Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (10:06): Ballarat lost a good man when Reverend John Furness died on 18 May, a man I deeply admired and whose friendship I enjoyed. I wish to offer my deepest sympathies to his children Sharon, Greg, Michael; Michael’s wife Sara; his grandchildren Taylor and Ashleigh; and his great grandchildren Ella, Grace and Annie.

John’s life personified service to others, demonstrated by his 40 years as a minister for the Uniting Church, including minister at St Andrews Kirk and chaplain at Ballarat Clarendon College. I particularly want to recognise John’s contribution to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia’s Ballarat sub-branch, Ballarat Legacy, the Ballarat Air Force Association and the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial.

John was a gentle man who was kind, empathetic and compassionate and who provided spiritual support to many. Vale, Reverend John Furness.

You can take a look at more of my speeches to Parliament here.