VALE TERRY JACKSON AM

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Terry Jackson, a Life Member of both the WA Division and the Federal Liberal Party. Terry passed away peacefully on Tuesday, 1 July, aged 85, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in England, Terry immigrated to Australia at the age of 15. He quickly fell in love with his adopted country - drawn to its spirit of opportunity, optimism, and reward for effort. A trained engineer, Terry would go on to build an extraordinary life.

Terry was one of the active Liberals in the Stirling Division who formed the core of Hon Ian Viner’s landmark campaign that won the federal division of Stirling at the 1972 election – the best Liberal result in Australia that year.

Terry was the founder of Sherwood Overseas Co Pty Ltd and played a pioneering role in developing and bringing to market the now-iconic Kreepy Krauly pool cleaner.  It became an Australian success story, exported to the world.  He enjoyed a most happy marriage with Val until her death in 2020. 

Beyond business, Terry was a steadfast and generous supporter of the Liberal Party over many decades. He believed deeply in enterprise, personal responsibility, and giving back to the country that had given him so much.  In the difficult years of the late 1980s he provided the Party with a central headquarters in a West Perth Murray Street building that he proudly named Menzies House.  In doing so he sustained the WA Liberal Party for nearly 30 years until we moved to Parliament Place a decade ago.

Terry will be remembered as a gentle and principled man a devoted father, a loving grandfather, and a lifelong Liberal who embodied the values we hold dear.  In 1993 he was most appropriately awarded one of the first Life Memberships of the WA Division of the Party.  At the 2015 Federal Council of the Liberal Party, he became one of the very few people to become a national Liberal Life Member. 

His contributions to our Party and our country will not be forgotten.  His community philanthropy that included the restoration of the roof of Saint George’s Cathedral with authentic slate tiles, resulted in Membership of the Order of Australia and recognition as a Chevalier of the Order of Saint Lazarus.

On behalf of the Liberal Party, we extend our deepest condolences to his children Victoria, Andrew and Sarah, and to his beloved grandchildren. We take comfort in knowing that Terry is now reunited with his wife Val, and we honour a life well lived. Prepared by Jeremy Buxton