Neil Maxwell Robson AM (5 July 1928 – 14 December 2013)[1] was a Tasmanian member of parliament from 1976 to 1992. He was a Liberal member in the House of Assembly division of Bass.[2]
Neil Robson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass | |
| In office 11 December 1976 – 1 February 1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neil Maxwell Robson 5 July 1928 Smithton, Tasmania, Australia |
| Died | 14 December 2013 (aged 85) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1945–1947 |
| Rank | Able Seaman |
| Unit | HMAS Quickmatch (G92) |
Robson is known for championing the introduction of a system of rotating the order of names printed on ballot papers at elections, often known as the Robson Rotation.[3]
Early life edit
Robson was born in Smithton, Tasmania in July 1928. His father was a saddler, builder and undertaker from Sheffield, who was also a World War I veteran. He died in Roma, Queensland—three months after Robson's birth—after contracting tuberculosis. His mother was from England, and moved to Smithton with her father after his retirement from the British Army. In 1941, Robson won a scholarship to attend Launceston Church Grammar School.[4]
Military service edit
In 1944, Robson attempted to enlist in the Royal Australian Navy, although he was a year under the minimum age of seventeen, and his mother refused to provide a statutory declaration claiming he was old enough. On 15 August 1945, he enlisted and was trained at Flinders Naval Depot and posted to the naval base HMAS Lonsdale. He gained a posting aboard HMAS Quickmatch by asking the captain for one, and served with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Papua New Guinea and Japan in the aftermath of World War II.[4] Following his service overseas, he returned to Flinders Naval Depot, and was demobilised as an Able Seaman at HMAS Huon.[5]
Banking career edit
After leaving the navy, Robson refused a university place, to his later regret. He worked for many years at the Launceston Savings Bank (LSB), whilst completing an accounting degree as a correspondence course.[4]
Personal life edit
Robson married Desiree Tyson in May 1949, and they had three children: Jill, Paul and Jan.[4]
Honours edit
On Australia Day 2007, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for "service to electoral reform through the voting system, to the Tasmanian Parliament, and to fishing and community organisations". He was also a member of Mensa International.[6]
Publications edit
- Robson, Neil Maxwell; Scholes, David (1970), Tasmanian angler, Foot and Playsted, ISBN 978-0-9599873-0-0
- Robson, Neil (2005), Tails of a Tasmanian angler, N. Robson, ISBN 978-0-9757362-1-0
- Robson, Neil (1998), Handbook for club treasurers & secretaries, The Author, retrieved 19 December 2013
- Robson, Neil (2004), Everybody counts : Tasmania's unique electoral system Hare-Clark with Robson Rotation, Government Printer?, retrieved 19 December 2013
References edit
- ^ "Home - Tasmanian Times".
- ^ "Neil Robson | media-releases : WillHodgman.com.au". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Tasmanian Parliamentary Library – House of Assembly Elections
- ^ a b c d Robson, Neil: A Busy Life, Proportional Representation Society of Australia, 18 September 2013.
- ^ ROBSON, NEIL MAXWELL, World War II Nominal Roll.
- ^ Australian Honours
External links edit
- "Robson, Neil". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.