VALE Gordon Lewis AM
August 31 2022
The Office of the Road Safety Camera Commissioner is sad to advise of the passing of the inaugural Road Safety Camera Commissioner, His Honour Gordon Lewis AM, on 22 August 2022 at the age of 88 years. Gordon served as the Road Safety Camera Commissioner from February 2012 to February 2016.
Gordon had an extensive career in law: 16 years as a solicitor, 11 years as the Executive Director of the Law Institute of Victoria, a year as the Victorian Commissioner for Corporate Affairs, and three years as the Victorian Government Solicitor. He was then appointed to the County Court of Victoria where he presided with distinction for almost 14 years, primarily adjudicating over WorkCover matters.
Following his retirement from the County Court of Victoria in 2004, Gordon continued to broaden his horizons by utilising his strong legal acumen to improve governance, assurance, and integrity. In 2008, he led a review into Victoria's racing industry, culminating in the creation of the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner role. Gordon also served as Cricket Australia’s Senior Code of Conduct Advisor.
In 2012, Gordon was appointed as Victoria’s first Road Safety Camera Commissioner with the aim to increase the integrity measures of the road safety camera system. During his four years in the role, Gordon helped improve the transparency, accuracy, and reliability of road safety cameras. He successfully campaigned to allow drivers access to their infringement images online; simplified the readability of infringement notices; and spent many hours on community engagement which led to some investigations being conducted. Some of his notable investigations included the road safety camera systems on EastLink; infringements issued as a result of incorrectly programmed traffic lights; enforcement in reduced speed limits along freeways; and road safety cameras enforcing within 40 km/h speed limit zones. Gordon was also a tireless advocate about the positive role road safety cameras play in improving driver behaviour.
The staff at the Office of the Road Safety Camera Commissioner would like to acknowledge Gordon for his many years of public service and leadership, especially in establishing the foundations, direction, and principles of the Office, which are followed to this day.
Gordon is remembered fondly for applying the principles of fairness and humanity in his work and his life, whether it was within a court of law, on a cricket field, or on Victoria’s roads. He was never one to shy away from his fervent support of the Geelong Cats AFL team and he loved watching and playing cricket. Gordon was a strenuous campaigner for improving the welfare and treatment of retired greyhounds and advocated for their adoption as pets.
Gordon is survived by his wife of 40 years, Rhonda; his three children, David, Richard, and Ginny; and their families.