| Sir Keith Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Sir Keith Cameron Wilson, 1950 | |
| Senator for South Australia | |
| In office 1 July 1938 – 30 June 1944 |
|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Sturt |
|
| In office 10 December 1949 – 29 May 1954 |
|
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Norman Makin |
| In office 10 December 1955 – 31 October 1966 |
|
| Preceded by | Norman Makin |
| Succeeded by | Ian Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 September 1900 Adelaide, South Australia |
| Died | 28 September 1987 (aged 87) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | United Australia Party (1938–1944) Liberal (1949–1966) |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Bonython Lady Elizabeth Wilson CBE |
| Relations | Sir John Lavington Bonython Father-in-law |
| Children | Ian Wilson |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Sir Keith Cameron Wilson (3 September 1900 – 28 September 1987) was a lawyer and Australian 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.[1][2]
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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4][5] In recognition of her activities she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE in 1946,[6] and a Commander of the Order CBE in 1959.[7]
Keith we was knighted on 1 January 1966.[8][9]
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.
1938 |
1941 |
1950 |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| New division | Member for Sturt 1949–1954 |
Succeeded by Norman Makin |
| Preceded by Norman Makin |
Member for Sturt 1955–1966 |
Succeeded by Ian Wilson |