Coming into office as West Australian’s 34th Governor, Chris Dawson was requested to become patron of 120 community organisations.
Governor Dawson and wife Darrilyn, who had never previously worked together, formed what amounts to a formidable dream team to tackle their extensive state-wide official duties.
A key plank in WA governors’ duties is to support worthy groups through visits, attendance at functions and hospitality.
“Darrilyn and I sat down and decided to write to all patronages. The patronages were asked to consider having Darrilyn and I as co-patrons,” Governor Dawson told me.
“Darrilyn has thrown herself right into it. She makes the visits and delivers speeches. She’s far more qualified than I in many areas. She’s been an educator, a school principal,” he said.
Mrs Dawson has 40 years’ experience in the education sector, teaching in government and private schools in regional and metropolitan areas.
The Dawsons, parents to two adults and grandparents to five children, are both pedigree West Australians, stemming from 1830s, colonial-era pioneers.
Mrs Dawson belongs to the prominent South-West farming family, the Cranes.
Governor Dawson’s great- great-grandfather, Elijah, was a Waterloo veteran who, with wife Anne, came to WA at the same time as the South-West-founding Bussels and Turners.
Governor, Captain James Stirling, escorted the group to the South-West to select potential farming sites.
“They found the jarrah, karri and tuarts far harder to deal with than working with the English oaks and pines,” said Governor Dawson, later learning his forebear also started the Vass region’s first vineyard.
A search of the family history also revealed the ground-breaking Dawsons were both speared in a clash with Aborigines. but they both survived.
The governor said he was greeted with a very positive role model when he took over duties from Governor Kim Beazley in 2022.
“My previous role (State Police Commissioner) was at times both positive and hostile,” he said.
The duties he faced weren’t a surprise, he said, having had, as top cop, direct connections with half-a-dozen previous governors and input to government legislation and policy.
On top of WA governors’ key constitutional, ceremonial and representational roles, the Dawsons listed five of their key priorities: Betterment of Aboriginal people, strengthening institutional trust, development of young leaders, children’s progress and volunteering.
Governor Dawson says he paces his workload, including signing every Bill of Parliament before they become law.
Does he do it sitting back comfortably in the Government House loungeroom, in slippers and dressing gown with pen in hand?
“And a nice red wine?”, suggests the Governor.
“No,” he says. “About every fortnight the Second Reading Speeches and a précis are brought down and I go through it. It’s not too taxing, I find it quite interesting.”
At 66, Governor Dawson is clearly comfortable with interviews, visitors, formalities, political meetings, extensive travel and living in public view.
He and Mrs Dawson enjoy hosting the public to Government House, with the latest on Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 13 providing an amazing array of artistic talent, music, dance and song.
In the historic ballroom and Government House gardens, there will be a pageant of wonderful music, song and dance – along with dozens of stalls and activities for the whole family.
Governor Dawson, one of WA’s most honoured citizens and past normal retirement age, continues a chequered career that took-off after schooling at Perth Modern School.
His 46 years in law enforcement included criminal investigation, training and senior roles. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal for distinguished service in 2002.
After 10 years as WA’s Deputy Commissioner, he left WA for Canberra to become chief executive officer of the Australian Crime Commission and as a director of the Australian Institute of Criminology.
As WA Police Commissioner in 2017 to 2022 – during the COVID-19 global pandemic – he co-ordinated the state of emergency and the vaccination program.
In the 2023 Australia Day Honours, Governor Dawson was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through law enforcement roles, to reconciliation, and as WA’s 34th Governor.
For now, with no set term-of-office, there’s no time for tinkering with his beloved Harley-Davidson motorbike nor wetting a fishing line but he relishes regular riverside walks.
