Three Maribyrnong councillors who voted against a proposal to name a meeting room at the council chambers after Les Twentyman, have defended their decision, arguing the late youth worker deserves better recognition.
Greens councillors Bernadette Thomas, Samantha Meredith and Elena Pereyra sparked outrage when they voted against the proposal at a council meeting on April 15.
The proposal was carried 4-3, but Mr Twentyman’s widow, Cherie Coon, who was present at the meeting, expressed anger at the councillors who opposed it.
“It was disgraceful and an insult to the memory of Les who has given so much to the community in Maribyrnong,” said Ms Coon who added that mayor Pradeep Tiwari apologised to her afterwards.
Les Twentyman Foundation chief executive Paul Burke was also present and said it was disappointing to have been invited to what should have been a celebration of Mr Twentyman’s life and legacy, but instead became a topic of debate.
“We are stunned that three councillors would vote against a memorial for such a significant local community figure, whose work over many decades has helped thousands of kids in Maribyrnong to a brighter future – for that discussion to happen in front of his widow was appalling.”
Speaking on behalf of the three Greens councillors, Cr Thomas said Mr Twentyman deserved a memorial that reflected his decades of youth work in the community.
“We fully support doing more to honour his legacy, and given his life-long dedication to youth work, would love for the memorial to be really visible in spaces young people use,” Cr Thomas said.
“We wanted to see the council choose a different location than a meeting room, in consultation with young people in our community, his family, and the foundation. If that isn’t possible, we still support the memorial.“
Cr Thomas and Cr Pereyra made similar arguments at Tuesday night’s meeting where both appeared via video link.
They argued naming a basketball court at Rec West in Braybrook after Mr Twentyman would be a more fitting, but Cr Cuc Lam, who moved the motion, disagreed, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate.
Cr Meredith was the only Greens councillor present at the meeting, but did not speak on the proposal, later telling Star Weekly she was not afforded time.
Cr Meredith said she wanted more time to discuss a better memorial for Mr Twentyman and that she tried to explain this to his widow, Ms Coon.
She said the Greens councillor’s voted independently and not as a block.
The Les Twentyman Foundation is expected to meet with the three councillors to discuss the matter.
Mr Twentyman died in March last year aged 76 after a long illness.
