Boyd Dawkins

Australian politician (1917–1996)

M. Boyd Dawkins

Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
In office
March 1962 – November 1982
Personal details
Born|

Maynard Boyd Dawkins

(1917-01-02)2 January 1917
Stirling, South Australia
Died| 21 October 1996(1996-10-21) (aged 79)
Adelaide, South Australia
Resting place| Gawler River, South Australia
Political party| Liberal and Country League
Spouse|

Constance Lilian Wilkinson

(m. 1943)​

Relations| Nephew: John Dawkins
Children| John Dawkins
Occupation| farmer and politician

Maynard Boyd Dawkins MBE (2 January 1917 – 21 October 1996)[1] was a sheep breeder, choirmaster and politician in the State of South Australia.

## History

[edit]

Dawkins was born in Stirling West the only son of Albert Maynard Dawkins of Gawler River and his wife Mary (née Yeoman).[2] The Dawkins family were early settlers of Gawler, and well known in the area.[3]

He studied at Roseworthy Agricultural College, where his father was a board member,[4] He was, like fellow parliamentarian Leslie Rupert Hart, a breeder of Dorset Horn sheep.

He was president of the Gawler Men's Branch of the Liberal and Country League,[5] and was a successful Liberal candidate for a Midland seat on the Legislative Council in March 1962, successfully made the transition to the new Legislative Council in July 1975 when, by the Act of 1973, the State reverted to voting as one electorate, with proportional representation. He retired in November 1982.

## Other interests

[edit]

Dawkins was a teetotaller; an active member of the Methodist Church and the Band of Hope; following a long family tradition.[6]

He was a fine bass-baritone, a member of the Adelaide Philharmonic Choir, who studied under Clifford Lathlean,[7] and conductor of the notable Gawler Choral Society.[8]

## Personal

[edit]

He married Constance Lilian Wilkinson on 24 August 1943.[9] A son, John Dawkins, born 3 July 1954,[10] followed his father as a member of the Legislative Council from 1997 until 2022. On 8 September 2020, John was elected President of the Legislative Council serving until 19 March 2022.[11]

A nephew also called John was a politician from the Australian Labor Party and was Federal Treasurer in 1991 to 1993.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Hon Maynard (Boyd) Boyd Dawkins MBE". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
2. ^ "Family Notices". South Australian Register. 26 October 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
3. ^ "Cricket". Bunyip. 5 January 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
4. ^ "Roseworthy College Scholarships". Bunyip. 10 March 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
5. ^ "Local Men's L.C.L Branch Revived". Bunyip. 5 June 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
6. ^ "Out Among the People". The Advertiser. 5 May 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
7. ^ "Musical Notes". The Mail. 16 December 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
8. ^ "Choral Society presents "The Crucifixion"". Bunyip. 30 March 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
9. ^ "Family Notices". Murray Pioneer. Renmark, SA. 7 October 1943. p. 9. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
10. ^ "Family Notices". The Advertiser. 6 July 1954. p. 20. Retrieved 19 December 2014 - via Trove.
11. ^ "Dawkins, John". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
12. ^ "John Dawkins - Member for Fremantle 1977-1993". john.curtin.edu.au. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2022.

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