A Prime Minister of Malta? A cabinet-maker trade unionist? Churchill’s Minister for Economic Warfare? The Chief Scout of the World? These are just some of those who have been Governors of Tasmania. Don Morris sketches out the lives of some of those who have held Tasmania’s highest public office, and the important role the Governor has played in the social and political life of our Island.
Don Morris, a member of the Governor’s Personal Staff from 1989 to 1993, is currently a full-time Senior Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, based in Melbourne. He was born and educated in Launceston and at the University of Tasmania, from where he graduated in politics and philosophy. Apart from working at Government House as Research Assistant to General Sir Phillip Bennett, Don has also been Secretary to the Government of Norfolk Island, Regional Director of the Jervis Bay Territory, and Private Secretary to three successive Presidents of the Senate. He has recently published a paper on the perils of defining the reserve powers of the Crown. Don was co-author with his late father of History in Our Streets, an historical account of Launceston street names.