“Les was a great man, larger than life ... We will continue his work in helping young people to a brighter future and will ensure that his passing will not be the end of his legacy.”

Raised in Braybrook, Twentyman was the eldest of five. His parents ran a fruit shop.

A talented footballer, he would spend weekends with his grandmother watching Williamstown in the old VFA league. He was chased by Footscray when he was 15, after winning the best and fairest and goal-kicking at Albion.

Sport remained a central facet of his life. Twentyman became a physical education teacher before moving to social work.

A staunch supporter of the Western Bulldogs, Twentyman played a critical role on the AFL club’s Save the Dogs committee to help rescue the club from its planned merger with Fitzroy in 1989.

“Les dedicated his life to helping others and his tireless work with young Victorians as a teacher, youth worker and ultimately through his foundation has made an indelible difference and changed countless lives for the better,” a spokesperson for the Western Bulldogs said.

Former Western Bulldogs CEO and lawyer Peter Gordon, who spearheaded the campaign to stop the Fitzroy merger alongside Twentyman, said the beloved social worker had left behind an enduring legacy.

When it came to “saving” Footscray, Gordon said the social worker had been fearless when facing off against the VFL and the government – and was ultimately the reason why the Bulldogs exist today.

But his relationship with Twentyman was forged much earlier, on some of the roughest streets in Braybrook. Back then, Twentyman was known as ‘Leslie Jack’, to differentiate himself from his father who carried the same name.

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Gordon’s mother was Twentyman’s godmother, and she lived with the social worker’s family in their home on Myamyn Street in Braybrook before getting married.

“The Twentyman family is really proud of him. For all that we mourn his loss, we’re proud of the contribution he’s made to Victoria, but in particular to the west and young people in the west,” he said.

“He came from really tough and humble roots himself, in one of the poorest areas of Braybrook. To have forged the life and made the contribution that he did from that background is meaningful.

“There are countless people today who are leading successful lives who came out of those western suburbs as really troubled youth, and were set back on the straight and narrow through programs that Les inspired.”

Federal government minister Bill Shorten, whose seat of Maribyrnong is in Melbourne’s inner west, said he spoke to Twentyman this week.

“Thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, colleagues and all the people he helped along his road less travelled,” Shorten said, calling Twentyman “one of Melbourne’s big characters”.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the 76-year-old had spent his entire life “uplifting and protecting” the communities which he lived in.

“Across our state today, there are those who owe their future, and some their lives, to the cause he championed, and the compassion he showed,” she said.

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said Twentyman had made an enormous contribution to improving outcomes for Melbourne’s most vulnerable.

“A fierce advocate on social justice issues, thousands of young and at-risk Victorians had their lives changed for the better due to the tireless efforts of Les and the foundation he established,” he said.

Twentyman had multiple tilts at politics, unsuccessfully standing as an independent for the Victorian parliament’s upper house in 1992 and 1996.

Contesting the 2008 Kororoit byelection, he polled 40.6 per cent on a two-party preferred basis but lost to former Labor MP Marlene Kairouz.

In 2009, Twentyman had complications during gastric band surgery and was placed in an induced coma.

He told The Age he was “two hours away from dying” but an experimental drug helped him pull through. He was in intensive care for two months.

Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he was deeply saddened by the death and that Twentyman’s early intervention tactics “saved lives”.

“During my time in the portfolios of youth justice, crime prevention and education he was always helpful, reminding me to see the child first and focus on the causes of crime,” he said.

Twentyman was Victorian of the Year in 2006 and awarded an Order of Australia in 1994 for his work.

Since launching in 1989, the foundation’s back to school program has helped more than 17,000 children with essential school supplies.

Victorian Minister for Youth Natalie Suleyman called the 76-year-old a “tireless campaigner” for the city’s young people.

“Les believed that no matter your circumstances, background or gender – everyone deserves an equal opportunity in life,” she said.