Gordon Burns ROLPH

• Individual Picture Notes
  • Gordon Burns Rolph

• General Notes
  • Gordon Rolph was born at Launceston on 28 January 1893. Educated at Scotch College, Launceston, and Leslie House, Hobart, he afterwards gained experience in all aspects of the Examiner's work before joining his father in its management. He was assistant manager when on 16 November 1918 at Longford Presbyterian Church he married Dorothy Hope Hardman. A more burly figure than his father, he was a member of the Volunteer Artillery Regiment but asthma prevented his serving in World War I.
    
    Eventually Rolph became general manager, then chairman and managing director and finally governing director of W. R. Rolph & Sons. His interest in newspapers extended further. He was president of the Australian Provincial Press Association (1942-51), chairman of directors of the Australian Provincial Daily Press (1948-56), and delegate to four Imperial Press conferences—London in 1930 and 1946, Canada in 1950 and Australia in 1955. In 1940 he was State president of the Australian Federation of Commercial Broadcasting Stations. Appointed O.B.E. in 1942 and C.M.G. in 1946, he was knighted in 1948.
    
    Rolph was also chief executive of the Tasmanian Executors and Trustees Association Pty Ltd, Equitable Building Society, Walpamur Co. (Aust.) Ltd, Cleanquick Pty Ltd, Tip Top Paints (Aust.), Tamar Services Pty Ltd, Tasmanian Softwoods Pty Ltd and United Dairies and Cool Stores of Tasmania.
    
    His support of various community organizations encompassed the Launceston Chamber of Commerce (president, 1933-37 and 1944-50), Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire (delegate, 1930), Launceston Rotary Club (foundation secretary 1924, and president 1932-33), Royal Commonwealth Society (president 1937) and Royal Society of St George (foundation president and later patron). An extra-territorial justice of the peace, he was president of the Honorary Justices' Association of Tasmania in 1944-50 and patron until his death. He was president of the National Agricultural and Pastoral Society in 1952-54, vice-patron of the Launceston War Memorial Community Centre Association and in 1933-50 served on the Launceston General Hospital board. Concerned for disadvantaged children, he was vice-president of the Society for the Care of Crippled Children and a trustee of the Northern Tasmanian Home for Boys.
    
    Rolph was a keen sportsman, participating in running and swimming in his younger days, golf, boating and fishing later when he spent leisurely holidays at his Richmond Hill home, Como. A Freemason, a past master of the Lodge of Hope, he belonged to the Launceston, Northern and Tasmanian clubs and the Athenaeum Club in Melbourne.
    
    Sir Gordon died of cerebral haemorrhage at Launceston on 23 March 1959, survived by his wife and three daughters and leaving an estate valued for probate in 1969 at $255,146.