‘Voice of reason’ Sir Llew Edwards dies aged 85
Tributes flow for former Queensland treasurer, deputy premier and the man who oversaw Brisbane’s transformative World Expo.
Sir Llew Edwards, former Queensland treasurer and deputy premier who later oversaw Brisbane’s transformative World Expo 88, has died at the age of 85.
An electrician-turned medical doctor – and then the youngest-ever cabinet minister when he was appointed health Minister at 37 – he was regarded as the “voice of reason” as state Liberal leader in the coalition government under Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
After his retirement from politics in 1983, he was appointed by then prime minister Bob Hawke as chair and chief executive of Expo 88 – widely-credited with heralding Brisbane’s evolution into a contemporary city with its South Bank arts precinct and parklands.
He later held a series of charity and corporate directorships – including on the board of Westpac — and served as Chancellor of the University of Queensland for 18 years, until 2009.
His wife, Lady Jane Edwards announced his passing Tuesday night saying her husband had battled dementia for some time.
“Llew was the most wonderful man and I loved him dearly,’’ Lady Jane said.
“He fought the battle with dementia as best he could but despite the disease, he was always the man I knew and loved.
“Despite how busy he was and how many commitments he had, I always felt like the most important person in the world to Llew, as he was to me.
“I will miss him terribly as will his children and grandchildren.’’
Sir Llewellyn Roy Edwards was born on August 2, 1935, in Ipswich and initially trained as an electrician.
He later left the trade and studied medicine, graduating from The University of Queensland in 1965.
A ‘true Liberal’ and expo hero
Sir Llew was elected to Queensland parliament as the Liberal MP for Ipswich, west of Brisbane in 1972 and served as Health Minister, Deputy Premier and Treasurer.
He was regarded by colleagues and commentariat as a “true Liberal’’ with moderate social views and a focus on setting-up the state’s finances and infrastructure for future generations.
Queensland Labor premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid tribute to Sir Llew in parliament on Wednesday.
“During those often tumultuous years, he was a calm and reasonable voice,” she said.
“He was a dignified figure amid the noise and extremes of the more outlandish personalities who inhabited politics at that time.”
Ms Palaszczuk said his stewardship of World Expo 88 ensured it became “one of the greatest” events in Queensland history.
“An event which helped define our sense of what we can and should achieve as Queenslanders,” she said.
Sir Joh’s sometimes nemesis
He famously fought with Sir Joh over a series of issues, including the then- premier’s opposition to then Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam’s introduction of Medibank in 1975, which Sir Llew supported.
Clashes continued when Bjelke-Petersen asked Sir Llew to register fraudulent cancer medico “Dr”’ Milan Brych, who was later jailed overseas.
In an interview with The Courier-Mail, Sir Llew said he hoped he had left a mark.
“I would hope that the three greatest legacies I’ve left are that the people of Queensland thought I was a friendly, honest person who tried to make a difference; secondly, the opportunity to build the best exposition in Queensland’s history, which created so much fun and happiness and satisfaction and the promotion of Australia, particularly Queensland, was something I feel very, very proud about,” he said.
‘My greatest thrill’
“And I’ve got one other thing. I think the years as chancellor, meeting and shaking hands with, they tell me, 88,000 graduates, seeing the dreams in their eyes as it were, seeing the expectation that they were going to have a better life because of their education, often at great sacrifice to their parents, I think that’s my third greatest thrill.”
He is survived by Lady Jane and two of three children, David and Mark.
His daughter Louise passed away after a battle with cancer.
His first wife, Leone Burley, died in 1988.
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