John Atwill
{{Short description|Australian lawyer and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = Sir
| office1 = President of the Liberal Party of Australia
| term_start1 = 1975
| term_end1 = 1982
| birth_date = 16 January 1926
| education = Cranbrook School, Sydney
| death_date = August 2001
}}
Sir (Milton) John Napier Atwill (16 January 1926 – August 2001) was an Australian barrister, who was president of the Liberal Party of Australia between 1975 and 1982.
Early life and military service
Atwill was born in 1926, the son of Milton Spencer Atwill and Isobel Caroline Cavaye. He was educated at Cranbrook School, Sydney, Geelong Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force between 1944 and 1945.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbessociety.org.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/honour.pdf |title=Honour Roll of Barristers who Served in The Second World War |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Forbes Society |access-date=29 January 2021 |quote=}} He had two daughters with his wife, Susan.{{cite news |title=The complete federalist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100503748/john-atwell-profile/ |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 October 1975 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 26, 2022}} His sister-in-law was the actress Wendy Playfair.[https://raywhitedoublebay.com/news/family-matters-by-evan-williams Family Matters by Evan Williams] Retrieved 2 September 2021.
Professional and political career
Atwill practised as a barrister between 1953 and 1973, being called to bar in New South Wales and a member of Gray's Inn.
He was treasurer of the NSW Division of the Liberal Party between 1989 and 1969, president 1970 to 1975{{cite web |url=https://nswliberal.org.au/LPNSW/media/General/Document/pdf/New-Members-Brochure-2021.pdf |title=Welcome to the Liberal Party of Australia New South Wales Division |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) |access-date=29 January 2021 |quote=}} and federal president 1975 to 1982.{{cite web |url=https://www.liberal.org.au/party-people |title=Party People |author= |date= 12 June 2013|website= |publisher=Liberal Party of Australia |access-date=29 January 2021 |quote=}}
Atwill was knighted in 1978 in recognition of his service to commerce.{{cite news |title=The New Year's Honours |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100503957/knighting-of-atwell/ |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 December 1978 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 26, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1083321 |title=Award extract |author= |date= |website=It's an honour |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) |access-date=29 January 2021 |quote=}}
He died in August 2001.[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121681377/ Sydney Morning Herald, 28 Aug 2001, Death notice]
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book |author=Hal Colebatch |author1-link=Hal Colebatch|date=1989 |title=Debrett's Handbook of Australia, 4ed |url= |location=Perth |publisher=Debrett's |pages=24–25 |isbn=0949137057}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Atwill, John}}
Category:Australian barristers
Category:Liberal Party of Australia
Category:Date of death missing
Category:Australian Knights Bachelor
Category:20th-century Australian lawyers
Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge
Category:Royal Australian Air Force personnel