Harley Dickinson, kiap, MP, dies at 70

 

Budapest, Thursday: Bob Stensholt, himself a member of the Victorian Parliament, albeit of the Labor persuasion, advises me of the death last month of former patrol officer Harley Dickinson at the age of 70.  Harley was educated at Geelong College and the Australian School of Pacific Administration.

 

He pioneered the exploration of Mt Fubulan in PNG in 1958 as a patrol officer. From 1958-70 he served respectively with ranks up to district officer. The Victorian Parliamentary record of his subsequent career seems to me a little confused but I quote it verbatim: “Officer Papua-New Guinea Constabulary, Office of Programming and Co-ordination 1970-1971; officer OK Tedi and Bougainville copper projects, Department of Law 1971-1976; resident magistrate, visiting justice and coroner Boroko, Popondetta and Mendi district courts, district supervising magistrate Southern Highlands Province, chairman Highland District Land Disputes committee”.

 

Harley returned to Australia in 1976 as assistant secretary of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures. In 1982 he was elected as the Liberal Member for Barwon in the Victorian Parliament, holding the seat for more than ten years until his defeat at the 1992 election.