Keith Wilson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Keith Cameron Wilson (3 September 1900 – 28 September 1987) was a lawyer and Australia
n politician, sitting in both houses of federal parliament.
Born 3 September 1900 in Adelaide
, he attended St Peter's Collegiate School, Adelaide, and studied law at the University of Adelaide
.
In 1930 he married Elizabeth Hornabrook Bonython (1907-2008), born on 25 January 1907 in Adelaide, eldest daughter of Adelaide Advertiser editor, and mayor of Adelaide, Sir John Lavington Bonython
(1875-1960) and his first wife Blanche Ada Bray (1881-1908). (Blanche died in childbirth bearing Ada Bray Bonython (1908-1965)).
In the Australian federal election, 1937
, Keith was elected a Senator
for South Australia
for the United Australia Party
, serving from 1938 to 1944. In 1940 he joined the army, continuing to serve in the Senate. He was not re-elected in 1943, so when his term ended, he went on active service and became a "Rat of Tobruk", serving with the 2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, in North Africa
, and subsequently in Borneo
.
After his return, he stood for the 1949 election. He became the member of the House of Representatives
for Sturt
under the Liberal and Country League
and Liberal Party of Australia
from 1949
until his defeat by Labor
's Norman Makin
in 1954
. Makin shifted to another seat, which saw Wilson recapture the seat at the next election in 1955
. He held the seat until his retirement in 1966
which resulted in his son, Ian Cameron Bonython Wilson
, gaining preselection for the seat, which he subsequently won and held for over 20 years.
Elizabeth was very active in community affairs, and served on the boards of a number of organisations. In recognition of her activities she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE
in 1946, and a Commander of the Order CBE
in 1959.
Keith we was knighted on 1 January 1966.
He died in Adelaide on 28 September 1987.
Elizabeth turned 100 years old on 25 January 2007, and died aged 101 on 25 September 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, sitting in both houses of federal parliament.
Born 3 September 1900 in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, he attended St Peter's Collegiate School, Adelaide, and studied law at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
In 1930 he married Elizabeth Hornabrook Bonython (1907-2008), born on 25 January 1907 in Adelaide, eldest daughter of Adelaide Advertiser editor, and mayor of Adelaide, Sir John Lavington Bonython
John Lavington Bonython
Sir John Lavington Bonython was a prominent public figure in Adelaide, known for his work in journalism, business and politics. In association with his father, he became involved in the management of newspapers including The Advertiser; he also served as editor of The Saturday Express and as a...
(1875-1960) and his first wife Blanche Ada Bray (1881-1908). (Blanche died in childbirth bearing Ada Bray Bonython (1908-1965)).
In the Australian federal election, 1937
Australian federal election, 1937
Federal elections were held in Australia on 23 October 1937. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, Keith was elected a Senator
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
for the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
, serving from 1938 to 1944. In 1940 he joined the army, continuing to serve in the Senate. He was not re-elected in 1943, so when his term ended, he went on active service and became a "Rat of Tobruk", serving with the 2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and subsequently in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
After his return, he stood for the 1949 election. He became the member of the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for Sturt
Division of Sturt
The Division of Sturt is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.First proclaimed for the 1949 election, Sturt was named for Captain Charles Sturt, nineteenth century explorer and the first European to discover the Murray River...
under the Liberal and Country League
Liberal and Country League
The Liberal and Country League was a major political party in South Australia throughout its forty year existence. Thirty-four years were spent in government, in part due to the electoral malapportionment known as the Playmander, introduced after coming to power.Created on 9 June 1932 as the...
and Liberal Party of Australia
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...
from 1949
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
until his defeat by Labor
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...
's Norman Makin
Norman Makin
Norman John Oswald Makin AO , Australian politician, was a Cabinet minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives and diplomat.-Early life:...
in 1954
Australian federal election, 1954
Federal elections were held in Australia on 29 May 1954. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election, no Senate election took place...
. Makin shifted to another seat, which saw Wilson recapture the seat at the next election in 1955
Australian federal election, 1955
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1955. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 30 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party...
. He held the seat until his retirement in 1966
Australian federal election, 1966
Federal elections were held in Australia on 26 November 1966. All 124 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt with coalition partner the Country Party led by John McEwen defeated the...
which resulted in his son, Ian Cameron Bonython Wilson
Ian Wilson (politician)
Ian Bonython Cameron Wilson , solicitor, company director and Australian politician, was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the son of Sir Keith Wilson, a prominent United Australia Party and Liberal Party politician...
, gaining preselection for the seat, which he subsequently won and held for over 20 years.
Elizabeth was very active in community affairs, and served on the boards of a number of organisations. In recognition of her activities she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1946, and a Commander of the Order CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1959.
Keith we was knighted on 1 January 1966.
He died in Adelaide on 28 September 1987.
Elizabeth turned 100 years old on 25 January 2007, and died aged 101 on 25 September 2008.
Publications
- "Liberal and Country League: the origins and development", by Sir Keith Wilson; Located at Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide.
External links
- Death of Sir Keith Wilson, Hansard, 7 October 1987, parlinfo.aph.gov.au
1938
1941
1950