Former MP Frank Sheehan remembered by peers as strong advocate for Ballarat

Mr Sheehan served the Ballarat community in parliament as Member for Ballarat South from 1982 to 1992 and was an avid advocate for the city.

Mr Sheehan was unsuccessful in being elected to the seat three times before 1982, during which he was helped on the campaign trail by Steve Bracks, who would later become premier.

Mr Bracks said Mr Sheehan was the first person he campaigned for after joining the Labor Party in 1974 and also ran alongside him for Ballarat North.

"We worked closely together, we campaigned together so it's a long association with someone who's always stood up for Ballarat, always been a key contributor to trying to make Ballarat a better place," he said.

"Standing up for the community in a whole range of issues, whether it was getting better infrastructure, better facilities, supporting key community groups and organisations, making sure we got our fair share in Ballarat of whatever was going was something I learnt from him.

"One of the key things I learnt from Frank was it doesn't matter how small an issue is, how insignificant it might seem to you, if someone is concerned about it, it's probably the most important thing in their lives and you should treat and act as if that is the case."

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After his seat was abolished and became Ballarat East in 1992, Mr Sheehan contested the seat in 1996, losing by just 12 votes.

Opposition leader at the time, and later premier, John Brumby said any time he thought of Ballarat, Mr Sheehan immediately sprang to mind.

"He was optimistic, kind, generous and big-hearted. He was an outstanding local member for 10 years until 1992 when his seat was abolished," he said.

"During the period that we're in government from 99 to 2010, most times I visited Ballarat as a minister or then as premier, Frank would be there. He was very involved in the local community. He was very involved in community groups.

"He was always available for constituents too. It's always the test of a good MP is if they're there and they actually get down and work hard and help local constituents and Frank always did that."

Former health minister Caroline Hogg, who served in parliament alongside Mr Sheehan from 1982 until his departure, remembered Mr Sheehan for his advocacy which she said was unbelievable and 'so detailed and so enthusiastic'.

"I remember just his friendship and his friendliness, he was very popular and I remember good advice that he gave me when I was a minister too when I was asking for his opinion. He was just a very all-round terrific MP and terrific bloke," she said.

"When you're a minister, you have to work with a whole lot of local members. Frank would have been one of the easiest to work with and one of the most demanding to work with in some ways, he wanted action on issues and if we could manage it he usually got it."

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