”

Mr Becquet is survived by Ms Nixon and his two children Jane Zmak and Nicholas Becquet, as well as son-in-law Damian and grandchildren Annabelle and Lucian Zmak.

He will be privately cremated.