Preceded by Nelson Lemmon Name Gordon Freeth Resigned October 25, 1969 Occupation Lawyer Succeeded by Frank Kirwan | Spouse(s) Joan Baker Died November 27, 2001 Nationality Australian Role Australian Politician | |
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Born 6 August 1914
Angaston, South Australia ( 1914-08-06 ) Political party Liberal Party of Australia Alma mater University of Western Australia Education University of Western Australia Party Liberal Party of Australia | ||
Sir Gordon Freeth, KBE (6 August 1914 – 27 November 2001) was an Australian politician.
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Freeth was born in Angaston, South Australia, the son of Robert Freeth (1886–1979) and Gladys Mary Snashall. He attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and the Guildford Grammar School in Western Australia (where his father was headteacher from 1928 to 1949).
He was awarded a Bachelor of Laws by the University of Western Australia in 1938. He won a gold medal for rowing in the coxed fours in the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney. In 1939 he married Joan Baker and they had twin daughters, Felicity and Susan and a son, Robert.
In 1939, he began practising law in Katanning, Western Australia. With the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force and he flew Beaufort bombers in New Guinea and had been promoted to flight lieutenant by 1945, when he was demobilised.
Political career
Freeth was elected as the Liberal Party of Australia member for Forrest in the 1949 election. He was appointed Minister for the Interior and Minister for Works in 1958 and in 1963 he was appointed Minister for Shipping and Transport. In February 1968, he was appointed Minister for Air, replacing Peter Howson.
He was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, replacing Paul Hasluck, in February 1969 when Hasluck became Governor-General. He was defeated at the 1969 election by the Australian Labor Party candidate, Frank Kirwan.
Freeth was Ambassador to Japan from 1970 to 1973 and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1977 to 1980.
Death
Freeth died in Perth in 2001, predeceased by his wife, but survived by his three children.
Honours
Freeth was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1978.