Governor of South Australia
Sir Robert was appointed Governor of South Australia in August 1952. He and Lady George arrived in Adelaide early the following year. The Premier, (Sir) Thomas Playford, noted in his welcome address to Sir Robert that governors were expected to be "an inspiration in times of danger." He could not have known how portentous his words would turn out to be. In March 1954, the worst earthquake in Adelaide's history damaged Government House, along with many other buildings in the city. Less than a year later, the Governor's summer residence at Marble Hill was destroyed in the Black Sunday Bushfires of January 1955. He and his wife and staff sheltered under wet blankets in the driveway, and were lucky to escape with their lives. In a particularly cruel twist of fate, all Sir Robert and Lady George's possessions were lost in the fire, having been relocated to Marble Hill while Government House was undergoing repairs for the damage suffered in the earthquake.
Sir Robert was a colourful governor, once demanding a personal helicopter from Premier Playford. Although admired for his bravery, Sir Robert was considered old-fashioned by the masses, particularly due to his impatience, polo-playing, and his habit of carrying a fly-whisk and a cane. Lady George's support of traditional family roles was not popular with the emerging feminists; once, while opening laboratories at a girls' college, she claimed: "The most important thing for a girl is to learn how to run a home well."
Despite their differences, Playford supported George and the dignity of the Vice-Regal post in a 1956 court case regarding the cook's wages. The prosecuting lawyer was future Labor premier Don Dunstan. Playford negotiated an out of court settlement on condition that the sitting Labor members would not debate the item. Labor maverick S. J. Lawn did not honour the agreement, and tried to raise a public scandal. Playford simply extended George's term.
Read more about this topic: Robert George (RAF Officer)
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