I take this opportunity to speak on the passing of David Henshaw, MBE, who
passed away on 2 April, aged 76. David Henshaw served in this chamber as the
member for Geelong Province from 1982 until his retirement in 1996. David
graduated with a physics degree from the University of Western Australia in
1952, and in 1958 began work in Belmont, Geelong, at CSIRO’s textile division,
rising to the position of chief research scientist. In 1962 David Henshaw
invented a new system of yarn spinning that increased spinning time twelvefold,
using less power, which saw him awarded an MBE in 1971, and an Encyclopaedia
Britannica Australia award for scientific achievement.
In his inaugural speech David Henshaw went into great detail on
employment in Geelong and the importance of growing Deakin University, which was
in its sixth year when David was elected. With the wonderful announcement of
2000 new jobs made just yesterday by the Premier and the stunning results that
Deakin is accomplishing, there is no doubt that both as a parliamentarian and
also as a member of the university council, from 1982 to 1996, David Henshaw
played a prominent and successful role in Deakin’s future.
An elite scientist and parliamentarian, David was also a South
Barwon city councillor, a member of the Geelong Environment Council, a Bethany
Family Support board member and long-time Belmont ALP branch member, amongst
many other commitments. I would like to extend my condolences to David’s wife
Delys, and the family. David Henshaw was a wonderful representative and an
intelligent man, and he will be sadly missed.