OH217: Transcript. Interview with Sir William Stewart Bovell in 1977 by Jean Teasdale.

Summary

Born in Busselton the son of Alexander Robert Stewart Bovell and Ethel Williams; family background; his family having come to Western Australia in the 1850s; childhood activities; schooling at Busselton School; family home and conditions; home help; entry into the Western Australian Bank in 1924; appointments to country towns; and employment in Geraldton and Morawa during the Depression; problems of country people during the Depression; poverty; the bank attitude to farmers; conflict because of lack of funds; burning the bank; and bank foreclosures; living conditions in Morawa; salary as an accountant; as bank manager in Beacon; social involvement in community organisations; the Toc H movement; church activities; Toc H Festival in London in 1936; meeting the Royal Family; enlistment in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941; administration officer of the No. 5 Air Crew Initial Training School; after discharge return to Busselton; family shipping business; election to Parliament as member for Sussex in 1947; his first election; his political career as Government Whip and then as Secretary of the Government Parties in the Legislative Assembly; his impressions of members of Parliament; duties in his parliamentary positions; liaison with other parliaments of the British Commonwealth; role in representing the Western Australian Parliament; overseas visits; the Liberal-Country Party Coalition Government; Minister for Lands; development of Esperance; the Green Range area; forestry development; salt encroachment; and involvement with immigration to Western Australia; establishment of Noalimba, the State Migration Centre; mineral development Minister for Labour; duties as Agent General for Western Australia; salary and conditions in West Australia House, London; change in Government; Sir Charles Court as Premier; and reflects on influences during his career.