Donald Burns BLACKWOOD

BLACKWOOD, DONALD BURNS (b. Geeveston, Tas, 1884, d. June 1969). Anglican clergyman and third bp of Gippsland.

Donald Blackwood was the fourth son of Archibald Blackwood, headmaster of New Norfolk School. He was educated at New Norfolk School, Christ College, Hobart, and the University of Tasmania (BA, 1906, MA, 1908). He was ordained in 1908. In 1909 he married Ida Pitt.

After serving curacies at Deloraine and Holy Trinity, Hobart, he was rector of St Helen's, Tas from 1911-13 and of Sorrell, 1913-15. He was chaplain of the AIF during World War One, serving in Egypt and France and gaining a MC. From 1920 to 1924 he was warden of St Wilfred's Theological College, Cressy, Tas which later moved to Hobart and was incorporated into a reconstituted Christ College within the University of Tasmania. He was rector of Holy Trinity, Hobart from 1924 to 1942, during which time he became a canon of St David's Cathedral in 1925 and archdeacon of Hobart in 1929.

Donald Blackwood was consecrated the third bp of Gippsland in 1942, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in 1955. On retirement he and Mrs Blackwood returned to Deloraine, where he assisted in the work of the parish of St Mark's until his death. Mrs Blackwood died in May 1976 at the age of 97 years.

In the history of the Anglican Church in Gippsland, I T Maddern stated that Bp Blackwood 'was an active, practical man and very popular with his clergy and people. One of his endearing characteristics was his tendency to ignore or to forget the trappings and status of his high office. He was interested in education.' Bp Blackwood was a keen evangelical and was very interested in the CMS, serving on various committees during most of his ordained life.

The Blackwoods had four children, Marian (known as Mary), always very interested in Christian education, Donald, holding positions in Hobart and Bell Bay; Kathleen, a medical practitioner who married the Rev Philip Taylor, who was a missionary in Iran, and later killed in a car accident at Rosedale, Victoria on 16 Oct 1967; and Graham, a member of the legal profession.

I T Maddern, Light and Life: A History of the Anglican Church in Gippsland (1977)

KEITH COLE