1. James Donald Mathieson Dobie was an Australian politician.
19 Facts About Don Dobie
2.
Don Dobie was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives for over 25 years, representing the seats of Hughes and Cook.
3.
Don Dobie was an assistant minister during the McMahon government.
4.
Don Dobie was the only child of Annie Burns and Alexander Dobie.
5.
Don Dobie left school in 1943 and joined the Bank of New South Wales, working in branches around Queensland.
6.
Don Dobie was called up for national service with the Citizens Military Force in 1951 and served as a gunner with the 2nd Light Artillery Regiment.
7.
In 1953, Don Dobie was transferred to Melbourne where he worked in the bank's economics section.
8.
Don Dobie was able to study part-time at the University of Melbourne and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1961.
9.
Don Dobie subsequently spent a year in the United States obtaining a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.
10.
Don Dobie was president of the Liberal Party's Woolooware branch from 1964 to 1966.
11.
Don Dobie was first elected to the party's state council in New South Wales in 1965 and served terms on the state executive and as a delegate to federal council.
12.
At the 1966 federal election, Don Dobie was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party, defeating Labor member Les Johnson for the seat of Hughes.
13.
Don Dobie was the Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1985.
14.
In 1993 he was the Coalition candidate for Speaker of the House of Representatives but the nomination was of a symbolic nature as the Coalition had just lost an election earlier that year and Don Dobie was defeated on party lines by the Labor Government's candidate Stephen Martin by a vote of 78 to 63.
15.
Don Dobie was in a long-term relationship with physician George Burniston.
16.
Burniston died in 1992, with Don Dobie acknowledged in his obituary as a "life long friend and close companion".
17.
Don Dobie died on 25 November 1996 at the age of 69, less than a year after leaving parliament.
18.
Don Dobie's death was caused by a heart attack resulting from complications of diabetes.
19.
Don Dobie was granted a state funeral at Cronulla Presbyterian Community Church.