State Memorial Service for The Honourable Dr Race Mathews

A State Memorial Service to celebrate the life of The Honourable Dr Race Mathews was held on Friday, 23 May at The Leaper Family Pavilion, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Race Mathews lived a rich and fulfilling life as a family man, politician who served in all three levels of government (local, state and federal), academic, author, social reformer, and champion of the arts.

Born in Melbourne in 1935, Race worked as a speech therapist and a teacher before settling on a career in politics.

He joined the Victorian Labor Party in 1956 and went on to serve as Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Community Services.

Race left his biggest political mark as Principal Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam where he helped shape policies on education and healthcare, including the early design for what would later become Medicare.

Throughout his life, Race upheld strong personal values. He believed in government and democracy, in equality and kindness.

As a Minister, Race led reforms that strengthened child protection, modernised Victoria Police, tightened gun laws, and improved emergency response policies following Ash Wednesday.

Race was dedicated to making the arts more accessible. He served on the boards of the Melbourne Recital Centre and Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), and helped establish the Arts Centre and the Melbourne Writers’ Festival.

Memorial donations

In lieu of flowers, tributes can be made in the form of donations to Alzheimer’s Research Australia or The Australian Fabian Society.