Prominent youth outreach worker Les Twentyman will be remembered with a state memorial service, the Victorian government has confirmed.
Twentyman died aged 76 with tributes describing him as one of “Melbourne’s big characters” and a devoted servant to people in need.
His death was announced in a statement from the Les Twentyman Foundation on Saturday.
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On Sunday a state government spokesperson said details of the service were being arranged with the Twentyman family and would be announced soon.
“The Twentyman family has accepted the Victorian government’s offer of a state service to honour the remarkable achievements and contributions of Les Twentyman OAM,” the spokesperson said.
Twentyman received his Order of Australia medal in 1994 for his service to youth as an outreach worker.
The Les Twentyman Foundation worked to engage young people with their education, families and community.
“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,” the foundation said.
“Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Les’s wife Cherie and his family at this most difficult time.”
Federal Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said Twentyman was “one of Melbourne’s big characters”.
“We were in contact just this week and he worked right up til the last,” Shorten said on social media.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan remembered Twentyman as a devoted servant to people in need, and a “true son of the west” who uplifted and protected the disadvantaged communities he called home.
“He propelled progress, always demanding more and better,” Ms Allan said.
“Les’ legacy is the thousands of kids who can succeed because he spoke up, and generations of Victorians who can give back because he never gave up.”
Born the eldest of five children to fruit shop owners in 1948, Twentyman was raised in Melbourne’s western suburb of Braybrook.
He was a candidate for Victorian parliament’s upper house in 1992 and 1996 and in the lower house at the Kororoit by-election in 2008.
