Hugh Stevenson Roberton

  • Born 18 December 1900 in Glasgow, Scotland
  • Died 13 March 1987 in Canberra
  • Writer, farmer and grazier
  • Married Marjorie Wyllie (1926), one daughter; married Eileen McLeod (1972)
  • Served in World War II (enlisted at Old Junee)
  • Had distinguished career as agricultural writer, under the pen-name “Peter Snodgrass”
  • General President of Farmers and Settlers’ Association of NSW and Australian Wheatgrowers’ Federation
  • Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs 1952-55
  • Minister for Social Services 1956-65
  • Australia’s first Ambassador to Ireland 1965-68
  • In a condolence motion speech, National Party Leader Ian Sinclair said Roberton: “was one of those greats of the bush-a humble man, a man whose interest in the wider community, particularly in things agricultural, extended throughout his life. He was one who served his community well before he entered [Parliament].”
Cristy Houghton