House debates

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Statements by Members

Mason, Mr Donald Walter

1:50 pm

Photo of Russell BroadbentRussell Broadbent (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Donald Walter Mason died on 7 May this year. He was my scout leader. He was a husband to Gwenda, lover, father, grandfather and mentor to many. In fact, he invested his life in others. He was strongly connected to the Methodist Church. His work was as a farmer. The first thing that happened in the days before he began was that he would go from horses to a tractor, and then he'd milk the cows. He'd milk in the morning, work for Ron Townley's transport company all day, go home and milk at night and then go out to community functions each night. He built his own home from scratch. One of his proudest moments, of course, was at his send-off. His first Queen's Scout, Warren Wealands, was there. Can I also say that he would have been very proud of all the boys that he had mentored through his scouting years and the benefits they brought to the Koo Wee Rup community and surrounds. One of his boys entered the Australian parliament. He was very proud of that too.