Tony Van Vliet
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Van Vliet (22 October 1933-16 October 1982) was an Australia
n politician. A teacher by profession, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
as the Australian Labor Party
member for Waverley Province
at the 1982 state election, but died suddenly before he could be sworn in.
Van Vliet was born and raised in Amsterdam
in the Netherlands
. He moved to Australia in 1952, subsequently studying education at the University of Melbourne
. He was a teacher and careers counsellor at Monash High School from 1972 to 1981, and was the deputy principal at Moorabbin High School at the time of his election in 1982. He was actively involved in teachers unions throughout his career, serving as the secretary of his school branch and serving on the central committee of the Victorian Secondary Teachers Association
from 1973 to 1974. He was also involved in a number of community groups, serving stints as treasurer of the Westernport Regional Council for Social Development and president of the Springvale Community Aid Bureau.
Van Vliet had made two previous unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament as the Labor candidate for the Legislative Assembly seat of Noble Park
at the 1976 election and 1979 election before deciding to run for the Legislative Council in 1982. He won Labor preselection to contest the marginal Liberal-held Legislative Council seat of Waverley Province
at the 1982 state election and was successful in the state election, winning the open seat amidst Labor's statewide victory under John Cain
. He fell ill soon after, and was unable to be sworn in to take his seat before his sudden death on 16 October. The resulting by-election was won by Labor candidate Brian Mier.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. A teacher by profession, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
as the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member for Waverley Province
Waverley Province
Waverley Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It existed as a two-member electorate from 1976 to 2006, with members holding alternating eight-year terms. It was a marginal seat for its entire existence, often changing parties according to who held government at the time...
at the 1982 state election, but died suddenly before he could be sworn in.
Van Vliet was born and raised in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He moved to Australia in 1952, subsequently studying education at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He was a teacher and careers counsellor at Monash High School from 1972 to 1981, and was the deputy principal at Moorabbin High School at the time of his election in 1982. He was actively involved in teachers unions throughout his career, serving as the secretary of his school branch and serving on the central committee of the Victorian Secondary Teachers Association
Victorian Secondary Teachers Association
The Victorian Secondary Teachers Association was a Victorian trade union organisation which existed from 1953 to 1995. It was established as a breakaway from the Victorian Teachers' Union, originally as the Victorian Secondary Masters' Professional Association in 1948, becoming the VSTA in 1953...
from 1973 to 1974. He was also involved in a number of community groups, serving stints as treasurer of the Westernport Regional Council for Social Development and president of the Springvale Community Aid Bureau.
Van Vliet had made two previous unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament as the Labor candidate for the Legislative Assembly seat of Noble Park
Electoral district of Noble Park
Electoral district of Noble Park was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria.-Members for Noble Park:...
at the 1976 election and 1979 election before deciding to run for the Legislative Council in 1982. He won Labor preselection to contest the marginal Liberal-held Legislative Council seat of Waverley Province
Waverley Province
Waverley Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It existed as a two-member electorate from 1976 to 2006, with members holding alternating eight-year terms. It was a marginal seat for its entire existence, often changing parties according to who held government at the time...
at the 1982 state election and was successful in the state election, winning the open seat amidst Labor's statewide victory under John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
. He fell ill soon after, and was unable to be sworn in to take his seat before his sudden death on 16 October. The resulting by-election was won by Labor candidate Brian Mier.