State funeral : the late Sir Douglas Mawson

When Sir Douglas Mawson died on 14 October 1958 he was granted a Commonwealth State Funeral-unusual at this time as these were generally only granted to political figures. Mawson had been ill for some time with arthritis which had limited his mobility, had suffered from pneumonia in 1957, and had a slight stroke in September 1958, from which he recovered after a few days. Then on 12 October he had a more severe stroke and became unconscious. He died at home with his family around him.

The funeral was conducted at St Jude's Church Brighton, Mawson's own church, and he was buried in the church cemetery. Hundreds of mourners filled the church, and laid floral tributes on the church lawn. Mawson's coffin was draped in the flag that had been used on the second BANZARE cruise of 1930-31.

Someone attending the funeral, the previous owner of the Order of Service, has noted (in the same hand) names on the front of it: these include I Thomas (Ifor Thomas, Mawson's son-in-law, husband of Patricia), P McEwin (Peter McEwin and husband of Jessica Mawson), Playford (Thomas Playford, Premier of South Australia), A M Simpson (A. Moxon Simpson, an industry leader), Speaker McLeay (John McLeay, Speaker of the House of Representatives 1956-66), Sen. DC Hannaford (Senator Douglas Clive Hannaford 1950-67) and two others. Perhaps this is a list of some of the attendees, or of those he intended or managed to speak with: we do not know.

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