Hewitt was born at Theodore, Queensland in 1920 to Herbert Deane Hewitt and his wife Mildred Sarah Elizabeth (née Davey). He started his schooling in Theodore before completing his education at Rockhampton Grammar School.[1]
World War II
Neville Hewitt in Rockhampton's Anzac Day parade, 2016
In World War II, he joined the Royal Australian Air Force, reaching the rank of Flying Officer. Hewitt was aboard a Wellington Bomber when it was shot down over Tunisia. He managed to parachute out and endured an artillery duel before landing and breaking his ankle. Over four nights he managed to crawl back to where his plane had crashed and destroyed anything of value to the enemy. He was finally rescued by a British patrol and for his actions was awarded the Military Medal and the Air Force Medal.[2]
After the war, he returned to Theodore and worked at Forest Hills Station till 1948. Hewitt then worked as manager for Australian Estates in Eidsvold till 1956 at which time he entered Queensland politics.[1]
Politics
At the 1956 Queensland election Hewitt won the seat of Mackenzie as a candidate for the Country Party. It was the only seat his party gained from the Labor Party, winning it by just 46 votes after a second count. At the 1972 election his seat was abolished and he moved to the electorate of Auburn, holding it till his retirement from politics in 1980. From 1969 till 1980 Hewitt held several Ministerial roles including Water Resources, Aboriginal and Islander Advancement, and Local Government. During his 12 years as a Minister 10 major dams were built, the Brigalow Land Development Scheme was introduced, and the Moura and Blackwater mining developments commenced.[1]
Personal life
In 1946, he married Nancy Dorris Freeman and they have five children -Geoffery, Denise, Ian, Peter and Rodney. Fifteen grandchildren Kate, Lachlan, Nathan, Cameron, Anna, Rebecca, Thomas, Jessica, Kimberley, Callan, James, Bethany, Hamish, Charles and Fletcher. In his younger days Hewitt was an amateur jockey and rode 300 winners.[1] Hewitt died on 19 July 2016 in Rockhampton.[3]
Legacy
Neville Hewitt Park in Theodore, 2016
Landmarks which bear Hewitt's name include Theodore's Neville Hewitt Park and the Neville Hewitt Weir in Baralaba which was built in 1976 enabling water to be supplied to the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda.[4][5] The Neville Hewitt Bridge built over the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton was also named in Hewitt's honour and officially opened on 16 August 1980 to cater for the city's increasing traffic.[6]
^"The Town of Theodore". Sandstone Wonders. Banana Shire Council. Retrieved 28 April 2022. Neville Hewitt Park surrounds the water tower and is a great spot for a picnic lunch
^Walker, Helen (22 July 2016). "Former MP Neville Hewitt dies aged 96". Queensland Country Life. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2022. Another testament is the Neville Hewitt Weir built in 1976, and totally changed the uses of the Dawson River. The weir gave water to Baralaba, to nearby properties on the local Benleith Water Scheme, the Baralaba Golf Club, and for the town of Woorabinda.
^The Neville Hewitt Bridge Project (plaque attached to railings at western end of Neville Hewitt Bridge). Rockhampton City, Queensland: Queensland Government. 1980. This plaque commemorates the official opening of The Neville Hewitt Bridge Project by Hon. J. Bjelke-Petersen MLA on 16th August 1980
.jpg)
