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Sir Thomas Charles Drake-Brockman, DFC (15 May 1919 – 28 August 1992) was an Australian politician who served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1959 to 1978 and also briefly in 1958. He was a member of the National Country Party (Country Party prior to 1974). He served as Minister for Air from 1969 to 1972.[1]
Sir Tom Drake-Brockman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Air | |
| In office 12 November 1969 – 5 December 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Dudley Erwin |
| Succeeded by | Lance Barnard |
| Deputy President of the Senate | |
| In office 15 March 1965 – 11 November 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Colin McKellar |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bull |
| In office 17 February 1976 – 30 June 1978 | |
| Preceded by | James Webster |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Scott |
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 12 August 1958 – 21 November 1958 | |
| Preceded by | Harrie Seward |
| Succeeded by | George Branson |
| In office 1 July 1959 – 30 June 1978 | |
| Succeeded by | Allan Rocher |
| Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Administrative Services | |
| In office 11 November 1975 – 22 December 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Les Johnson (Aboriginal Affairs) Fred Daly (Admin. Services) |
| Succeeded by | Ian Viner (Aboriginal Affairs) Reg Withers (Admin. Services) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1919 Toodyay, Western Australia |
| Died | 28 August 1992 (aged 73) Perth, Western Australia |
| Political party | Australian Country Party and National Alliance |
| Spouse | Mary |
| Occupation | Air gunner, farmer, politician |
| Civilian awards | Knight Bachelor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 460 Squadron RAAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Military awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
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Drake-Brockman was born in Toodyay, Western Australia, the son of Robert James and Rose Ita Drake-Brockman.[2] He was educated at Guildford Grammar School. On 23 May 1942 he married Edith Sykes, with whom he had five children. During the Second World War, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 460 Squadron RAAF in 1941 as sergeant air-gunner and served in the Middle East, Malta and the United Kingdom. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in September 1944. After the war he was a farmer and grazier and became vice president of the Australian Wool and Meat Producers Federation.[3][4] On 9 August 1972, Drake-Brockman married his second wife, Mary McGinnity.[2]
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Drake-Brockman was appointed to a casual vacancy as a Country Party senator on 12 August 1958. His appointment expired at the 1958 election, when he was elected to the Senate, with effect from 1 July 1959. He was appointed Minister for Air in John Gorton's second ministry, as a result of Dudley Erwin's falling out of Gorton's favour. He remained minister until the defeat of the William McMahon government at the 1972 election. He was Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Administrative Services in Malcolm Fraser's caretaker government after the dismissal of the Whitlam government, but was not reappointed to Fraser's ministry after the 1975 election. He did not stand for re-election at the 1977 election and his term came to an end on 30 June 1978.[5] To date, he is the last member of what is now the National Party to be elected to the Senate from Western Australia.
Drake-Brockman was made a Knight Bachelor in June 1979.[6] He was survived by his wife, Mary, and four daughters and a son from his first marriage.[7]
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