William Walkley

Sir William Gaston Walkley (1 November 1896 – 12 April 1976) was a New Zealand oil company executive. Walkley was a founder of Australian oil company Ampol and was credited with being one of the early pioneers in opening up the North West Australia to oil exploration.

Walkley was managing director of the company from 1939 until he retired in 1963.

In 1953 after striking oil at Rough Range near Exmouth, Walkley walked down Pitt Street, Sydney in a red ten gallon hat, stopping traffic. At the spudding of Rough Range he had promised to wear the hat, which had been given to him by journalists in Carnarvon, once oil had been struck.

In 1954 Ampol named its first oil tanker MV William G. Walkley after Walkley.

In 1958, his portrait was painted by William Pidgeon. It is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

Charity In 1960 Walkley joined the board of the Royal New South Wales Institution for Deaf & Blind Children, becoming president in 1965. During the late 1960s Walkley heavily lobbied state governments across Australia in an attempt to fund a school for deaf-blind children. Walkley remained president until his death.

Soccer Between 1963 and 1970 Walkley was president of the Australian Soccer Federation. As president he was involved in Australia's reentry to world football after being banned by FIFA. He stated that soccer had a role in bringing Australians together saying that it was "the sport that could do most to bring old and new Australians together and aid the newcomers’ assimilation".

In 1966 Walkley became the inaugural president of the Oceania Football Confederation. He served in this role until 1970.

Walkley Awards In 1956 Walkley founded the Walkley Awards for excellence in Australian journalism.

Walkley remained involved in presenting the awards until the year before his death despite his ill health. At the 1975 awards he attended in a wheelchair.

Walkley was the great nephew of The Times literary critic Arthur Walkley. It has been suggested his love of journalists came from this familial connection.

The Walkley Pathway in West Ryde, Sydney is named in his honour.