About Derek Amos

The great Derek Amos has been a stalwart of the Gippsland community and regional Victoria for almost sixty years  He trained and worked as a painter and decorator before becoming, (before an initial election defeat in the seat of South Gippsland) narrowly won for Labor the seat of Morewell and hence became a Member of the Victorian State Parliament in complete contrast to a hostile anti-Labor. feeling of the public accross Victoria and a dominant  Sir Henry Boltie Liberal Government.

He consolidated the seat further for Labor in three election victories from 1970-1981 following his first win. He  was quickly elevated to Shadow Ministry holding many portfolios notably minerals, water and energy to name just a few. Hence he has been viewed within and outside of politics as a Labor legend in his own right.

After retiring from parliament he was elected as a local government Councillor in the Latrobe Valley for a number of years.

He has devoted most of his life to people with mental illness which is his passion and has advocated for them through working for thirty years as a voluntary mental health advocate in Gippsland and advocating in major court trials and at Royal Commission hearings.

He has also worked as a Justice of the Peace for almost forty years and for these and his many other achievements was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) and in 2019  he was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) .

Derek has changed the lives of many people through his life time of commitment to helping others and never holding back on what he believes to be the right thing to do. 

As the Name Sake and Patron of the Institute he automatically serves on the Board of Directors.