Robin William Askin GCMG (1907 - 1981)

Born 4 Apr 1907 in Glebe, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mollie Isabelle (Underhill) Askin — married 5 Feb 1937 in Manly, New South Wales, Australia

Died 9 Sep 1981 at age 74 in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Robert Askin GCMG is Notable.

Sir Robert William Askin GCMG served in the Second Australian Imperiial Force during the Second World War and was the 32nd premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party. The Sydney Morning Herald editorialised that he was 'one of the ablest, most industrious and colourful political leaders of Australia's post-war era.

Sir Robert Askin

Born Robin William Askin on 4th April 1907 at the Crown Street Women's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the third son of William James Askin, an Adelaide-born sailor, and Ellen Halliday nee Rowe, he was usually known simply as Bob.^[1] In 1971 he changed the name 'Robin' by deed poll to 'Robert'. He was educated at Glebe Public School and awarded a bursary to Sydney Technical High School. He obtained employment as a bank officer. Keen on Rugby League, he played for the Glebe Dirty Reds and for the banks’ teams. Between 1925 and 1929 Askin served part-time as a Lieutenant in the 55th Battalion, Commonwealth Military Forces; a militia unit.^[2] In 1934-39 he served on the executive of the New South Wales Swimming Association.

On 5th February 1937 in Gilbert Park Methodist Church, Manly, Askin married Mollie Isabelle Underhill, a typist at the bank.^[3] They made their home at Manly, on Sydney's northern seaboard.^[2]

Robert Askin GCMG is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1942-1946
14th Infantry Training Battalion; 2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion

Askin enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 30th March 1942.^[4] Following basic training, Askin was posted as an instructor to the 14th Infantry Training Battalion at Dubbo, New South Wales; where he was appointed acting Corporal. In November 1942 he joined the 2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion, 25th Brigade in Papua – back from the Middle East and then in the midst of the action along the Kokoda Track. Askin was active there from Gorari to Gona, before the 25th was brought home to Australia for rest, re-inforcement and further training. He was back in Papua with the battalion for another six months from July 1943, for the advance on Lae followed by patrol actions in the Ramu Valley and the foothills of the Finisterre Range. Promoted to Sergeant, with the 2/31st Askin landed at Balikpapan, Borneo, in July 1945.^[5]

When hostilities ceased, Askin unsuccessfully attempted to set up an import business in Bandjermasin. Returning to Australia in February 1946, he was demobilised on 22nd March.^[2] He always wore his Returned Services League of Australia badge.

Following the war, Askin joined the conservative Liberal Party and was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Collaroy at the 1950 election. He was premier of New South Wales for a (then) record of a continuous nine years eight months, from May 1965 to January 1975; the first premier from the Liberal Party. Askin's government was marked by strong opposition to an increase in Commonwealth powers, a tough stance on 'law and order' issues, laissez-faire economic policies, and aggressive support for industrial and commercial development. He demanded Joern Utzon, the Danish architect then working on the Sydney Opera House, to provide a final price and completion date for the Opera House, which had gone past the original estimates for both. Despite a hostile Legislative Council, an extended drought and various industrial disputes, Askin and his government passed several reforms; among which were the removal of trading-hours restrictions on small businesses, abolishing juries for motor accident damage cases, the establishment of the Law Reform Commission of New South Wales, the introduction of consumer laws, an ombudsman, legal aid, health labels on cigarette packs, breath-testing of drivers, limits on vehicle emissions, and compensation for victims of violent crime.^[6] In 1966 the University of New South Wales awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt).^[2]

On 1st January 1972, Askin was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG). In 1972, the Eastern Orthodox Church of Antioch presented Askin with the Order of St Peter and St Paul for his services to ethnic minorities. In 1973 he was appointed Officer of the Lebanese National Order of the Cedar. Askin retired from parliament in January 1975. On 14th June 1975 he was elevated to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG), for his service as premier.^[2]

Askin suffered two heart attacks in 1969 and 1973. He passed away on 9th September 1981 in St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #27799/1907
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Wikipedia profile: Robert Askin; accessed 30 Sep 2019
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #5002/1937
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: NX93958 Sergeant Robert William Askin; accessed 30 Sep 2019
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 30 Sep 2019
6. ↑ Hancock, Ian (2007). The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000. Sydney: Federation Press. pg 97. ISBN 978-1-86287-659-0
7. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #21072/1981

Further reading

• Goot, Murray. Askin, Sir Robert William (Bob) (1907–1981), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 30 Sep 2019.