Remembering Peter Dawson: 21 February 1936 – 12 October 2022
The Moore Street Journal pays tribute to Peter Dawson, author of Creative Capital: Global success from bright ideas, and a supporter of Canberra’s business and innovation ecosystems
First time author in his seventies. Climate change campaigner. First Director of the Australian Protective Service and head of Comcar. Former Australian Former trade commissioner to Indonesia and Kenya. Supporter of the Canberra innovation community and of Australia’s trade relationship with Indonesia. Environmental crusader. Extraordinary father who took a strong interest in the education of his daughters and grandchildren and helped set up a progressive school.
There are many things for which Peter Dawson is known, but for those in Canberra’s innovation community, he is best known for authoring Creative Capital, a book that profiled many business success stories in Canberra and the region – often in their early stages of development and before they received widespread media attention.
Peter Dawson died suddenly last year, aged 86, from complications after being diagnosed with cancer (sarcoma). It was a shock to family and friends, with daughter Julie recounting that he planned to live until he was 100. And even in the hospital before he died, he was talking about taking six months off to write his next book.
He was highly respected by those who knew him and maintained friendships throughout his life. He also encouraged and mentored many people, including in Canberra’s innovation community. “Dad’s ability to thoughtfully listen and empathise and guide people has been of enormous help, not just to us but also to others growing up,” recounted his daughter Kate.
Fatherless childhood
Peter grew up on a farm outside McKinley, in northwest Queensland. McKinley is in a remote area not too far from where Crocodile Dundee was filmed. Peter’s father tragically fell off a windmill and died when Peter was only six years old. Thereafter, he and his brother were sent to a boarding school in Melbourne called Haileybury. It was a big adjustment: he wasn’t used to cold showers, playing sports, or socialising with other children. However, he excelled academically, became involved in swimming, gymnastics, cricket, and football, and captained the school cricket team. He was awarded a Commonwealth scholarship to study philosophy and English at the University of Melbourne. He supported himself by working part-time as a painter – a job that led to a lifeline love of building and fixing things.
Peter met his wife, Liz, on a tennis court. They were married on 8 June 1963 and had three daughters together.
His experiences of being without family, other than his brother, for much of his formative life, led to him taking a strong interest in his children and their education. “He was an extraordinary father; he was always there when you needed him,” recounted Julie. His daughters remember time spent at their holiday home at Batemans’s Bay, where they would enjoy sailing after time spent painting and building the beachside house. Peter’s grandchildren also recall him being present for sporting matches and award nights.
Trade Commissioner
Peter joined the Australian Trade Commissioner Service in 1963, the same year he married Liz. After language training at Port Cook, he was posted to Jakarta, Indonesia. “This was the beginning of his long-term respect for, and engagement with, that country,” recounted his daughter Sophie.
It was a dangerous time to be in Indonesia. Not long after they arrived, President Sukarno was ousted. During the coup, their eldest daughter Julie narrowly escaped being hit by gunfire while in their backyard. Postings to Nairobi in Kenya followed, but then they decided to move to Canberra and focus on their children’s education.
A pioneer in progressive education
Growing up without being around his family led to him taking a strong role in his daughters’ education. “Our parents were not afraid to stand up for what was right, and they were always forward-thinking,” Sophie said. He and Liz decided to base themselves in Canberra and became actively involved with a group of parents to establish an independent school called AME in 1972. Peter served as the inaugural chair of the school council and sought funds and government approval for the school.
According to Julie, who, as a foundation AME student was one of the ‘guinea pigs’, the school philosophy was about self-initiated learning, building on strengths and encouraging kids to be independent thinkers. This included calling teachers by their first names rather than their titles and surname. The school also pioneered teaching Japanese.
AME School, which closed in 1996, was a unique Canberra institution. It encouraged free thought and creativity and became a hive for punk rock musicians during the 1980s. It was a tight-knit community, and alumni still identify with one another. Former distinguished alumni include Chief Minister Andrew Barr and ABC journalist Michael Brissenden.
Keeping Australia safe
One of Peter’s public service roles was establishing the Australian Protective Service (APS), an organisation that provided security and counterterrorism first response duties. “Dad used to joke around the dinner party table that the role of the APS was to protect important establishments like Pine Gap against my mother’s friends, some of whom were anti-nuclear protestors,” recounted Sophie.
Jokes aside, he was passionate about ensuring protective security personnel understood the motivations of protestors and that they conducted their role with care and consideration. To help officers understand and empathize with protesters, he regularly invited Amnesty International to speak with APS staff and explain their perspectives. A room in the APS headquarters is named in his honour in recognition of his service.
Indonesia
Peter had a lifetime love of Indonesia. He was fluent in Indonesian and attended Indonesian Bahasa classes right until he died. After Peter left the public service, he started his own company – Peter Dawson & Associates – that imported items and advised Australian companies on how to do business with Indonesia. His daughter, Kate, recalls seeing shoes all over his office. Later, he imported furniture, which proved to be a more enduring business.
Peter worked closely with the Indonesian Government to develop policies to improve business and economic ties between Indonesia and Australia. He was actively involved in the Nusa Tenggara Association, an NGO that works to reduce poverty in rural Indonesian communities. He also played a key role in the Australian Indonesia Business Council.
A love of Canberra
“He loved Canberra, and Canberra loved him”
Peter had a passion both for international affairs and for his hometown. His daughter Kate recounted that Peter used to say that Canberra was the best place in the world to live in. “Dad really did think globally and act locally,” said Sophie. “He loved Canberra, and Canberra loved him.”
Creative Capital, Peter’s first book, was born from Peter wanting to tell the story about how Canberra is bigger than just a public service town. “He wanted to showcase innovative businesses in Canberra. He spent a lot of time sourcing businesses and talking to them,” said Kate.
Dr Andrew Leigh MP encouraged Peter to write about Canberra’s innovation and startup community and wrote the foreword to the book. He told The Moore Street Journal, “Creative Capital busted the stereotype that Canberrans aren’t entrepreneurial by telling the remarkable stories of so many clever startups and innovative enterprises. His late wife Liz Dawson, was a social entrepreneur and the driving force behind Common Ground Gungahlin. Peter brought the same energy to telling the stories of our most interesting businesses. He helped many Canberrans, me included, see our city in a fresh light – quirky, sparky, and at the technology frontier. What a great service he did for Australia’s creative capital.”
Peter is immortalised in a plaque on Canberra’s honour walk. The plague acknowledges that he served as the first chairman of the International Business Taskforce, the Canberra Business Council and facilitated the first ACT trade mission to Indonesia.
Climate change
Peter was passionate about the environment and finding practical ways to advocate for sustainability. After he published Creative Capital, it led to a larger project – managing and co-editing a book: Transitioning to a Prosperous Resilient and Carbon-Free Economy: A Guide for Decision-Makers, which Cambridge University Press published in December 2021.
Peter was invited to spend six months project managing the book. That led to him being appointed one of five co-editors of a project involving 63 contributors. Peter was instrumental to the success of the book, with Professor Ken Baldwin, inaugural Director of the ANU Energy Change Institute (and one of the co-editors), noting that without Peter’s help, the book may never have reached completion. In addition to project managing and editing, Peter convinced Malcolm Turnbull to write the foreword and speak at the book launch, along with Australia’s Chief Scientist and other prominent figures.
In later years, after the death of his wife Liz, he found love and partnership with Hilary Roberts, who had been his wife’s best friend. Hilary is also a global thinker and cares deeply about the environment, human rights, and other issues.
Peter is remembered by his daughters Julie, Sophie and Kate and partner Hillary, and by his grandchildren Lucy, Alex, Oliver, Harry, Oscar, and Akira.
The Canberra Community remembers Peter Dawson
Several people in the Canberra community who knew Peter have provided a written tribute. If you would contribute by writing something about Peter’s life and legacy, please leave a comment below or contact editor[at]msj.digital.
“I first met Peter during his time researching for his book Creative Canberra. Peter wanted to recognise our tech pioneers and was dogged about chasing down the next introduction. He didnt want to miss anyone out. He produced a well researched and thorough history of the creative technology companies, institutions and individuals who built the foundations of our city. Peter also was very passionate about our relationship with Indonesia. He dedicated a significant part of his life to this passion. He will be missed by many. ”
“My experience of working with Peter on the two books was that he cared deeply about Canberra, was a great listener and calmly cajoled all of us to get the job done!”
“Peter, you were a true gentleman, a professional, a champion of so many causes and a true friend. I was particularly inspired by your passion for export and for promoting local Canberra businesses. Thank you for your commitment to communicating that Canberra is a creative city with many significant business success stories and clever entrepreneurs. Thank you also for your friendship and interest in the work I do. Godspeed Peter.”
“Peter Dawson was a great early supporter of Canberra startups. He was very encouraging of collaboration and support between companies and entrepreneurs. He researched and wrote a book, “Creative Capital”, in which many of Canberra’s entrepreneurs, who he encouraged, are recognized. Thanks, Peter, for your support.
Rest in Peace. ”
“Peter had a real passion for Canberra. He was always keen to engage with people who were trying to make a difference. I personally appreciated the time that Peter put into understanding how things were done so that lessons could be learned and passed on to the next generation. Peter will be missed for his generous spirit and community-mindedness.”
