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 Takapuna Grammar School is a state coeducational secondary school located in the suburb of Belmont on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1927, the school mainly serves the eponymous suburb of Takapuna and the entire Devo ...

. He later studied at Auckland University College and Jesus College, Cambridge. He served six years in the

New Zealand Army , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

as part of the

Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

during World War II, including service in Italy, the South Pacific and south-west Asia. He left the army with the rank of captain.

Working life

After leaving uniformed service, Turbott joined the

British Colonial Service The Colonial Service, also known as His/Her Majesty's Colonial Service and replaced in 1954 by Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service (HMOCS), was the British government service that administered most of Britain's overseas possessions, under the aut ...

with an appointment to the

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony The Gilbert and Ellice Islands (GEIC as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean were part of the British Empire from 1892 to 1976. They were a protectorate from 1892 to 12 January 1916, and then a colony until 1 January 1976. The history of the colony w ...

. After a secondment to the British Colonial Office, he served as

Administrator of Antigua This is a list of viceroys of Antigua and Barbuda, from its initial colonisation in 1632 until its independence in 1981. Between 1671 and 1816, Antigua was part of the British Leeward Islands and its viceroy was the Governor of the Leeward Island ...

between 1958 and 1964. In 1964 he was appointed

Administrator of Grenada This is a list of Viceroys of Grenada from the establishment of French rule in 1649 until its independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. Following independence, the viceroy of Grenada ceased to represent the British monarch and British governme ...

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

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

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 The Australian Father of the Year Award is presented annually to "a distinguished father who has demonstrated support, guidance and love to his children or other children through his working role or family life." Awards The award was inaugurated ...

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. They married soon after in the United States. Together they had three daughters. He died on 11 August 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turbott, Ian 1922 births 2016 deaths People from Whangārei Governors of British Grenada New Zealand emigrants to Australia Governors of Antigua and Barbuda Chancellors of Western Sydney University New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand Knights Bachelor Australian Knights Bachelor Officers of the Order of Australia Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Australian Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order People educated at Takapuna Grammar School New Zealand expatriates in the United Kingdom Expatriates in Kiribati Expatriates in Tuvalu