Winton Turnbull
Encyclopedia
Sir Winton George Turnbull CBE
(13 December 1899 – 15 January 1980) was an Australia
n politician.
to farmer Adam Beverly Turnbull and Georgina Agnes, née Drummond. He was mostly educated by his mother, although he did attend state schools for short periods. Following his father's death in 1922, Turnbull and his mother moved to Warracknabeal
, where he was employed as an auctioneer. He took part in several public speaking competitions before he and his mother moved to Essendon
1933. During this time, he became interested in politics, joining the Country Party
. He attempted to run for the Country Party in the House of Representatives
seat of Bendigo
in 1937, and attempted to take the Victorian Legislative Assembly
seat of Lowan
in 1940, but was unsuccessful in both.
In July 1940, Turnbull enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
and was sent to Malaya
. He was captured at the 1942 fall of Singapore
and was a prisoner of war
for three and a half years at Changi
, where he organised debates among the prisoners. At the end of the war he returned to Australia, unsuccessfully contesting the Legislative Assembly seat of Borung.
to the federal seat of Wimmera
for the Country Party. He was subsequently discharged from the army in order to sit in the Parliament
. He married tailoress Beryl Bradley on 22 December 1947 at Essendon.
Turnbull was a dedicated parliamentarian who never missed a parliamentary sitting. His seat of Wimmera was essentially replaced with Mallee
in 1949; he was easily elected. He was appointed Country Party whip in 1956, and in 1968 was awarded a CBE
. He was knighted in 1972 and retired from parliament later that year. He died at Bendigo
on 15 January 1980, survived by his wife; they had no children.
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...
(13 December 1899 – 15 January 1980) was an Australia
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.
Early life
Turnbull was born at Hamilton, VictoriaHamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
to farmer Adam Beverly Turnbull and Georgina Agnes, née Drummond. He was mostly educated by his mother, although he did attend state schools for short periods. Following his father's death in 1922, Turnbull and his mother moved to Warracknabeal
Warracknabeal, Victoria
Warracknabeal is a wheatbelt town in the Australian state of Victoria. Situated on the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek, 330 km north-west of Melbourne, it is the business and services centre of the northern Wimmera and southern Mallee districts, and hosts local government offices of the Shire...
, where he was employed as an auctioneer. He took part in several public speaking competitions before he and his mother moved to Essendon
Essendon, Victoria
Essendon is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley...
1933. During this time, he became interested in politics, joining the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
. He attempted to run for the Country Party in 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....
seat of Bendigo
Division of Bendigo
The Division of Bendigo is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the city of Bendigo...
in 1937, and attempted to take the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
seat of Lowan
Electoral district of Lowan
The Electoral district of Lowan is a rural Lower House electoral district of the Victorian Parliament. It is located within the Western Victoria Region of the Legislative Council ....
in 1940, but was unsuccessful in both.
In July 1940, Turnbull enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
and was sent to Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. He was captured at the 1942 fall of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
for three and a half years at Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
, where he organised debates among the prisoners. At the end of the war he returned to Australia, unsuccessfully contesting the Legislative Assembly seat of Borung.
Federal politics
In 1946, Turnbull was elected in a by-electionWimmera by-election, 1946
A by-election was held in the Wimmera electorate in regional Victoria on 9 February 1946, following the death of independent MLA Alexander Wilson.-Results:...
to the federal seat of Wimmera
Division of Wimmera
The Division of Wimmera was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It was named after the Wimmera region in which it was located. It originally encompassed the towns of Mildura, Swan Hill and Warracknabeal, but by the time it was abolished in 1977, it had drifted south and grown...
for the Country Party. He was subsequently discharged from the army in order to sit in the Parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
. He married tailoress Beryl Bradley on 22 December 1947 at Essendon.
Turnbull was a dedicated parliamentarian who never missed a parliamentary sitting. His seat of Wimmera was essentially replaced with Mallee
Division of Mallee
The Division of Mallee is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the far north-west of the state, adjoining the border with South Australia in the west, and the Murray River in the north. At , it is the largest Division in Victoria...
in 1949; he was easily elected. He was appointed Country Party whip in 1956, and in 1968 was awarded a 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...
. He was knighted in 1972 and retired from parliament later that year. He died at Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
on 15 January 1980, survived by his wife; they had no children.