Bill Borthwick
20th Deputy Premier of Victoria
In office
5 June 1981 – 8 April 1982
PremierLindsay Thompson
Preceded byLindsay Thompson
Succeeded byRobert Fordham
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Scoresby
In office
17 September 1960 – 20 March 1967
Preceded bySir George Knox
Succeeded byGeoff Hayes
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Monbulk
In office
29 April 1967 – 24 February 1982
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byNeil Pope
Personal details
Born
William Archibald Borthwick

(1924-11-20)20 November 1924
Murrayville, Victoria, Australia
Died31 July 2001(2001-07-31) (aged 76)
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
Other political
affiliations
Liberal and Country Party
Spouse(s)Dorothy Alice Hackett (m. 1948)
Margaret Cameron Manders (m. 1971)
ChildrenDavid, Mark and Andrew
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Air Force
Years of service1942–1945
RankWarrant Officer

William Archibald Borthwick AM (20 November 1924 – 31 July 2001) was an Australian politician. Borthwick was a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the electorates of Scoresby (1960–1967) and Monbulk (1967–1982).[1]

Early life and military service

Borthwick was born in Murrayville in north-western Victoria, and attended state schools in Cowangie and Walpeup before gaining a scholarship to study at Ballarat Grammar School between 1936 and 1939.[2] From 1940 to 1957, he was a bank officer for the State Bank of Victoria, then worked as an insurance representative.[1]

In December 1942, Borthwick enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force.[3] He served as a fighter pilot in England, Italy and Yugoslavia, and received a special award from the Yugoslavian government for his efforts in protecting Yugoslavia during World War II.[2]

Political career

Borthwick was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in a September 1960 by-election for the seat of Scoresby triggered by the death of the sitting MP, Sir George Knox. At the 1967 state election, Borthwick switched to the new seat of Monbulk.[1]

Bill Borthwick made a significant contribution to Victoria's environmental policies through the establishment of the Land Conservation Council in 1971 (now Victorian Environmental Assessment Council) which insulated controversial public land management recommendations from political interference.[4]

Honours

In the 1987 Queen's Birthday honours, Borthwick was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of service to the Victorian parliament and to the community.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Re-Member: Borthwick, William Archibald, Parliament of Victoria.
  2. ^ a b Leaders pay tribute to great Victorian, Ballarat Courier, 8 August 2001.
  3. ^ BORTHWICK, WILLIAM ARCHIBALD, WW2 Nominal Roll.
  4. ^ Clode, Danielle (2007). As if for a thousand years. Melbourne: VEAC. pp. 17–18. ISBN 1-74152-463-6.
  5. ^ BORTHWICK, William Archibald, It's an Honour, 8 June 1987.
Victorian Legislative Assembly Preceded bySir George Knox Member for Scoresby 1960–1967 Succeeded byGeoff Hayes District created Member for Monbulk 1967–1982 Succeeded byNeil Pope Political offices Preceded bySir William McDonald Minister of Water Supply 1967–1970 Succeeded byIan Smith Preceded byThomas Darcy Minister of LandsMinister of Soldier SettlementMinister for Conservation 1970–1979 Succeeded byVasey Houghton Preceded byVasey Houghton Minister of Health 1979–1982 Succeeded byTom Roper Preceded byLindsay Thompson Deputy Premier of Victoria 1981–1982 Succeeded byRobert Fordham