Athol Townley
Encyclopedia
Athol Gordon Townley was an Australian politician and Minister for Defence
.
Townley was born in Hobart
and educated at Elizabeth Street State School and Hobart High School
, and at Hobart Technical College. He qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist in 1928 and in 1930 found a job looking after quality control for a Sydney baker. In 1931 he married Hazel Florence Greenwood and they later moved back to Hobart where he formed a partnership with his brother Rex
that eventually owened three pharmacies. He joined the Royal Australian Navy
in September 1940 and in February 1941 he was sent to England to train in bomb-
and mine-disposal
work. He returned to Australia and commanded the patrol boat Steady Hour which assisted in destroying a Japanese midget submarine during the attack on Sydney Harbour
in June 1942. He was put in command of the Fairmile B
motor launch
ML817 in January 1943, promoted to acting lieutenant commander in March and was involved in the New Guinea campaign
.
's bank nationalisation and won the Australian House of Representatives
seat of Denison
in the 1949 election
for the Liberal Party of Australia
. Robert Menzies
valued his opinion and appointed him to a series of portfolios, starting with Social Services in May 1951, although Paul Hasluck
considered Townley a "teacher's pet" and claimed that he had only "slight" administrative abilities. Menzies appointed Townley Minister for Air
and Minister for Civil Aviation
in July 1954, Minister for Immigration
in October 1956, and Minister for Supply in February 1958.
Townley became Minister for Defence
in December 1958. On 24 May 1962 he announced that Australia would be sending thirty army advisers to South Vietnam
, committing Australia to the Vietnam War
. He suffered ill health during the 1960s, including a heart attack and bouts of pneumonia
. Nevertheless, he travelled to Washington
in October 1963 to sign a contract for the purchase of the F-111
aircraft—this contract was later severely criticised due to the sharply increased prices subsequently experienced. Menzies announced his appointment as ambassador to the United States on 17 December, but he died at the Mercy Hospital East Melbourne
a week later, survived by his wife and son.
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
.
Townley was born in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
and educated at Elizabeth Street State School and Hobart High School
Hobart College (Tasmania)
Hobart College was, until January 2009, a senior secondary college located at Mount Nelson, in Hobart, Tasmania.In January 2009 it became the Hobart Campus of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and the Tasmanian Academy, formed as part of the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.The Hobart Campus now offers courses...
, and at Hobart Technical College. He qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist in 1928 and in 1930 found a job looking after quality control for a Sydney baker. In 1931 he married Hazel Florence Greenwood and they later moved back to Hobart where he formed a partnership with his brother Rex
Rex Townley
Reginald 'Rex' Colin Townley was an Australian politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania from 1950 to 1956...
that eventually owened three pharmacies. He joined the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
in September 1940 and in February 1941 he was sent to England to train in bomb-
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
and mine-disposal
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
work. He returned to Australia and commanded the patrol boat Steady Hour which assisted in destroying a Japanese midget submarine during the attack on Sydney Harbour
Attack on Sydney Harbour
In late May and early June 1942, during World War II, submarines belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy made a series of attacks on the cities of Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia...
in June 1942. He was put in command of the Fairmile B
Fairmile B motor launch
The Fairmile B motor launch was a type of Motor Launch built by Fairmile Marine during the Second World War for the Royal Navy for coastal operations.-Design:...
motor launch
Motor Launch
A Motor Launch is a small military vessel in British navy service. It was designed for harbour defence and submarine chasing or for armed high speed air-sea rescue....
ML817 in January 1943, promoted to acting lieutenant commander in March and was involved in the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
.
Political career
Townley was opposed to Ben ChifleyBen Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
's bank nationalisation and won the Australian 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 Denison
Division of Denison
The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55...
in the 1949 election
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...
for the 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...
. Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
valued his opinion and appointed him to a series of portfolios, starting with Social Services in May 1951, although Paul Hasluck
Paul Hasluck
Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck KG GCMG GCVO KStJ was an Australian historian, poet, public servant and politician, and the 17th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
considered Townley a "teacher's pet" and claimed that he had only "slight" administrative abilities. Menzies appointed Townley Minister for Air
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
and Minister for Civil Aviation
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport is the Hon Anthony Albanese. On 3 December 2007 he replaced the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, the Hon Mark Vaile, who held office since August 2006, and the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon Jim...
in July 1954, Minister for Immigration
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
in October 1956, and Minister for Supply in February 1958.
Townley became Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
in December 1958. On 24 May 1962 he announced that Australia would be sending thirty army advisers to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, committing Australia to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He suffered ill health during the 1960s, including a heart attack and bouts of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. Nevertheless, he travelled to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in October 1963 to sign a contract for the purchase of the F-111
General Dynamics F-111
The General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" was a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also filled the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare in its various versions. Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, it first entered service in 1967 with the...
aircraft—this contract was later severely criticised due to the sharply increased prices subsequently experienced. Menzies announced his appointment as ambassador to the United States on 17 December, but he died at the Mercy Hospital East Melbourne
East Melbourne, Victoria
East Melbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, adjacent to Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, East Melbourne had a population of 4,330....
a week later, survived by his wife and son.