Ron Best

Ronald Alexander Best (3 October 1949 – 14 October 2020) was an Australian politician and Australian rules footballer. He was a National Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1988 to 2002, representing North Western Province.

Career Best was born in Ivanhoe, Victoria. He was a businessman before entering politics. He was a motel and hotel owner and manager and also owned Golden City Frozen Foods. He was on the board of directors of the Glacier Food Group. He contested the federal seat of Bendigo for the National Party of Australia at the 1987 federal election but was defeated.

In 1988, Best was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for North Western Province. He was the National Party's spokesman for Housing, Construction and Small Business until 1990 and secretary of the Parliamentary National Party from 1992 to 2002. Following the Coalition's defeat in 1999, he was promoted to the front bench as Shadow Minister for Housing. He retired in 2002.

Football Best kicked 1919 goals in country football, mostly in the Bendigo Football League. He topped 100 goals in a season on 13 occasions.

1966: 60 Heidelberg, Diamond Valley Football League 1967: 68 Heidelberg 1968: 106 Golden Square, Bendigo Football League 1969: 137 Golden Square 1970: 107 Golden Square 1971: 111 Golden Square 1972: 79 Charlton, North Central Football League 1973: 108 Sandhurst, Bendigo Football League 1974: 135 Sandhurst 1975: 145 Sandhurst 1976: 108 Sandhurst 1977: 25 Sandhurst 1978: 124 Golden Square 1979: 132 Golden Square 1980: 161 Golden Square 1981: 100 Boort, North Central Football League 1982: 25 Boort 1983: 124 Northern United, Bendigo Football League 1984: 64 Northern United