John Tonkin
Encyclopedia
John Trezise Tonkin AC (2 February 190220 October 1995), popularly known as "Honest John", was the 20th Premier of Western Australia
(Australian Labor Party
), taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal
Sir David Brand
.
Tonkin served only a single term in government, one of the few in Australian or Western Australian State governance, as Labor was ousted in the 1974 election
by the Liberal Party
under Sir Charles Court
, despite a modest swing to the government in the metropolitan area. He stayed on after the election as State parliamentary leader of the ALP until his retirement in 1976, when Colin Jamieson
succeeded him as Labor leader.
After his first wife and daughter died of cancer, Tonkin crusaded for many years for radio-wave therapy treatments for cancer
sufferers; and he set up a treatment clinic run by cancer surgeon Dr John Holt in the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
. At the time he became Premier and married his second wife in the early 1970s, he was already renowned for his tireless support of the Tronado
anti-cancer machine.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1977, John Tonkin was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
.
The stage 4 completion of the Beechboro-Gosnells Highway in 1985 saw the highway renamed as Tonkin Highway
, in honour of the former Western Australian premier.
Tonkin Bridge was also named after John Tonkin shortly after he died at age 93.
Tonkin, along with Hawke, Brand and Scadden, was a Cornish Australian
.
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
(Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
), taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Sir David Brand
David Brand
Sir David Brand KCMG was the 19th and longest serving Premier of Western Australia and a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1945 to 1975.-Early life:...
.
Tonkin served only a single term in government, one of the few in Australian or Western Australian State governance, as Labor was ousted in the 1974 election
Western Australian state election, 1974
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
by the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
under Sir Charles Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
, despite a modest swing to the government in the metropolitan area. He stayed on after the election as State parliamentary leader of the ALP until his retirement in 1976, when Colin Jamieson
Colin Jamieson
Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition...
succeeded him as Labor leader.
After his first wife and daughter died of cancer, Tonkin crusaded for many years for radio-wave therapy treatments for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
sufferers; and he set up a treatment clinic run by cancer surgeon Dr John Holt in the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is one of Australia's leading teaching hospitals, and is located in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
. At the time he became Premier and married his second wife in the early 1970s, he was already renowned for his tireless support of the Tronado
Tronado Machine
The Tronado Machine was a device which employed ultra high frequency or microwave radiation as a hyperthermia therapy for cancer; however, tests have failed to back its treatment claims...
anti-cancer machine.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1977, John Tonkin was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
The stage 4 completion of the Beechboro-Gosnells Highway in 1985 saw the highway renamed as Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway, at , is a limited access dual carriageway in Perth, Western Australia, connecting Reid Highway in the north with Thomas Road in the south. Mostly a 4 lane highway, some sections of the highway are to a 4 to 6 lane freeway standard; the remainder of the highway has been designed to...
, in honour of the former Western Australian premier.
Tonkin Bridge was also named after John Tonkin shortly after he died at age 93.
Tonkin, along with Hawke, Brand and Scadden, was a Cornish Australian
Cornish Australian
Cornish Australians are citizens of Australia whose ancestry originates in Cornwall, United Kingdom, one of the six Celtic Nations. They form part of the worldwide Cornish diaspora which also includes large numbers of people in the US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and many Latin...
.