Charles Hawker

Charles Allan Seymour Hawker
Born	Template:Birth date Bungaree station near Clare, South Australia, Australia
Died	October 25, 1938(1938-10-25) (aged 44)
Occupation(s)	Politician, pastoralist, military officer
Years active	1929–1938 (politics)
Known for	Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Wakefield; Minister for Repatriation; Minister for Markets/Commerce

Charles Allan Seymour Hawker (16 May 1894 – 25 October 1938) was an Australian parliamentarian who served as the representative for the Wakefield seat in the Australian House of Representatives from 1929 until his untimely death in a plane accident in 1938. His political career spanned membership in the Nationalist Party (1929–1931) and later its successor, the United Australia Party (1931–1938). Within the Lyons administration, Hawker held ministerial positions, including Minister for Repatriation and Minister for Markets (which was subsequently renamed Commerce) between 1931 and 1932.

Early life and military service

Hawker was born at the Bungaree station near Clare, South Australia, as the second son of Michael Seymour Hawker, who managed the family’s pastoral properties, and was the grandson of George Charles Hawker. His education included attendance at Geelong Grammar School followed by studies at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he completed both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees by 1922.

During his time at Cambridge, Hawker enlisted for service in World War I on 11 August 1914. By August 1915, he had been commissioned as a temporary lieutenant in the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. He fought on the Western Front and suffered severe injuries at the 1917 Battle of Broodseinde, which resulted in the loss of an eye and paralysis below the waist. Despite these debilitating wounds, he returned to active duty with the rank of captain and later underwent rehabilitation that enabled limited movement, although surgical irons remained affixed to his legs.

After returning to South Australia in 1920, Hawker resumed his education and took charge of overseeing family agricultural enterprises. He developed a keen interest in trade policies and political matters, joining the state council of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia as vice-president in 1921. Between 1927 and 1930, he led the Liberal Federation as its president and represented South Australia on the Commonwealth Board of Trade starting in 1928.

Political career

In 1929, Hawker secured election to the Australian House of Representatives for Wakefield, initially representing the Nationalist Party, which soon evolved into the United Australia Party. He was appointed Minister for Markets and Minister for Repatriation in Prime Minister Joseph Lyons’ first cabinet, becoming its youngest minister. On 12 April 1932, he was succeeded by Charles Marr as Minister for Repatriation while his Markets portfolio was retitled Commerce. Subsequently, on 23 September 1932, Hawker resigned from his ministerial roles in protest against the government's refusal to lower parliamentary salaries during the economic hardships of the Great Depression, having previously crossed party lines to vote against government policy. Although he did not return to ministerial office afterward, he continued serving as Wakefield’s parliamentary representative.

Hawker dedicated significant effort to studying trade and agricultural topics, authoring pamphlets and presenting lectures related to farming and pastoral concerns.

In addition to his political and agricultural pursuits, he was a passionate bibliophile who expanded upon a book collection originally inherited from his father.

Death and legacy

Hawker lost his life in the 1938 Kyeema airplane disaster near Mount Dandenong, Victoria. A tribute to him was created at St Michael's Anglican Church located in Bungaree, South Australia. The Australian Electoral Division known as the Hawker and the Canberra suburb named Hawker, Australian Capital Territory both commemorate his legacy. In 1991, his sister Kathleen Lilias Needham established the Charles Allan Seymour Hawker Scholarship to assist Australian students pursuing higher education. Additionally, his cousin, David Hawker, held the position of Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives between 2004 and 2007.