Don Chipp 'grew up in Melbourne during the Depression years. He studied Commerce at the University of Melbourne, and at eighteen joined the Air Force and served for two years.' Chipp served as a Councillor on the Kew City Council and was involved with preparations for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. In 1960 Chipp won the Melbourne seat of Higginbotham and began twenty-six years in the federal parliament. Chipp served in Liberal governments as Minister for the Navy and Minister for Customs and Excise. In 1977 Chipp resigned from the Liberal Party and founded the Australian Democrats. He led the party (from a seat in the Senate) until his retirement in 1986.
(Source: Don Chipp Foundation website, http://www.donchippfoundation.org.au/ sighted 18/01/2005)
