Donald Dunstan (governor)

Sir Donald Dunstan
30th Governor of South Australia
In office
23 April 1982 – 5 February 1991
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierDavid Tonkin (1982)
John Bannon (1982–1991)
Preceded bySir Keith Seaman
Succeeded byDame Roma Mitchell
Personal details
Born
Donald Beaumont Dunstan

(1923-02-18)18 February 1923
Murray Bridge, South Australia
Died15 October 2011(2011-10-15) (aged 88)
Adelaide, South Australia
Alma materRoyal Military College, Duntroon
ProfessionSoldier
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army
Years of service1940–1982
RankLieutenant General
CommandsChief of the General Staff (1977–82)
Field Forces (1974–77)
Australian Forces Vietnam (1971–72)
10th Task Force (1969–70)
1st Australian Task Force (1968–69)
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1964–65)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Korean War
Vietnam War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of Australia
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Mentioned in Despatches
Officer of the National Order of Vietnam
Cross of Gallantry with Palm (Vietnam)

Lieutenant General Sir Donald Beaumont Dunstan AC, KBE, CB (18 February 1923 – 15 October 2011)[1][2] was an Australian Army officer who was Governor of South Australia from 23 April 1982 until 5 February 1991. A career officer, after joining the Army in 1940 during the Second World War, Dunstan graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1942 and served as an infantry officer, seeing combat against the Japanese during the Bougainville Campaign in 1945. After the war, he served in a variety of appointments, including as commander of the 1st Australian Task Force during the Vietnam War. From 1977 to 1982 he held the appointment of Chief of the General Staff, before retiring from the Army having overseen a large-scale re-organisation. Afterwards, he became the longest-serving governor of South Australia. He died in 2011, at the age of 88.

  1. ^ "Ex-SA governor dies". Ninemsn. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Former SA governor Dunstan dies". ABC News. 17 October 2011.