Service
THURSDAY 14TH JUNE 2018. COMMENCING AT 1:30 P.M.
THURSDAY 14TH JUNE 2018. COMMENCING AT 1:30 P.M.
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A funeral service for Mr Edmund Visbord will be held at
David W Bull Pakenham Funeral Home
190 Princes Highway Pakenham
Thursday 14th June 2018 commencing at 1:30 p.m.
A private cremation will follow.
Thank you,
I shall attend.
Sincerely,
Ross Ellis
Eddie was a great boss, and I look back with fond memories of working for him. I am sorry that I cannot get to Melbourne tomorrow and be there at Eddie’s funeral.
Thank you. I owe Ed a lot. I will be there. Best wishes, Alex
I was a recipient of Eddie’s ready hospitality and generosity.
Vale Eddie.
Ed was a kind and generous friend. And an engaging and entertaining boss. Fond memories – I owe him a lot.
We only came to know Ed in recent years but were impressed by his kindness, understanding and good humour. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our deepest condolences to Betty and her family for their loss. Unfortunately we are unable to attend his funeral.
I have known Ed since my first day on arriving in Havelock House in 1964 and saw him sadly on his last day in Canberra. He was always warm and cheerful but never self important.
Lionel Ward
Edmund Marks Wolfe Visbord
Edmund Visbord (we know him as ‘Ed’ or ‘Eddie’) was on the interviewing panel when Geoff applied for a job in Treasury in 1970. Eddie was Assistant Secretary, Fiscal and Monetary Policy Branch, at the time.
Geoff didn’t see much of Eddie when he started in Fiscal Policy Section. He was senior and Geoff was a raw junior ‘newbie’. They had one thing in common: being busy, especially preparing the annual Budget.
We saw more of Eddie when we went to Washington in 1972. He was Minister (Financial) at the Australian Embassy (where Val worked for Peter McLaughlin, George Pooley and Eddie). Geoff was at the IMF.
In that time, we became good friends. This was common amongst members of the ‘Treasury family’. Embassy and IMF life reinforce friendships amongst small Australian communities. Such friendships endure after we all move on to other things. That was certainly the case for Eddie, Val and Geoff.
Our recollections of Eddie from Washington are of a friendly, outgoing person, a happy Embassy office, a superb ability to network with United States ‘movers and shakers’, and some now-legendary incidents and events.
We never saw Eddie angry. If impatient, or just for fun, his main method for disciplining his team was to throw paper clips at them. He was good fun to be around.
In Washington at the time, the Bretton Woods international monetary system was collapsing. President Nixon was enmeshed in ‘Watergate’. Eddie’s wide network of senior United States contacts facilitated reporting back to Australia about what was happening. He was excellent at his job there.
Eddie tended to be associated with memorable events of his own making, too.
An excruciatingly-funny incident occurred during the IMF/World Bank meetings held at the then rabbit warren called the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington. Eddie was leading the entire Australian delegation, including the then Treasurer, the late Sir Billy Snedden, the then Secretary to the Treasury, the late Sir Frederick Wheeler, the then Reserve Bank Governor, the late Sir John (Jock) Phillips, and other senior people, to a meeting with (as we recall) the then United States Secretary of the Treasury (George Schultz).
After much twisting and turning through corridors that would have baffled a modern sat-nav system, Eddie finally reached a door to what he thought was the ante-room in the Schultz suite. He turned to smile at his followers as he opened it. His followers were first to see it was a broom closet. Fred Wheeler turned white. Snedden collapsed in laughter. This Fawlty Towers episode became another Eddie legend: ‘The broom closet incident’. Eddie himself used to laugh about it when the matter came up subsequently.
One of the most impressive events created by Eddie during our time in Washington was a New Year’s Eve party, held at his new house in Maryland. This had previously been owned by H.R.Haldeman of ‘Watergate’ fame. Naturally, Australians dubbed it ‘Haldeman’s Hideaway’. The party is now a blur for us. But one person stood out – literally. Paul Volcker was then under secretary of the Treasury for international monetary affairs. He came to Eddie’s party, and stayed all night. He came dressed in a white matador costume, with black matador’s hat, and a white cape with red lining. At six feet seven inches, you couldn’t miss him! This was just another testament to Eddie’s excellent networking abilities.
We saw less of Eddie after we returned to Australia, but sporadic contacts kept the friendship going. Eddie was a great cook and we had occasional meals together with him.
Most recently, Geoff used to catch up with Eddie and Betty at the gym in Deakin, and have a coffee and a chat afterwards. But Eddie’s health quite rapidly deteriorated, and his last couple of years were increasingly tough for him.
Over the nearly 48 years we’ve counted Eddie as a good friend, we prefer to remember the good times with him. On our calculation, these span a period of over 95% of that time.
Vale Eddie.
Val & Geoff Carmody
I knew Ed well from the time that I was Prime Miinister Hawke’s Chief of Staff and Ed was the senior economic adviser in the Prime Minister’s Department.We also played a little tennis together.
Ed was unfailingly professional,reliable,courteous and good humoured.He was respected by Hawke and other politicians,by his peers and by those who worked with him.He was a very decent man who made an important contribution to public policy in Australia.It was my pleasure to know and work with him.
Graham Evans
With good memories of Ed – the best of company, and respected by all who knew him.
Eddie was a great boss and colleague at PM&C. I remember his strong, and successful, commitment to economic reform but also his humour and collegiality. I also recall with fondness his hospitality when in Paris, and when playing bridge at his home in Canberra. I’m sorry I am committed out of Melbourne on Thursday and will have to miss the service.
I was fortunate to work in PM&C with Eddie in the late 1970s, as one of the young Turks encouraged by Eddie and his colleagues.
They were a formidable team in PM&C at that time, including Ian Castles, Mike Codd, Tony Ayers, Harvey Jakka amongst others, along with Eddie. Eddie’s own contribution in the 1970s and 1980s to economic reform cannot be overstated, particularly with regard to the exchange rate, international trade and micro-economic reform.
Eddie was also very supportive of staff, with no concerns for hierarchies, enjoying the intellectual banter, throwing paper clips at anyone talking nonsense (or not listening to him). It was a very happy team that also engaged with outside experts like Fred Gruen.
He went on to become a departmental secretary in a cohort that has not since been matched in terms of intellectual quality.
I will not forget his friendship and support, nor his great contribution.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Ed’s death. He was a mentor to me, and a very avuncular one, as I made my way in Canberra – as he was for not a few others. I offer my deepest sympathy to his loved ones and closest friends. I would be there with you but am in London. … Vince FitzGerald
I remember one special occasion when Ed took the initiative to invite me for lunch while Robert was on a trip overseas.
He came in his large limousine and picked me up at my parents’house to a very elegant restaurant, somewhere in Maryland.
I was dressed very simply, with tongs in feet!
Not a slightest remark from him with regard to the place we were heading.
I spent a delightful afternoon with him devising about the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness.
I keep of him a memory of a gentle, modest and very understanding gentleman.
Perlette Toledano-Ley
I really owe Ed my entire career. He came to Melbourne University in 1967 and sold me an amazing deal: a generous stipend to complete my B. Comm Hons. in exchange for a job with the Treasury, Canberra.
We saw more of each other socially later on in Washington DC, and I remember the broom cupboard story well.
Ed was a generous and unassuming host. I used to wonder if he was interested in women, but he took a distinct liking for Perlette.
A very decent bloke. A real Mensch!
I first met Eddie when I was interviewed for the FAS Industry, Infrastructure and Trade Division in 1985. Eddie and I think four others posed numerous questions on Australian public policy issues for nearly an hour. I could not provide any answers to any question as I had never worked in Canberra and had been overseas for 9 years. I left the interview quite devastated. Eddie patted me on the back and said “don’t worry, it will be OK” and it was. I was appointed. Eddie had taken Ross Garnaut’s word for my talents and that was it. I have always used this recruitment method (go on references from trusted sources, not interviews) and it has never let me down.
One story I loved from Eddie was when he was very junior in Treasury. He had, I think, prematurely released a communique to the press and PM Menzies was livid and let Ed know it in a personal and powerful way. A very despondent young Ed Visbord was told by a more senior colleague that he was not to worry at all. Getting yelled at by the PM was unfortunate but not career threatening. He need only be concerned if he ever upset the Treasury Secretary to that extent. Oh those were the days!
I owe Ed a lot. Not just for getting me to Canberra, but for his mentoring, kindness and friendship.
Australia owes Ed so much. A lifetime of public service is one thing, but his passion, clarity of thought, and flexibility to get to where things needed to be all gave Australia a lot. Australia would not be as well placed without him.
Eddie was a kind and lovely person who I shall miss a great deal. I will always remember him as a generous man and a giant who along with others guided our nation so well.
Rod Sims
Ed was both a mentor and a friend whom I saw regularly through the years. I remember his regular visits when I was in hospital in the USA paralysed with guillian barre at the start of the seventies.
Rest in peace.
I had the pleasure and satisfaction of working for Ed Visbord in the late 1970s. I had moved sideways into a position in economics in the PMs department and needed to build experience and confidence. Ed made that transition comfortable and a positive experience. He gave me strong support and had the confidence to appoint me to a challenging position which accelerated my career.
This displayed a valued characteristic of Ed – to foster younger staff and to eke the best out of them. Despite the pressures of the positions he held in PM&C, he rarely displayed that pressure in his dealings with staff. To work for him was enjoyable as well as stimulating.
I’ll miss his engaging smile and friendly demeanour.
David Rosalky
I am sorry I am not able to get to the service tomorrow for my friend and colleague Ed Visbord.
My thoughts are with you.
Harvey Jacka
I missed out on the benefit of working for Eddie but he was considerate and generous to us young Treasury officers in Washington many years ago and I afterwards looked up to him as a wise, influential and modest public servant.
Rest In Peace Eddie. You mentored many careers and were a good friend to so many of your junior colleagues. There are many fond memories and you will be sadly missed by all. Anthea Tinney
Greetings from Mexico, which sadly means that Helen and I cannot attend the Service for Eddie. Also my previous longish comment somehow got deleted, so I now only have time to say how much I valued Eddie’s friendship. It got off to a rocky start on the Industry Commission’s Availability of Capital inquiry, during which our vigorous disagreements on a range of matters, with John Spasojevic as mediator, apparently became the stuff of folklore. But we gradually came to terms with each other and the report itself was the better for those tussles.
I will always retain fond memories of ‘travels with Eddie’ on that Inquiry and, in the years that followed, our long lunches at Chairman and Yip. Eddie’s anecdotes about his time with ‘Malcolm’ (the other one) were a particular treat, no matter how often repeated!
We will miss you Eddie.
Gary Banks
It is with great sadness that I and my family go today to attend Eddie’s funeral. Eddie was ‘Uncle Eddie’ to Paul’s and my sons Joe and Dan, godfather to Daniel, and a greatly loved friend who spent Christmases and Easters with my family, for some time. He was a good friend to Paul, and a great support to me over many years. He was greatly loved. As many have said, also, his contribution to the success of the Australian economy and public policy during the Fraser and Hawke-Keating years cannot be underestimated. He was a kind and generous man. Condolences are sent to his wife and family and also to his many friends. Go with God, Eddie. ………………margaret
I will attend. My memories of Ed are fond and happy. Like Alex, I owe him a lot – in my case for a couple of major career changes in Canberra during the second half of the 1980’s and for his council and friendship. Another memory is him as a charming host to a never ending stream of visitors to Paris while he was the Australian Ambassador to the OECD, It seemed every time I knocked on his door to stay for a few nights I was greeted by the latest departing guest – usually another Canberra insider. He was a good man and I liked him very much.
“As a senior public servant, Eddie Visbord played a central role in the planning and implementation of Australia’s economic and industry reforms during the Hawke Government. . His professionalism was always evident, as was his amiable personality. He was a respected and loyal colleague within PM&C. My sincere condolences to his family.” Bob Hawke
I was very sorry to hear of Eddie’s passing. My sincere condolences to his family. He was an outstanding professional and will be sadly missed.
Beatrice and I have been privileged to know Ed Visbord over 50 years. He was always cheerful and a pleasure to be with.
Professionally, Ed was perceptive and clear thinking, and where warranted bold in advocacy of good policy in the interests of our country.
The Service yesterday was comforting for us in filling out the last stanza of his life.
Ed was very kind to Beatrice and me. As Rod Sims has said, we have lost one of the best.
Many others have commented on the enormous contribution Ed made to public policy in Australia over many decades. He exemplified the very best characteristics of a public servant. He worked equally for Governments from both sides of politics, his advice was always clear, fearless and shaped by the national interest, but with an eye to what was achievable. He was a mentor to many, both women and men. Above all though he was a very decent person, considerate and generous in every way. The range of comments here show how many lives he touched and enhanced. We are all saddened by his passing and for Gillian, myself and Michael and Tom we have lost a llifelong friend.
Thank you Eddie for your friendship when I came to Canberra in early 1964 to work for the ABS in West Block. You were a legend in Havelock House, particularly for your most enjoyable cocktail parties. As others have said, you were always kind, courteous and thoughtful and above all, a loyal and generous friend. You had a great sense of humour and there was much laughter! I have so many very happy memories of you and am very sad that you are no longer with us.
Eddie was a major contributor to economic reform and a true professional. Fiona and I shall miss our regular chats at the gym with Eddie.
I am sorry to have only just come across this. My sincere condolences on behalf of the family of Ian Castles (d.2010). Ed was very dear to the five Castles children to the extent that we referred to him as “Uncle Ed”. He always brought great cheer with him when he visited. We all thought he was pretty dashing – my memory is he drove a green TR7 Triumph (you can correct me if I’m wrong). I know how genuinely fond Dad was of him, and Dad has many colleagues but fewer he clearly loved as friends. My sympathies in your loss and hope you gave him a fitting send off.
Warm regards, Richard Castles
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