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VALE - The Hon James H Kennan It is with great sadness that I have learnt of Jim Kennan's recent death as a result of his struggle with cancer. I had the great pleasure of working for Jim in 1992 when he was Deputy Leader of the Opposition (later becoming Leader for a brief period prior to his departure from State Politics). In 1993 after leaving politics Jim set up The Australia India Company and I went to work for him to assist his vision for facilitating joint ventures and technology transfers between SMEs in Australia and India. Jim with his ever present enthusiasm and good humour embraced the potential of India with vision and saw it as a future trading partner of real significance to Australia. We had a lot of fun in those early days and Jim was shortly appointed by the Howard Government to head up the Australia India Council. I will always have fond memories of Jim Kennan as a man of depth, character, intelligence and great wit. His laugh was his calling card and his zest for life infectious. In the early years of the Kennett Government, Jim knew that we had a formidable task in the long days of Opposition that confronted the State ALP after the Cain-Kirner years. But with grace and balance Jim worked hard and always had great respect for the Premier, given that they went to the same school and had mutual respect as seasoned political sparring partners. I will always remember the day that Jim asked me to help him out with some makeup so that when he gave a 'doorstop' press conference he would not look to pale or wan. I went down to DJs and bought a light tan pancake base and shortly after delivering it to the Leader's office, Jim popped his head around the corner of my office with his tell tale laugh and asked me how he looked. Jim you will be sadly missed by all. It was a pleasure to have known you and to have shared some of your time in the rough and tumble of politics as well your ventures into the private sector. Vale.