Thomas Walter Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Thomas Walter Mitchell was an Australia
n politician, author and sportsman.
Mitchell was born at the family property "Towong Hill", near Corryong, Victoria
and was educated at Cambridge University from 1925 to 1930 before returning to Australia, and Towong Hill. At the time the property consisted of 17000 acres (69 km²) of prime land beside the Murray River
, but today has been reduced to 2300 acres (9 km²), as sections have been split to various family members.
A keen skier, Mitchell founded the Australian National Ski Federation in 1932, captained the Australian skiing team and won gold medals in competitions against England
and New Zealand
. He was an Australian champion in the downhill and long-time member of the Australian Ski Club. He and his wife Elyne Mitchell
(daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel) were the first people to ski the western slopes of the main range, including the demanding runs of "Little Austria".
Mitchell joined the Second Australian Imperial Force
in 1940 and was a captain in the 2/22 Battalion and Headquarters 8th Division. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and was interned in the infamous Changi POW camp
until 1945, being forced to work on the Burma Railway by his captors. He later built a chapel, in memory of comrades lost during the war, on his property.
In 1947 he and Elyne, together with Ossie Rixon, set off in two four-wheel-drive vehicles to become the first people to cross the Australian Alps
in a motor vehicle. "One", a Willys army jeep
, sits in Corryong
to this day.
He served as the member for Benambra
in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
from 1947 to 1976 and as Attorney-General from June 1950 to December 1952 and as Solicitor-General from June 1950 to December 1951.
He contributed to the official history of the Second World War and wrote several volumes on skiing and local history.
Mitchell died in Melbourne
.
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, author and sportsman.
Mitchell was born at the family property "Towong Hill", near Corryong, Victoria
Corryong, Victoria
Corryong is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located east of Albury-Wodonga, near the upper reaches of the Murray River and thus close to the New South Wales border. At the 2006 Census in Australia, Corryong had a population of 1,228....
and was educated at Cambridge University from 1925 to 1930 before returning to Australia, and Towong Hill. At the time the property consisted of 17000 acres (69 km²) of prime land beside the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
, but today has been reduced to 2300 acres (9 km²), as sections have been split to various family members.
A keen skier, Mitchell founded the Australian National Ski Federation in 1932, captained the Australian skiing team and won gold medals in competitions against England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was an Australian champion in the downhill and long-time member of the Australian Ski Club. He and his wife Elyne Mitchell
Elyne Mitchell
Elyne Mitchell, OAM was an Australian author noted for the Silver Brumby series of children's novels...
(daughter of General Sir Harry Chauvel) were the first people to ski the western slopes of the main range, including the demanding runs of "Little Austria".
Mitchell joined the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
in 1940 and was a captain in the 2/22 Battalion and Headquarters 8th Division. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and was interned in the infamous Changi POW camp
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
until 1945, being forced to work on the Burma Railway by his captors. He later built a chapel, in memory of comrades lost during the war, on his property.
In 1947 he and Elyne, together with Ossie Rixon, set off in two four-wheel-drive vehicles to become the first people to cross the Australian Alps
Australian Alps
The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges of mainland Australia. They are located in southeastern Australia and straddle the Australian Capital Territory, south-eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria...
in a motor vehicle. "One", a Willys army jeep
Willys MB
The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
, sits in Corryong
Corryong, Victoria
Corryong is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is located east of Albury-Wodonga, near the upper reaches of the Murray River and thus close to the New South Wales border. At the 2006 Census in Australia, Corryong had a population of 1,228....
to this day.
He served as the member for Benambra
Electoral district of Benambra
The Electoral district of Benambra is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It is located in north-east Victoria and includes the towns of Chiltern, Wodonga, Yackandandah, Beechworth, Tallangatta, and Corryong...
in 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:...
from 1947 to 1976 and as Attorney-General from June 1950 to December 1952 and as Solicitor-General from June 1950 to December 1951.
He contributed to the official history of the Second World War and wrote several volumes on skiing and local history.
Mitchell died in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.