Fed: Former Dems senator says Chipp 'ran his life by love'

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
Fed: Former Dems senator says Chipp 'ran his life by love'

CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - Australian Democrats founder Don Chipp was a humble man who
championed the underdog, former senator Vicki Bourne said today.

Ms Bourne was heavily involved in the founding of the Democrats in the late 1970s with
Mr Chipp, who died yesterday aged 81 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

"He used to say that he ran his life by love and I think that's true," Ms Bourne told ABC Radio.

"He was a humble person.

"I remember before every leadership ballot, I'd get a phone call when I was working
for (former deputy leader of the Democrats) Colin Mason and Don would say `do you think
I'll go alright' and of course he would, he was always going to be re-elected leader."

Family and the underdog where the two passions of Mr Chipp's life, Ms Bourne said.

"His family is terribly, terribly important to him and looking after everybody he could,
looking after little people who couldn't look after themselves," she said.

"Don has always been the heart and soul of the party."

Conscience was at the heart of the Democrats and that was the main factor that drew
Ms Bourne to the party.

"People really wanted to find a party where they thought that the members of parliament
could actually work by their consciences all of the time."

AAP pv/jlw/

KEYWORD: CHIPP BOURNE

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