THE district is mourning the passing of a well-known local and former MP, The Hon Digby Glen Crozier, at age 96 on February 26.

Although he hasn’t lived in the area since moving from Wando Vale near Casterton in 2007 and resettling in Ocean Grove, Mr Crozier’s contribution to the western Victorian community was wide and esteemed.

Born in London in 1927 to parents, GP John Crozier and Nancy Legoe, the family eventually moved to Australia.

He attended Geelong Grammar School before returning to England to study at Caius College, Cambridge, where he received a Master of Arts.

From 1945 to 1946 Mr Crozier served in the Royal Australian Navy and served in the Military Forces in 1954 before becoming a farmer on the family farm, ‘Kalabity’, near Casterton.

He married Mary ‘Jill’ Salter in 1957 and together they had four children, John, Will (deceased) Georgie and Annabel.

Mr Crozier was elected to the Glenelg Shire as a councillor and served from 1965 to 1973, also serving as president from 1967 to 1968.

In 1965 he joined the Casterton branch of the Liberal Party and was successfully nominated as a candidate and won the seat of Western Province in the State Parliament’s Legislative Council in 1973.

During his tenure in the upper house, he was deputy leader in the Legislative Council, tourism and state development minister, local government minister, and mines and energy minister.

Significantly, it was during this period that Mr Crozier was integral to the development of Alcoa in Portland, a major contributor to employment and growth in western Victoria.

He said after its successful development that he had some satisfaction when driving past the Alcoa smelter at Portland considering the tense years of pressure during the negotiation phase.

“In the early days, the project weighed on my mind,” he said.

“We knew we were taking big chances in winning Aloca for Portland. I remember one of the Alcoa chiefs at the time saying, ‘You have a window of opportunity’. The inference was plain. If we didn’t take it, it would slam shut on us.

“The smelter is there now and it’s playing a positive role for Portland, the port and export earnings.”

The period was also not without its difficulties, with one being the sacking of the Melbourne City Council.

Former Casterton Liberal Party branch president, Ken McEachern said later at a retirement function for the Crozier family in 2007, the “decision (on Melbourne City Council) was not made lightly and demonstrated Digby’s commitment to ensuring good government at all levels”.

Mr Crozier served in the upper house until 1985 before successfully transitioning to the lower house in 1985 when he won the seat of Portland serving as Police and Emergency Services shadow minister from 1985 to 1988.

As the local member then in opposition, following the Coalition’s defeat in 1982, he ironically bore the brunt of numerous inquiries stemming from Alcoa’s development including rising rents and attracting and retaining staff in local services.

He retired from politics in 1988.

Mr McEachern said “it must be remembered that Digby could not have carried out his duties in the manner in which he did, without the support of Jill”.

“Both Digby and Jill have been committed, active members, and dedicated supporters of the Casterton Liberal Party branch,” he said.

Mr Crozier’s wife Jill passed away in 2016 followed by their son, Will in 2018.

Following the amalgamation of City of Portland in 1994 with the Shires of Glenelg and Heywood, Mr Crozier served as a commissioner for the newly formed Glenelg Shire.

His daughter, Georgie Crozier was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 2010 for the Liberal Party as Member for Southern Metropolitan Region and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.

Ms Crozier said her father was always supportive of her political endeavours and gave her great counsel.

“He followed what I was doing closely,” she said.

“We spoke nearly every day where he would ask what was happening in the Parliament or what was happening in my current shadow portfolio (health) or more broadly the issues of the day.

“Dad remained interested right to the end on issues affecting the state, national and international political scenes.

“He understood times had changed from his time in Parliament, and often would comment on the current political environment especially the challenges of a fast-moving media cycle and a world where social media had huge influence on the electorate.

“Dad was amazing right to the end.

“We all adored him and we were so lucky to have him for as long as we did.

“I’m incredibly proud of his legacy and what he contributed in public life and to the community more broadly.”

Wannon MP, Dan Tehan said Digby Crozier was part of the great post-second world war generation.

“He served his country with great distinction in the Navy and our local community as a Member of Parliament,” he said.

“He was a dear friend of my mother, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. He will be sadly missed.”

The funeral of The Hon. Digby Glen Crozier will be held at the Chapel of All Saints, Geelong Grammar School, 50 Biddlecombe Avenue, Corio on Thursday, March 7 at 11.15am.