Ian Turbott Explained

Sir Ian Turbott
Honorific-Suffix:AO CMG CVO
Office:Administrator of Antigua
Term Start:1958
Term End:1964
Primeminister:Vere Bird (1960–1964)
Predecessor:Alec Lovelace
Successor:David Rose
Office2:Administrator of Grenada
Term Start2:1964
Term End2:3 March 1967
Monarch2:Queen Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:Herbert Blaize
Predecessor2:Lionel Achille Pinard
Successor2:Office changed to Governor
Office3:Governor of Grenada
Term Start3:1967
Term End3:1968
Monarch3:Queen Elizabeth II
Premier3:Herbert Blaize (March–August 1967)
Eric Gairy (August 1967–1968
Predecessor3:New creation
Successor3:Hilda Bynoe
Birth Name:Ian Graham Turbott
Birth Date:9 March 1922
Birth Place:Whangārei, New Zealand
Relations:Graham Turbott (brother)
Allegiance:New Zealand
Branch:New Zealand Army
Serviceyears:1940–46
Rank:Captain

Sir Ian Graham Turbott (9 March 1922 – 11 August 2016) was a New Zealand-Australian diplomat and university administrator.

Early life and education

Turbott was born in Whangārei, New Zealand, and attended Takapuna Grammar School. He later studied at Auckland University College and Jesus College, Cambridge. He served six years in the New Zealand Army as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force during World War II, including service in Italy, the South Pacific and south-west Asia. He left the army with the rank of captain.[1] [2] [3]

Working life

After leaving uniformed service, Turbott joined the British Colonial Service with an appointment to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. After a secondment to the British Colonial Office, he served as Administrator of Antigua between 1958 and 1964. In 1964 he was appointed Administrator of Grenada, continuing in the role after it became a governorship in 1967. He left Grenada in 1968. After two years in Britain, he emigrated to Australia, where he entered business. Between 1989 and 2000 Turbott served as chancellor of the University of Western Sydney.[4]

Turbott was the honorary consul-general for the Cook Islands in New South Wales from 1995 until his death.[5] [6]

Community

Turbott was appointed (1982–1954) as both the NSW chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award – Australia and a national board director. http://www.dukeofed.org.au

Honours

Turbott was made a knight bachelor in the 1968 British New Year's Honours List. In 1985 he was named Australian Father of the Year.[7]

Personal life

Turbott met his future wife, Nancy Lantz, on Christmas Eve 1951 when a Pan Am Boeing Stratocruiser on which she was a flight attendant landed on Canton Island, where he was stationed.[8] [9] [10] They married soon after in the United States. Together they had three daughters.[11] He died on 11 August 2016.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Turbott - Ian Graham . Debrett's People Of Today . 2000 .
  2. Encyclopedia: Turbott, Ian Graham . An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand . 28 January 2015 . McLintock, A. H. . 1966 .
  3. News: Jungle Fighters Halt Race To Chase Japs . The Milwaukee Journal . 16 February 1944 . 28 January 2015. Google Newspaper Archive.
  4. Web site: Ian Turbott, Foundation Chancellor . University of Western Sydney . 28 January 2015.
  5. Web site: Foreign embassies and consulates in Australia - Cook Islands . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 28 January 2015.
  6. Web site: Meitaki maata, aere ra Sir Ian Turbott . 24 August 2016 . Cook Islands News . en-gb . 29 December 2017.
  7. News: Around the traps . The Sydney Morning Herald . 25 August 1985 . 28 January 2015 . Beaumont, Janise. Google Newspaper Archive.
  8. Book: Turbott, Ian. Nancy My Beloved. Book House, Sydney. 2000.
  9. Book: Turbott, Ian. Lands of Sun and Spice. Fast Books, Sydney. 1996.
  10. Book: Gill, B. Booby eggs and a solar eclipse. In: The Unburnt Egg. More Stories of a Museum Curator. Awa Press, Wellington. 2016. 978-1-927249-29-1. 77–91.
  11. News: Obituaries - Lady (Nancy) Turbott . The Age . 20 October 1999 . 28 January 2015.
  12. Web site: Obituaries - Sir Ian Turbott . 12 August 2016 . 15 August 2016.