Lindsay Thompson.html |
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40th Premier of Victoria
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| In office 5 June 1981 – 8 April 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Rupert Hamer |
| Succeeded by | John Cain II |
| Constituency | Malvern |
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| Born | 15 October 1923 Warburton, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 16 July 2008 (aged 84) Malvern, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse | Joan Margaret Poynder |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Religion | Uniting Church |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Signalman |
Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO, CMG (15 October 1923 – 16 July 2008), Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from June 1981 to April 1982. He was also notable for his actions in the Faraday School kidnapping, and was the longest serving member of the Victorian Parliament in history.1
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Early life and family
Thompson was born in Warburton, a town north-east of Melbourne. His parents were both schoolteachers. His father died when he was two, and he was raised by his mother in difficult circumstances.
He won a scholarship to Caulfield Grammar School and eventually graduated as both school captain and the dux of school. The school's new gymnasium was opened as the Lindsay Thompson Centre in 1997.2
After service as a signalman in the Australian Army during World War II3, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with degrees in Arts (Honours) and Education, and became a school teacher, teaching at Malvern Central Primary School and later at Melbourne High School.
In 1950 Thompson married Joan Poynder, and they had three children. Thompson's son Murray has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1992.
Political career
In 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in the Monash and Higginbotham Provinces as a Liberal, where he served until 1970, when he transferred to the Legislative Assembly as MP for Malvern.
In 1958 Thompson was appointed Assistant Chief Secretary in the government of Henry Bolte, and held office continuously until 1982, making him the longest-serving minister in Victoria's history. Of all federal and state ministers in Australian history, only the South Australian Sir Thomas Playford IV held ministerial office continuously for longer than Thompson. Lindsay Thompson served as Minister for Housing from 1961-1967, during which time many of Melbourne's controversial public housing towers were built. In 1967 he was appointed Minister for Education, and held this post until 1979, a record term. He presided over the major expansion of state education in Victoria during this period. In 1971 he became Deputy Premier.
Faraday hero
In 1972, a teacher and six school children were kidnapped at a school in the country town of Faraday by a man demanding a $1 million ransom. Thompson went to the site and was ready to personally deliver the ransom, but the teacher and children escaped from the van they were locked in before this was necessary. Thompson received a bravery award for his actions during the kidnapping.
Premier of Victoria
During the premiership of Rupert Hamer, Thompson was Chief Secretary, then Treasurer and Minister for Police and Emergency Services. On June 5, 1981, Hamer resigned and Thompson won a Liberal Party ballot to succeed him as Premier. The Liberals had been in power for 27 years and the new Labor leader, John Cain, was mounting a strong challenge to the government. At the March 1982 election the Liberals were heavily defeated and Thompson resigned as Liberal leader and from Parliament on November 5.
Awards
Thompson was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on June 14, 1975 for serving as a minister.4 He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia on Australia Day in 1990 "for service to government and politics and to the Victorian Parliament".5 He also received a Centenary Medal in 2001.
Following his death
Following his passing many people have commented on what a amazing, kind, but humble man he was. At the funeral among other kind words, former Prime Minister John Howard said "I can honestly say I never heard anyone say a nasty thing about Lindsay Thompson, and I can tell you that has to be a first in Australian politics." 6
References
- ^ ABC News (2008). Former Victorian premier Thompson dies. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ Caulfield Grammar School (2008). Caulfield. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ Thompson, Lindsay Hamilton Simpson, WW2 Nominal Roll.
- ^ Australian Honours (2006). THOMPSON, Lindsay Hamilton Simpson CMG. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
- ^ Australian Honours (2006). THOMPSON, Lindsay Hamilton Simpson AO. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
- ^ Herald Sun
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rupert Hamer |
Premier of Victoria 1981 – 1982 |
Succeeded by John Cain |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Rupert Hamer |
Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia in Victoria 1981 – 1982 |
Succeeded by Jeff Kennett |
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