Page 137 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

This leading-hand pattern-maker, staunch member of the Amalgamated Engineering Union,
indefatigable secretary, and family man, emerged as 'Labor's trump card' at the 1943 Footscray
municipal election: 'The most prosperous city was that with the greatest number of contented
individuals', Shepherd declared, 'and Labor stood for making the home life all that it should be'. He
served five terms (mayor 1948-49) before retiring from the council in 1955 with an unrivalled
reputation for assiduous attention to residents' concerns. A strong supporter of home-ownership as a
stabilizing social and political influence, he was made a director (from 1945) of four district co-
operative housing societies. He befriended and praised businessmen who lived in and contributed to
the community from which they made their money; he supported post-war immigration, but drew
attention to overcrowded schools and the housing shortage; and he worked hard to establish youth
clubs and elderly citizens' centres.

An education trust, a bridge over the Maribyrnong River, a memorial garden at Maidstone and a
reserve at Footscray Park were named after him

A non-smoker and teetotaller whose recreations were gardening and reading, Shepherd never owned
a car, preferring to cycle, walk or use public transport. His plain style of living, approachability and
network of friends stood him in good stead, and helped him to win the seat of Sunshine in the
Legislative Assembly in 1945. Redistributions saw him move to the seats of Ascot Vale (1955) and
Footscray (1958). He proved a tireless local member, renowned for innumerable silent acts of
generosity. John Cain, the leader of the Australian Labor Party, groomed him as his successor and
allocated him the education portfolio when Labor won government in December 1952. A hard-
working minister, he revitalized his department's building programme, travelling widely to open new
classrooms and schools, and to assess local needs. He retained the portfolio when Cain reorganized
the government in March 1955, following the split in the A.L.P. 'No country could be over-run by
Communism', Shepherd said while campaigning for the general election in May, 'if the people could
be given a high standard of education, decent living conditions, an impartial press and the
opportunity of home ownership'. His wife broadcast with him on radio-station 3KZ, extolling the
government's progressive education policy.

The election result consigned Labor to Opposition. L. W. Galvin lost his seat and Shepherd succeeded
him as deputy-leader. Although he deplored sectarianism, lamented the split and was devastated by

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider