parliamentary support for him to serve a second term, but he had already accepted an appointment to be Governor of Victoria. Governor of Victoria Sir Winston and Lady Dugan arrived in Melbourne on 17 July 1939. They continued their active role in community affairs, promoting unemployment reduction and making the ballroom of Government House, Melbourne available for the Australian Red Cross. Dugan had an active role stabilising state politics during the tumultuous 1940s. Upon the disintegration of Albert Dunstan's Country Party government in 1943, he installed the Labor leader John Cain as premier. Four days later, Dunstan formed a coalition with the United Australia Party. Following the collapse of that ministry in 1945, Dugan dissolved parliament and called a general election for November, which resulted in the balance of power being held by independents. Dugan commissioned Cain to form the ministry of a minority government. Dugan's term as governor was extended five times. He was also the Administrator of the Commonwealth on two occasions: from 5 September 1944 to 30 January 1945, between the departure of the governor-general, Lord Gowrie, and the arrival of his successor, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester; and from 19 January to 11 March 1947, between the departure of the Duke of Gloucester and the appointment of his successor, William McKell. He returned to England in February 1949. On 7 July 1949 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Dugan of Victoria, of Lurgan in the County of Armagh. Personal life Dugan married Ruby Lilian, daughter of Charles Abbott of Kilcaskan, County Cork, in 1912. There were no children from the marriage. He died at Marylebone, London, on 17 August 1951, aged 74. References External links Craigavon Historical Society – Lurgan College Register (includes brief biography) King's College London Archives |- 1876 births 1951 deaths Military personnel from County Offaly Royal Sussex Regiment soldiers Politicians from County Offaly British Army personnel of the Second Boer War British Army generals of World War I Royal Lincolnshire Regiment officers British Army major generals Governors of South Australia Governors of Victoria (Australia) Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Companions of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Distinguished Service Order People educated at Lurgan College Barons created by George VI