John Lavington Bonython facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Lavington Bonython
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John Lavington Bonython, Mayor of Adelaide,
c. 1913 |
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| Born | 10 September 1875 |
| Died | 6 November 1960 (aged 85) |
| Occupation | Newspaper editor |
Sir John Lavington Bonython (born September 10, 1875 – died November 6, 1960) was a very important person in Adelaide, South Australia. He was known for his work with newspapers, in business, and in local government. He worked closely with his father to manage newspapers, including The Advertiser. He also worked as a journalist and was the editor of The Saturday Express.
After The Advertiser newspaper was sold in 1929, he became a director and even a vice-chairman. He stayed involved with the newspaper until he passed away. In 1901, he started working with the Adelaide City Council. He served as the Mayor of Adelaide from 1911 to 1913, and later as the Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1927 to 1930. He was honored with a knighthood in 1935. A fountain, which is no longer there, was built in his honor on North Terrace in Adelaide.
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A Life of Public Service in Adelaide
John Lavington Bonython was born in Adelaide on September 10, 1875. He was the oldest son of Sir John Langdon Bonython and Mary Louise Fredericka. He went to Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. In 1896, he started working for The Advertiser newspaper.
Working in Newspapers
During his time in the newspaper business, he worked for The Advertiser, Chronicle, and the Express. He was the editor of the Saturday Express newspaper from 1912 to 1930. This meant he was in charge of what went into the newspaper.
Leading Adelaide as Mayor
Lavington Bonython became involved with the Adelaide City Council when he was chosen as a councillor in 1901. A councillor is someone elected to help run a local city or town. In 1907, he became an alderman, which is a senior member of the council.
He served as Mayor of Adelaide from 1912 to 1913. He then became the Lord Mayor from 1928 to 1930. When he became Mayor in 1912, he was the second youngest person ever to hold that position in Adelaide. He was known for caring a lot about Adelaide's history and keeping its heritage safe. For much of his time as Mayor, he was a widower, meaning his wife had passed away. His sister, Mrs. H. A. Parsons, helped him by acting as Mayoress at official events.
In 1935, he was made a Knight. This is a special honor given by the King or Queen.
Community Work and Other Roles
Besides his work in newspapers and city government, Lavington Bonython was also on the boards of many important organizations. He was on the board of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Municipal Tramways Trust. He also served as a director and Vice-Chairman for The Advertiser newspaper.
He was a founding member of the board for Minda Inc, an organization that helps people with disabilities. He stayed involved with Minda Inc for an amazing 62 years, showing his long-term dedication to the community.
John Lavington Bonython passed away on November 6, 1960.
Sir John Lavington Bonython's Family
John Lavington Bonython was married two times and had six children in total.
First Marriage to Blanche Ada Bray
On April 16, 1904, he married Blanche Ada Bray. She was born in Adelaide on November 10, 1881. Blanche and John had one son and two daughters: John, Elizabeth, and Ada. Sadly, Blanche passed away on November 5, 1908, at the age of 26.
- John Langdon Bonython (1905-1992) was born on January 13, 1905. He studied at the University of Adelaide and became a lawyer. In 1954, he became the first Chairman of the board of directors for Santos, a big energy company. Port Bonython was named after him.
- Elizabeth (Betty) Hornabrook Bonython (1907-2008) was born on January 25, 1907. She was very active in community work and served on many organization boards. She was honored with the MBE in 1946 and the CBE in 1959 for her community service. She lived to be 101 years old.
- Ada Bray Bonython (1908-1965) married Denis Heath in 1930 and moved to England. She had three children.
Second Marriage to Jean Warren
Four years after Blanche passed away, on December 11, 1912, Lavington Bonython married Constance Jean Warren. She was 21 years old at the time. They had three children together: Warren, Katherine, and Kym.
Because Lavington was the Mayor of Adelaide when they married, Jean was often called "the Baby Mayoress" because she was so young. She was very busy and involved in many different committees and groups. Her son Warren later wrote a book about her life.
- Charles Warren Bonython (1916–2012) was a chemical engineer who became famous as a conservationist and author. He is best known for helping to create the Heysen Trail, a long walking trail in South Australia. He also helped protect the dry regions of South Australia.
- Katherine Downer Bonython (born 1918) married Colin Clark Verco in 1940. They had three daughters.
- Hugh Reskymer (Kym) Bonython (1920–2011) lived a very active and interesting life. He was a pilot in World War II, an art gallery owner, an author, and a jazz music promoter. He brought many famous jazz musicians to Adelaide. He also played a big part in getting The Beatles to add Adelaide to their 1964 tour of Australia.
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