JACK SVENDSEN
ACTIVIST, VOLUNTEER, ENGINEER
23-10-1929 19-10-2012
By INGRID SVENDSEN
AN ASIO file six centimetres thick attests to Jack Svendsen's description of himself as "an activist first and foremost".
Born on the eve of the Great Depression and raised around Pascoe Vale, Jack's childhood was great fun - with skinny-dipping in the creeks and shanghai fights - but his family was poor, particularly after his father Fred died during war service in 1942.
There were numerous evictions, one just days after his mother Mae suffered a miscarriage. Jack recalls riding his tricycle as Mae pushed his younger brothers in the pram five kilometres to the council depot for a "susso" handout of vegetables.
These experiences shaped Jack's values, commitment to social justice and political beliefs. Studying engineering at the University of Melbourne in the 1950s, he became engrossed in student politics: the ALP Club, the Labour Club, the university branch of the Communist Party and the Eureka Youth League (the "Young Communists").
He went to the movement's country base, Camp Eureka at Yarra Junction, with his brothers Ken and Laurie. There he met the camp nurse, Nora Deery, who he later married and with whom he had three daughters, Kirsten, Ingrid and Helga.
In an era of Cold War paranoia, his political associations were of interest to ASIO, with ramifications beyond student life. In his final year of university Jack worked part-time with PMG Research Laboratories. He always suspected politics cost him a permanent position. Recently, Helga obtained his ASIO file, which confirms that Jack was deemed a security risk and unfit for government employment.
The thick, heavily redacted file has notes and photos of public and private activities. ASIO operatives infiltrated even small meetings held in family and friends' homes to discuss such seditious matters as world peace.
Jack qualified as an electrical engineer and in the 1970s he
and Nora (Natasha) moved to Diamond Creek. Jack built an Alistair Knox-designed mud-brick house and carved a native garden from a tough bush block.
He became active in community life the progress association, organisation of the town fair,
a community school, a food
co-operative, the local Country
Fire Authority and school council.
Jack and Natasha joined local parents in lobbying for a new primary school, and for girls to attend the town's secondary school, a tech.
He was also involved in local politics and worked on the federal election campaigns of friends David McKenzie, Peter Staples and Pete Steedman.
After his retirement in the 1990s, Jack moved back to Pascoe Vale and joined environment group Friends of the Merri Creek, volunteering in the office and attending planting days.
He participated in a planting three days before the stroke that took his life just a few days short of his 83rd birthday.
Jack also became a passionate bushwalker. CAEX Bushwalking Club friends recall someone who liked to chat, laugh and share a glass of wine, and who used his precise engineer's brain to help map walks.
Jack will be remembered as a generous and supportive man, someone who inspired and encouraged social justice and political and community activism. He is survived by his three daughters, their mother Natasha and a grandson, Dane.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Who was Jack Svendsen and why is he described as a community activist and engineer?
Jack Svendsen (23 October 1929 – 19 October 2012) was an electrical engineer who was best known as an activist, volunteer and community organiser. The article describes his lifelong commitment to social justice, student and local politics, and hands‑on community involvement—from organising town fairs and school campaigns to volunteering with environmental group Friends of the Merri Creek.
How did Jack Svendsen’s early life and background shape his political beliefs and activism?
The article says Jack grew up poor after his father died in war service, experienced evictions and relied on welfare handouts as a child. Those experiences helped shape his values and commitment to social justice, which led him to active participation in student politics and organisations such as the ALP Club, Labour Club and the Eureka Youth League.
What does the article say about ASIO surveillance and the impact on Jack Svendsen’s career?
According to the article, Jack had a thick, heavily redacted ASIO file from the Cold War era. The file shows he was deemed a security risk and unfit for government employment. Jack suspected—and the ASIO records confirm—that his political associations affected his prospects for a permanent position at PMG Research Laboratories.
Which community and volunteer activities did Jack Svendsen participate in that everyday investors might recognise as civic engagement?
The article lists many forms of civic engagement: he was active in his local progress association, helped run the town fair, helped establish a community school and food co‑operative, served on the school council, worked with the Country Fire Authority, volunteered for Friends of the Merri Creek (including office work and planting days), and supported local political campaigns.
What transferable skills from Jack’s engineering and volunteer work are highlighted in the article?
The article highlights Jack’s ‘precise engineer’s brain’—he applied technical skills to help map bushwalks—and his long record of organising community projects and campaigns. These examples demonstrate technical competence, project organisation and community leadership that are often valued in volunteer groups, nonprofits and leadership roles.
How did Jack contribute to environmental and conservation efforts later in life?
After retiring, Jack moved back to Pascoe Vale and joined Friends of the Merri Creek. He volunteered in the group’s office, regularly attended planting days and participated in a planting event just three days before the stroke that led to his death.
What does Jack Svendsen’s story illustrate about the potential personal costs of political activism?
The article illustrates that political activism can have personal and professional consequences. In Jack’s case, his student and political associations during a period of Cold War paranoia were recorded by ASIO and the files indicate he was considered a security risk—an outcome the article links to lost government employment opportunities.
What legacy did Jack Svendsen leave for his family and local community?
The article says Jack will be remembered as generous, supportive and inspiring in social justice and community activism. He is survived by his three daughters, their mother Natasha, and a grandson. His long involvement in local campaigns, environmental volunteering and bushwalking left a clear imprint on his community.
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