1. David Oliver Tonkin was an Australian politician who served as the 38th Premier of South Australia from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982.
17 Facts About David Tonkin
1. 2.
David Tonkin was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983.
3.
David Tonkin became the leader of the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia in 1975, replacing Bruce Eastick.
4.
David Tonkin was born in Unley, South Australia, on 20 July 1929.
5.
David Tonkin attended local public schools before gaining a scholarship to St Peter's College.
6.
David Tonkin established a practice in Adelaide and was considered one of the city's leading eye surgeons.
7.
In 1962 David Tonkin became executive director of the Australian Foundation for Prevention of Blindness SA Inc.
8.
From a young age, David Tonkin was a supporter of the Liberal and Country League, handing out how-to-vote cards at the 1939 election for the party.
9.
David Tonkin quickly gained a reputation as a progressive member of the LCL.
10.
David Tonkin was an early supporter of the Liberal Movement faction created by former premier Steele Hall, although Tonkin remained with the LCL when the Liberal Movement split from it.
11.
Already governing on a knife-edge, David Tonkin's majority became even slimmer in 1980 after a court decision threw out a Liberal victory in Dunstan's old seat Norwood, and Labor regained it in the ensuing by-election.
12.
Also serving as his own state Treasurer, David Tonkin combined fiscal conservatism with implementing socially progressive reforms.
13.
David Tonkin resigned from parliament shortly after following a heart complaint.
14.
Until the defeat of Steven Marshall in 2022, David Tonkin was the only non-Labor Premier to have served for at least a full term since the main non-Labor party in South Australia adopted the Liberal banner.
15.
Subsequently, David Tonkin returned to ophthalmology and served in various capacities in different government and community organisations, including chairman of the board of the State Opera from 1985 to 1986 and vice-president of Sturt Football Club.
16.
David Tonkin was awarded the Liberal Party's outstanding achievement award in 2000 by Prime Minister John Howard and died in his sleep at Mengler Hill, Barossa Valley, South Australia, on 2 October 2000 while attending a music festival.
17.
David Tonkin was survived by his wife Prue, six children and 10 grandchildren.