Andren leaves lasting legacy

Mr Andren, 61, had originally intended to cap his long parliamentary career with a run for the Senate, but the diagnosis of cancer curtailed that plan only three months ago, causing him to opt for retirement instead.

Ironically, one of his last campaigns had been involvement in the public campaign to establish a radiotherapy facility in the region.

Since announcing that he had cancer, Mr Andren had stepped back from his usual high profile role and had been undergoing intensive medical treatment in Perth.

It is understood his condition had deteriorated rapidly last week and his death had been expected imminently by his family.

Mr Andren leaves behind a legacy of being nationally known, an incredible effort for an Independent from country New South Wales.

He had stepped aside from a longstanding career as a local television newsreader to successfully run for politics in 1996.

Orange Mayor John Davis yesterday said Mr Andren had the ability to transfer an image of genuineness from the media industry to the political arena.

“He was seen as having integrity and courage on issues, and there is no doubt about his sincerity: he was absolutely genuine,” Cr Davis said.

“All of those characteristics flowed across from his TV image and were fixed in people's minds.”

Mr Andren's earliest campaign issues were federal funding to fix road blackspots and opposing privatisation of Telstra.

In the following 11 years, he would move on to other topics such as humanitarian issues and a proposed Bill of Rights to ensure democratic protection for citizens, but Telstra ownership is still raging as an issue today.

After he was first elected to the House of Representatives in Federal Parliament, Mr Andren achieved the remarkable feat of increasing his primary vote at each successive election.

Marj Bollinger, who had worked for each of his campaigns, yesterday said his secret to increasing his vote was simple.

“Peter was an outstanding human being, in the stances that he took and the efforts he made for constituents,” Mrs Bollinger said.

“There was a level of trust, which grew, because he simply helped more and more people.”

Mr Andren's unfulfilled Senate dream at the time of his death had been intended as a response in the wake of vast electoral boundary changes that were widely seen by the public as an attempt by the major parties to prevent him from having the opportunity of a fifth term in the House of Representatives.

Independent candidate for Calare Gavin Priestley yesterday said he had no doubt Mr Andren would have won a seat in the Senate had not cancer unexpectedly emerged.

“His influence extended beyond his electorate due to his unfailing determination to uphold a robust democracy in Australia,” Mr Priestley said.