By Eric Martin
It can be hard to imagine a senior Australian politician in the days of his youth, rallying teachers in support of the anti-nuclear campaign, or volunteering to work as a teacher in Papua New Guinea during the 1970s – yet passions and political views are shaped over a lifetime and the formative impact of these experiences made the late John Kobelke a respected community leader, honoured by both sides of parliament.
The former West Australian government minister and Labor MP died in hospital on Sunday 23 June 2019, aged just 69, after complications associated with an illness.
News of his passing deeply affected the community, with tributes flowing in from across Australia, acknowledging the honourable and meaningful contribution that Mr Kobelke has made to this country during his nearly 25 years in parliament.
More than 600 mourners packed Our Lady of the Rosary Doubleview Parish Church on Thursday 4 July for the Requiem Mass and funeral for Mr Kobelke, celebrated by Monsignor Kevin Long and concelebrated by Doubleview Assistant Parish Priest Fr Chinh Dinh OP.
Present for the occasion were the Governor of WA, Kim Beazley, WA Premier Mark McGowan, Opposition Leader, Liza Harvey, members of the Fremantle Sailing Club, current and former ministers and MPs, senior public servants, service group members and many parishioners.
Parishioner and family friend, Mr Richard Goodwin, paid every respect to Mr Kobelke, highlighting his work in the local parish community:
“The death of John Kobelke last weekend is a deep loss to Doubleview parish and over many years his work for the Church and in the wider community was highly valued,” Mr Goodwin said.
“As a parishioner, John displayed the same qualities that endeared him to the many people during his public life: decency, humanity, wisdom and humility: people from all walks of life found him friendly and approachable.
“He quietly and effectively supported numerous causes, living his faith among us – his passing leaves us the poorer.”
Fr Chinh, the assistant priest at Doubleview Parish, shared Mr Goodwin’s sentiments.
“Many people who live here and work here really loved him,” he said.
“He regularly attended [Mass] and was very enthusiastic for the work taking place in the Parish.”
The parliamentary eulogy was delivered by Police Minister Michelle Roberts and Mr Kobelke’s family members spoke lovingly of their Dad’s life and contribution to Australian politics: Mr Kobelke’s tireless support for social justice causes, his love of the WA bush and ocean, his decency and loyalty, his integrity and a lifetime of giving and sharing love and hope.
Speaking to The West Australian on 25 June, Premier Mark McGowan paid tribute to Mr Kobelke, with whom he shared an office for four years, describing him as “an excellent minister” and a “terrific human being”.
“He was a very fine man and very decent human being,” he said.
“[He was] very committed to the state, very committed to his family and his electorate – he was very hardworking, very decent, irrepressible in his work ethic in particular, and deeply committed to his family.
“He was just a terrific human being and [it was] hard to find anyone to say a bad word about him. He was one of those guys.”
One very specific example of Mr Kobelke’s attitude towards political leadership is clearly demonstrated by an excerpt from his final parliamentary address in 2013:
“I have certainly enjoyed working for the people in the electorate. We are incredibly privileged… not only can we help people find their way through the bureaucratic system, and that is rewarding, but also so often we will have people come into our offices and reveal to their member of Parliament incredibly personal matters because they are just reaching out for help.
“That they will place that trust in me and other members I find very humbling and a great privilege, but there is also a responsibility to try to assist in dealing with those matters.”
“I remember many years ago a woman came in with problems of paying school fees – she spent about an hour crying and going through a packet of tissues.
“She really wanted someone to talk to and the fact that I could listen to her, and try to relieve a little bit of the angst and concern she had for her children and with the problems her husband had from the war, was a role that I was privileged to be able to play.”
The former member for Nollamara and Balcatta entered WA’s Parliament in 1989, with preselection support and mentorship from former Premier Brian Burke.
Mr Kobelke served as a minister in the WA Labor Governments led by Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter and as shadow minister for a range of portfolios while in opposition.
A devoted Labor supporter until the end, Mr Kobelke similarly summarised the passion for party and policy that kept him engaged during his 2013 closing address:
“We want to be able to represent the rights of those people who are trampled on because they do not have the strength to stand up for their rights to get a better wage to look after their family,” he said.
“The only rights those people have and the only opportunity those people have for advancement is through organised labour—that is, unions, or through the role of the Labor Party.”
Mr Kobelke leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, and three grown sons.
It can be hard to imagine a senior Australian politician in the days of his youth, rallying teachers in support of the anti-nuclear campaign, or volunteering to work as a teacher in Papua New Guinea during the 1970s – yet passions and political views are shaped over a lifetime and the formative impact of these experiences made the late John Kobelke a respected community leader, honoured by both sides of parliament.
The former West Australian government minister and Labor MP died in hospital on Sunday 23 June 2019, aged just 69, after complications associated with an illness.
News of his passing deeply affected the community, with tributes flowing in from across Australia, acknowledging the honourable and meaningful contribution that Mr Kobelke has made to this country during his nearly 25 years in parliament.
More than 600 mourners packed Our Lady of the Rosary Doubleview Parish Church on Thursday 4 July for the Requiem Mass and funeral for Mr Kobelke, celebrated by Monsignor Kevin Long and concelebrated by Doubleview Assistant Parish Priest Fr Chinh Dinh OP.
Present for the occasion were the Governor of WA, Kim Beazley, WA Premier Mark McGowan, Opposition Leader, Liza Harvey, members of the Fremantle Sailing Club, current and former ministers and MPs, senior public servants, service group members and many parishioners.
Parishioner and family friend, Mr Richard Goodwin, paid every respect to Mr Kobelke, highlighting his work in the local parish community:
“The death of John Kobelke last weekend is a deep loss to Doubleview parish and over many years his work for the Church and in the wider community was highly valued,” Mr Goodwin said.
“As a parishioner, John displayed the same qualities that endeared him to the many people during his public life: decency, humanity, wisdom and humility: people from all walks of life found him friendly and approachable.
“He quietly and effectively supported numerous causes, living his faith among us – his passing leaves us the poorer.”
Fr Chinh, the assistant priest at Doubleview Parish, shared Mr Goodwin’s sentiments.
“Many people who live here and work here really loved him,” he said.
“He regularly attended [Mass] and was very enthusiastic for the work taking place in the Parish.”
The parliamentary eulogy was delivered by Police Minister Michelle Roberts and Mr Kobelke’s family members spoke lovingly of their Dad’s life and contribution to Australian politics: Mr Kobelke’s tireless support for social justice causes, his love of the WA bush and ocean, his decency and loyalty, his integrity and a lifetime of giving and sharing love and hope.
Speaking to The West Australian on 25 June, Premier Mark McGowan paid tribute to Mr Kobelke, with whom he shared an office for four years, describing him as “an excellent minister” and a “terrific human being”.
“He was a very fine man and very decent human being,” he said.
“[He was] very committed to the state, very committed to his family and his electorate – he was very hardworking, very decent, irrepressible in his work ethic in particular, and deeply committed to his family.
“He was just a terrific human being and [it was] hard to find anyone to say a bad word about him. He was one of those guys.”
One very specific example of Mr Kobelke’s attitude towards political leadership is clearly demonstrated by an excerpt from his final parliamentary address in 2013:
“I have certainly enjoyed working for the people in the electorate. We are incredibly privileged… not only can we help people find their way through the bureaucratic system, and that is rewarding, but also so often we will have people come into our offices and reveal to their member of Parliament incredibly personal matters because they are just reaching out for help.
“That they will place that trust in me and other members I find very humbling and a great privilege, but there is also a responsibility to try to assist in dealing with those matters.”
“I remember many years ago a woman came in with problems of paying school fees – she spent about an hour crying and going through a packet of tissues.
“She really wanted someone to talk to and the fact that I could listen to her, and try to relieve a little bit of the angst and concern she had for her children and with the problems her husband had from the war, was a role that I was privileged to be able to play.”
The former member for Nollamara and Balcatta entered WA’s Parliament in 1989, with preselection support and mentorship from former Premier Brian Burke.
Mr Kobelke served as a minister in the WA Labor Governments led by Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter and as shadow minister for a range of portfolios while in opposition.
A devoted Labor supporter until the end, Mr Kobelke similarly summarised the passion for party and policy that kept him engaged during his 2013 closing address:
“We want to be able to represent the rights of those people who are trampled on because they do not have the strength to stand up for their rights to get a better wage to look after their family,” he said.
“The only rights those people have and the only opportunity those people have for advancement is through organised labour—that is, unions, or through the role of the Labor Party.”
Mr Kobelke leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, and three grown sons.