LEADER: Gavin Mooney was passionate about social justice. Picture: RICHARD JUPE
GAVIN Mooney moved to Tasmania from Western Australia looking for the good life, and was in no doubt that he had found it.
The nation's leading health economist and his partner, academic Dr Del Weston, were captivated by the beauty and tranquillity of the expansive home they bought in the hamlet of Mountain River, about 30 minutes' drive south of Hobart.
The broad deck looks out on the rugged peaks across the scattered homes and the steep, timbered ridges rising up to Collins Bonnet.
The couple had big plans. Both wanted to be involved in social justice as they had in Western Australia, where Prof Mooney had helped found the WA Social Justice Network.
They wanted to expand their vegetable garden and their small flock of chickens and enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle.
Prof Mooney, a passionate and energetic advocate for those less well-off, regularly contributed the benefit of his experience in health economics to the Mercury's coverage of health issues.
In August he launched the Social Determinants of Health Advocacy Network and was involved in facilitating "citizens' juries" as a more democratic way for people to participate in setting priorities for the heath systems.
Dr Weston did her PhD at Curtin University in WA.
She had been a visiting scholar at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban, South Africa, and an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Tasmania in the School of Geography and Environmental Science.
Tony Reidy from TasCOSS said Prof Mooney had been a driving force behind the organisation's submission to the State Government this year.
"We're really quite devastated. Gavin Mooney was making an enormous contribution to social justice in Tasmania," he said after hearing of the couple's brutal murder yesterday.
"He was a real leader in his field. His death is an enormous tragedy for the state."
Miriam Herzfeld set up the Social Determinants of Health Advocacy Network with Prof Mooney this year.
She said he and Dr Weston were passionate, caring and had worked to make a contribution from the moment they arrived in their new home.
"He was passionate about creating a more equal society and giving everybody the opportunity to lead a healthy and good-quality life," she said.
"Gavin and Del had been in Tasmania for a short period of time but they'd made an enormous impact."
UTAS Provost David Rich said the news had shocked and saddened the staff of the Menzies Research Institute, where Prof Mooney held a voluntary position.
"The academic community is deeply saddened by this news," Prof Rich said.
Before moving to Tasmania Prof Mooney had been Director of the Social and Public Health Economics Research Group and Professor of Health Economics at Curtin University in Perth.
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