About 200 Canberrans gathered early in the New Year to celebrate the life of Vin (Vincent) Kane who died after a short illness, the Canberra Times reports.
Vin's is a common story for those of his age who came to Canberra as part of the public service community.
When Vin died, some of his friends made a back of the envelope calculation that about 20 Canberrans will need to step up to the plate to cover Vin's volunteer work.
He had a range of positions as he climbed the ladder at the NCDC, but in 1972 was appointed assistant secretary in the Department of Urban and Regional Development.
In 1982, Vin was appointed as the Australian delegate (and vice-chair) of the OECD Committee on Information Computers and Communications Policy. By this stage he was a first assistant secretary.
Coinciding with his public service, his community service was a key component of his life.
In 1975, the Catholic parish priest in Braddon - Father Tom Wright - asked him to take on board the care of several refugee families from eastern Europe and Vietnam.
Together with the help of two other parishioners and support from the Braddon parish community, seven families were successfully resettled.
Vin was a long-standing member of the St Patrick's Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies). He served Vinnies for more than 30 years - most of that time as president.
Importantly, he had a community service and social justice commitment that will be hard to fill. He was volunteering until about four weeks before his death, just shy of his 93rd birthday.
When Vin died, some of his friends made a back of the envelope calculation that about 20 Canberrans will need to step up to the plate to cover Vin's volunteer work.
Patricia died in 2016. Vin is survived by his seven children (Margaret, Bernard, Cecily, Timothy, Marcia, Michele and Jacki), 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
FULL STORY
Vin Kane: A life dedicated to community service and social justice (Canberra Times)
PHOTO
Vin Kane had a community service and social justice commitment that will be hard to fill. Picture by Jamila Toderas
