Perth,
Western Australia
(Old Edition)
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Gorton was a hero who saved a girl's life
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It would have been about 1918 that my grandfather, Lieut_Col. Dr Stanley Argyle, a radiologist of Collins Street, Melbourne, first met John Rose Gorton, father of the future prime minister. In 1920 they became associated in a citrus-growing venture at Kangaroo Lake, near Kerang, in northern Victoria. My father, Hector Argyle (1901-1981), and the future prime minister met in 1922 and became near neighbours at Kangaroo Lake in 1927, until 1950, when my parents and I moved to Western Australia. My grandfather, in 1920, standing as an independent nationalist, was elected MLA to the Victorian parliament and, as Sir Stanley Argyle, became premier in 1932. The premier was a regular visitor to Kangaroo Lake and, with my father, they were keen shooters of duck, hare and quail. John Grey Gorton (known as Jack Gorton) was included in their shooting parties. On one quail shoot to Canary Island on the River Loddon in April 1940, they bagged 73 birds. Gorton was a good shot, enjoyable company, and someone who was always pleased to engage Sir Stanley in political debate. Jack's father died in 1936, and Hector's father died in November 1940. Thereafter, some rivalry existed between the two old Geelong grammarians, who often addressed each other by their surnames. However, they remained firm friends and kept in contact. When Gorton became prime minister in 1968 my father aid: "Jack becoming prime minister does not surprise me; it will be interesting to see how long he lasts. He certainly has the necessary pluck!" It is not generally known that John Gorton, when a schoolboy in 1928 at Portland Bay in Victoria, at either Nunns or Henty's beach, saw swimmer in difficulty, took to the ocean and through surf and rip rescued a 10-year-old girl. Her name was Elfwyn Margaret Kimpton, nee Laidlaw (1918-1994). Elfwyn was forever thankful to the future prime minister who had saved her life. In later years she would often re-tell the story of how her life had been saved by the prime minister and she would continue: "He was so handsome, just like a Greek god. He gave me a smack and I always loved him dearly." They met again when Gorton became prime minister and he well remembered that anxious day at Portland. I also remember at Kangaroo Lake what a wonderful swimmer and diver John Gorton was and the fun we children had in his company, swimming and playing hide and seek. He was a hero to me, and my friend. I was pleased to have been a contributor to the recent book by Ian Hancock, John Gorton ñ He Did It His Way. It is indeed a fine recapitulation of a most remarkable life. Australia has been fortunate to have had the John Gorton experience. Ian Stanley Argyle Thomas Street Nedlands |
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