Councillors lashed as ‘disgraceful’ for voting against Les Twentyman honour

Three Greens councillors have been blasted for voting against a motion to name a meeting room at the Maribyrnong Civic and Community Hub in memory of youth worker Les Twentyman.

Three Greens councillors have come under fire after they voted against a move to honour beloved Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman.

Maribyrnong Council on Tuesday night voted on a motion to name a meeting room at their new Civic and Community Hub in memory of Mr Twentyman, who died last year, aged 76.

Mr Twentyman has been remembered as an icon around Melbourne’s western suburbs, including around Footscray and Maribyrnong, for his work helping at-risk youth.

While the motion ultimately passed, the council’s three Greens councillors — deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas, Samantha Meredith and Elena Pereyra — all voted it down in a move that’s been criticised as “disgraceful”.

Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman. Picture: The Les Twentyman Foundation website

Mr Twentyman’s widow, Cherie Coon, who attended the meeting and watched the Greens councillors vote against the tribute said she felt hurt.

“It was disgraceful and an insult to the memory of Les who has given so much to the community in Maribyrnong,” she said in a statement to the Herald Sun.

“Walking down any street in Footscray I am approached by people whose lives were touched or inspired by Les, which makes me wonder whether the three councillors who voted against the motion have spent any time in their local community, or even know who Les was and the incredible work he did in helping young people.

“What happened last night was hurtful and disrespectful. It was embarrassing that the Mayor (Pradeep Tiwari) felt the need to come up and apologise.”

Les Twentyman’s widow, Cherie Coon (pictured with Mr Twentyman) says she feels hurt by the councillors’ vote.

Les Twentyman Foundation CEO Paul Burke said it was unfair that loved ones of the late youth worker were forced to endure a council debate on “whether such a memorial was something that council should do”.

“We are stunned that three councillors would vote against a memorial for such a significant local community figure, whose work over many decades helped thousands of kids in Maribyrnong to a brighter future – for that discussion to happen in front of his widow was most disappointing,” he said.

“The Les Twentyman Foundation is looking to speak with the councillors who voted against the motion to honour Les, to try to gain an understanding of why they would vote against a tribute to honour his name and work in helping others.”

Les Twentyman is remembered as an icon around Melbourne’s western suburbs. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Footscray Labor MP Katie Hall said it was “shameful” that the Greens voted against recognising Mr Twentyman at the new Civic and Community Hub.

“It’s not going to be much of a community hub if the Greens won’t recognise local community heroes such as Les,” Ms Hall.

But Greens deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas defended the decision to vote against the motion, saying Mr Twentyman was deserving of a more visible memorial to recognise his “incredible, far-reaching legacy”.

“We agree with our fellow councillors that it’s completely fitting there is a memorial named after him,” she said.

“We fully support doing more to honour his legacy, and given his lifelong dedication to youth work, would love for the memorial to be really visible in spaces young people use — so we wanted to see the council choose a different location than a meeting room, in consultation with young people in our community, his family, and the foundation.

“If that isn’t possible, we still support the memorial.”

Originally published as Councillors lashed as ‘disgraceful’ for voting against Les Twentyman honour