Geoffrey Philip Connard (13 October 1925 – 27 January 2013) was the member for

Higinbotham Province Higinbotham Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It existed as a two-member electorate from 1937 to 2006, with members serving alternating eight-year terms. It was considered a safe seat for the Liberal throughout ...

in the

Parliament of Victoria The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria that follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system. It consists of the King, represented by the Governor of Victoria, the Legislative Assembly and ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

from 1982 to 1996. He played a crucial role in a number of Victorian, Australian and International health reforms and continued to work in the health sector following his retirement from parliamentary life. His support was crucial to the passing of the legislation establishing VicHealth. Geoffrey was inaugural chair of the Macfarlane Burnet Centre from 1986 to 1990 and was a member of the

Burnet Institute The Burnet Institute is an Australian medical institute that combines medical research in the laboratory and the field, with public health action to address major health issues affecting disadvantaged communities in Australia, and international ...

Board until 2007. He was chairman of the International Diabetes Institute from 1997 to 2000. In a tribute, the successor

Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, commonly known as the Baker Institute, is an Australian independent medical research research institute, institute headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria. Established in 1926, the instit ...

wrote, ''"As a Chairman of the former International Diabetes Institute, he worked tirelessly to ensure the Institute was a leading national and international centre for diabetes research, education and care."''

Honours

His honours included: Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

in 2001; the Distinguished Service Medal, Pharmacy Guild of Australia in 1996; and he was a Knight of St John of Jerusalem,

Knights Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic Church, Catholic Military ord ...

. In 2012,

Monash University Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has a ...

established The Honourable Geoffrey Connard AM travelling scholarship and award to young postdoctoral staff members or postgraduate students to pursue pharmacy research interest overseas.

Community activity

He was very active in other community organisations including: * Pharmacy Guild of Australia District No 1: honorary secretary 1965–81, board member 1974. * After Care Hospital: honorary treasurer to 1984 and chairman 1985–88, board member and vice chairman 1994–96. * St George's Hospital and Inner Eastern Geriatric Centre: board member 1982–96, chairman1987-90. *

Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, originally known as Queens Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital, operated from 1904 to its closure in 1996. Perched high on the banks of the Yarra River at Yarra Bend in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fai ...

: board member 1982–96, Chairman1987-90. * Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute: treasurer from 2000 to 2002. * Travellers Aid Society of Victoria, president and long-term advisor. * Leon Mow Charitable Trust: trustee from 1998. *

Australia Day Council The National Australia Day Council (NADC) is a non-profit social enterprise owned by the Australian Government and is the national coordinating body for the Australian of the Year awards and Australia Day. It was established in 1979 and inco ...

: executive member from 1976. * Victoria Day Council * Australia Free China Association vice president from 1980. * Brighton Historical Society * Beaumaris Conservation Society]. * Sandringham Yacht Club. *

Lions Club The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international non-political service organization established originally in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , ...

Mordialloc Mordialloc is a beachside suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 24 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Kingston local government area. Mordialloc recorded a population of 8,886 at the . ...

: member from 1964.

Personal life

Geoffrey Connard was educated at Mordialloc State School, Mordialloc High School,

Melbourne Grammar (Pray and Work) , established = 1849 (on present site since 1858 - the celebrated date of foundation) , type = Independent, co-educational primary, single-sex boys secondary, day and boarding , denomination ...

, and the Victorian College of Pharmacy. in 1957, he married the painter Judith Wills. They had three children: Jane, Phillip and Timothy. He worked as a pharmacist until his election to the Victorian Parliament in 1982.

References

External links

Connard, Geoffrey Phillip
Parliament of Victoria
Vale - Burnet founding chairman the Hon Geoffrey Connard AM

News
Photograph: Norman Thomas with Geoff Connard outside the office of Small & Edwards, Estate Agents, Parkdale, c1930, Kingston Historical Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Connard, Geoffrey 1925 births 2013 deaths Australian pharmacists Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Victoria People from Mordialloc, Victoria Members of the Order of Australia Politicians from Melbourne