Passionate Melb youth worker Les Twentyman dies
Passionate Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman – known for “giving a voice to the voiceless” and dedicating his life to improving the lives of thousands of young Victorians – has died.
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Passionate Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman has been remembered for his “lifelong dedication” to helping those in need.
Mr Twentyman spent decades working to better the lives of Melbourne’s young through The Les Twentyman Foundation.
Mr Twentyman was also a school teacher for many years in the western suburbs and coached local Australian rules teams, including Yarraville.
He had a long connection with the Western Bulldogs in the AFL.
In a statement on Saturday, The Les Twentyman Foundation said he was “never afraid” to speak up.
“Les inspired us all with his lifelong dedication to helping those in need and his profound contribution to our community has positively changed the lives of thousands of young Victorians and their families,” it read.
“Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Les’s wife Cherie and his family at this most difficult time.
“In life Les was never afraid to say what was needed to be said, he gave a voice to the voiceless and leaves a legacy of helping the disadvantaged and those in need that will live long past his extraordinary life. He will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said Mr Twentyman made an undoubtable contribution to Victoria.
“Les gave a voice to the voiceless, and pulled countless young Victorians out from the margins,” she said.
“Across our state, there are those who owe their future, and some their lives, to the cause he championed, and the compassion he showed.”
Bill Shorten said Mr Twentyman was one of Melbourne’s big characters.
“We were in contact just this week and he worked right up til the last,” he said.
“Thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, colleagues and all the people he helped along his road less travelled.”
For years, Mr Twentyman wrote a popular, sometimes edgy, column in the Western Times newspaper.
His profile in the west and more broadly meant thousands of private citizens, businesses and sporting organisations were supporters of the foundation over many years.
Some of Melbourne’s biggest sports and entertainment names threw their weight behind it.
Mr Twentyman and former Western Times editor Ron Coleman founded the 20th Man Fund, a precursor to the foundation, 40 years ago.
At that point, they ran lunches at The Junction Hotel in Newport to raise money for local kids in need.
The foundation would go on to sink millions into the community over the decades.
Mr Coleman said Mr Twentyman’s ability to harness media and the support of a range of organisations was crucial to its success.
“He came up with the one-liners. He knew everyone,” he said.
“He was a funny guy. He was a loveable larrikin.”
Mr Coleman said despite his keen sense of humour and irreverent ways, no one had done more in the youth work field or for longer than Mr Twentyman.
Mr Twentyman was also fanatical about the crucial role of sport in helping young people.
As recently as two days ago he was posting on social media about the Braybrook 96ers basketball club.
Mr Twentyman grew up in Braybrook and never lost his connection with the suburb.
He had arranged for children to attend the Australian Grand Prix last weekend.
Condolences have flooded in for the “truly great Australian” after the news of his death broke.
In a statement, the Western Bulldogs Football Club said Mr Twentyman was a “giant of the western suburbs” who backed his Doggies through thick and thin.
“Les dedicated his life to helping others and his tireless work with young Victorians as a teacher, youth worker and ultimately through his foundation has made an indelible difference and changed countless lives for the better,” it read.
“His passion for footy and our Club was fierce and enduring. As a member of the Dogs Committee he made an enormous contribution to the Save the Dogs campaign of 1989, playing an integral role in saving the Club from extinction.”
Footscray’s 1985 Brownlow medallist Brad Hardie said his friend of 40 years had a “very big heart”.
Mr Hardie was befriended by Mr Twentyman in 1984 when he first arrived at the Western Oval from Perth club South Fremantle.
In 1985, they combined for the first ever Les Twentyman Christmas Party for about 15 homeless kids in a backyard in Sunshine.
“He dined out on that, laughing about how he didn’t have to provide any padding for me as Santa,” Mr Hardie said.
“That party was still going last year, having grown to over 600 kids.
“Jack Twetyman as I knew him had a very big heart, a bloke with plenty of front who would talk himself up but you couldn’t get upset about it.
“He wasn’t someone scared of introducing himself to a famous name.
“He was friendly with blokes like Bill Shorten, surgeon David Young, Sam Newman, Doug
Hawkins, Luke Beveridge, Rodney Hogg, Dennis Galimberti, Brendan Edwards, Doug Ackerly and music man David Brooks.
“He lived a very full life, loving a drink and literally helped thousands, not hundreds, of troubled youth.
“There will be people out there today thankful for the time their family met him.”
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