Gordon Freeth

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Sir Gordon Freeth KBE (6 August 1914 – 27 September 1994) was an Australian politician.

Freeth was born in Angaston, South Australia and attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and the Guildford Grammar School in Western Australia. He was awarded a Bachelor of Laws by the University of Western Australia in 1938. He won a gold medal for rowing in the coxed fours in the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney. In 1939 he married Joan Baker and they had twin daughters, Felicity and Susan and a son, Robert. In the same year he began practising law in Katanning, Western Australia. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force and he flew Beaufort bombers in New Guinea and had been promoted to flight lieutenant by 1945, when he was demobilised.[1]

[edit] Political career

Freeth was elected as the Liberal Party of Australia member for Forrest in the 1949 election. He was appointed Minister for the Interior and Minister for Works in 1958 and in 1963 he was appointed Minister for Shipping and Transport. In February 1968, he was appointed Minister for Air, replacing Peter Howson. He was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, replacing Paul Hasluck, in February 1969 when Hasluck became Governor-General. He was defeated at the 1969 election by the Australian Labor Party candidate, Frank Kirwan.[1]

Freeth was Ambassador to Japan from 1970 to 1973 and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1980. He was survived by his three children.[1]

[edit] Honours

Freeth was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1978.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Howard, John (12 February 2002). Condolences: Adermann, Hon. Albert Evan, AO, Freeth, Hon. Sir Gordon, KBE, Chaney, Hon. Sir Frederick Charles, KBE, AFC. Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
Political offices
Preceded by
Allen Fairhall		 Minister for the Interior
Minister for Works
1958 – 1963		 Succeeded by
John Gorton
Preceded by
Hubert Opperman		 Minister for Shipping and Transport
1963 – 1968		 Succeeded by
Ian Sinclair
Preceded by
Peter Howson		 Minister for Air
1968 – 1969		 Succeeded by
Dudley Erwin
Preceded by
Paul Hasluck		 Minister for Foreign Affairs
1969		 Succeeded by
William McMahon
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Nelson Lemmon		 Member for Forrest
1949 – 1969		 Succeeded by
Frank Kirwan
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
?		 Australian High Commissioner
to the United Kingdom
1977 – 1980		 Succeeded by
?


Persondata
NAME Freeth, Gordon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH 6 August 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Angaston, South Australia
DATE OF DEATH 27 November 2001
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages