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Les Twentyman
OAM
Personal information
Full name Leslie Jack Twentyman
Date of birth 3 February 1948[1]
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Date of death 30 March 2024 (aged 76)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1967 Williamstown reserves
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1977 Yarraville reserves
1981 Yarraville
Career highlights

Leslie Jack Twentyman OAM (3 February 1948 – 30 March 2024) was an Australian youth outreach worker and community activist.[2] Raised in Braybrook, Victoria, he was a football player and coach, before becoming a social worker in the City of Sunshine. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994 and Victorian of the Year in 2004 for his outreach work. Twentyman also was an independent candidate for the Victorian Legislative Council in 1992 and 1996, and in the 2008 Kororoit state by-election. He was one of Victoria's best-known social campaigners on issues ranging from homelessness, drug abuse, prison reform, and welfare.

Early life and football career

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Twentyman was born in 1948 in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, and was raised in Braybrook, Victoria.[3][4] His parents were owners of a fruit shop, and Twentyman was the oldest of five children.[5][6] He was described as a "talented" football player.[6]

Twentyman began his playing career in the Victorian Football Association when he captained the under-19s Williamstown side in 1966. He played for the Williamstown reserves side in 1967.[7]

In 1977, he captained Yarraville to a Division 2 reserves premiership. He later coached the senior side in 1981.[8]

Social work

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Twentyman's rise to prominence as a social campaigner began in 1989. In 1984, he was employed as a social worker by the City of Sunshine.[9] In 1989, he created a portion of the Save the Dogs committee, after a potential merge between the Western Bulldogs and Fitzroy, which did not occur as a result.[8][9] In the same year, he formed the Les Twentyman Foundation, which helped nearly 17,000 students stay in education as of 2024.[10] Notably, the 14th Dalai Lama donated to the foundation as well.[8] In 2009, Les started working on the 20thMan Fund, assisting in youth services in the western suburbs of Melbourne.[11]

Twentyman was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 1994 Birthday Honours, "for service to youth as an outreach worker and as founder of the 20th Man Homeless and Kids in Distress Fund";[12] he was a finalist for Australian of the Year in 2004,[13] and was named Victorian of the Year in 2006.[14] He was known as one of Victoria's best known social campaigners, on issues including homelessness, drug abuse, prison reform, and social welfare.[13]

Twentyman was an independent candidate for the Victorian Legislative Council in 1992 and 1996.[9] He also stood in the 2008 Kororoit by-election for the Victorian Legislative Assembly on 28 June 2008, coming in third behind the Labor and Liberal parties as an Independent candidate.[15][16] His campaign had been supported by the Electrical Trades Union and was managed by former independent MP Phil Cleary.[17][18]

Twentyman wrote an autobiography, The Les Twentyman Story, which was published by Hardie Grant in 2000.[19]

On 30 March 2024, Twentyman died at the age of 76.[20] Afterwards, the Victorian government's offer of a state funeral for Twentyman was accepted by his family, and it was held on April 16th at St Patrick's Cathedral, East Melbourne.[21][22][23]

References

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  1. ^ "The incredible legacy of Les Twentyman will live on through his foundation". Les Twentyman Foundation. 2 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Vale Les Twentyman OAM". The Age. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  3. ^ Magennis, Molly (30 March 2024). "Revered social justice warrior Les Twentyman dies aged 76". Seven News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  4. ^ Austin, Paul (31 January 2006). "Celebrity chef may run in state election". The Age. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2006.
  5. ^ Gramenz, Jack; Morgan, Cassandra (30 March 2024). "Prominent youth advocate Les Twentyman dead at 76". Dungog Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Lunch with Les Twentyman". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Almanac Footy: Footballers who became famous for something totally different – Part 2". The Footy Almanac. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Victorian youth worker Les Twentyman dies aged 76 after dedicating years to social justice causes". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 March 2024. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Cowie, Tom (30 March 2024). "'Don't know where I'd be without him': Battlers pay tribute to Les Twentyman". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ^ Taylor, Josh (30 March 2024). "'One of Melbourne's big characters': youth worker Les Twentyman dies aged 76". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Life on streets with Les: Gangs, pangs, pride of 'wild west'". Brimbank & North West. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Leslie Jack Twentyman". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman remembered as a 'legend'". Nine News. 31 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Awards". Victoria Day Council. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Kororoit District By-Election 2008 Provisional Results". Archived from the original on 2 July 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
  16. ^ "Kororoit By-election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Kororoit by-election preview". The Poll Bludger. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ Edmonds, Mike; Ferguson, John (12 June 2008). "Les Twentyman joins Kororoit by-election race". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ Twentyman, Les (1 September 2000). The Les Twentyman Story. Prahran, Victoria, Australia: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74273-365-4. OCLC 763154389. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ Taylor, Josh (30 March 2024). "'One of Melbourne's big characters': youth worker Les Twentyman dies aged 76". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  21. ^ Godde, Callum (4 April 2024). "Public to farewell Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Victorians from all walks of life gather to farewell renowned youth worker Les Twentyman". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  23. ^ McCaffrey, Lily (16 April 2024). "Victorian youth worker Les Twentyman farewelled in state funeral". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. NCA Newswire. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
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