South Australian Liberal Party giant Stan Evans dies, aged 95

A towering figure of the SA Liberal Party has passed away, leaving Adelaide Hills locals to remember his lifetime of service and colourful, lengthy political career.

SA politician Stan Evans (r) in Blackwood, 20 May 1992 with his son Iain Evans (l) after he won Liberal Party preselection for the seat of Davenport, the seat Stan will vacated at the election previous.

A towering state Liberal figure, Stan Evans, is being hailed by his family as an Adelaide Hills “icon” after passing away, aged 95.

Mr Evans, a state MP for 25 years, was a conservative warrior who was honoured for community service, particularly to sporting groups, and lived his entire life in the Hills.

The father of former state Liberal leader Iain Evans, he spearheaded an infamous internal factional feud with the Chapman family spanning generations.

In a statement released by Iain Evans, the family said Mr Stan Evans passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning, at a Heathfield aged care facility.

“The Hills has lost an icon. Stan lived his whole life in the Adelaide Hills and with his wife of over 74 years, Barb,” the statement says.

“He gave a lifetime of service to community groups from all areas of life, illustrated by him being a life member of, or recognised, by too many groups to mention, but we highlight his love of community sport.”

SA Liberal politicians Stan Evans (l) and his son Iain Evans (r), on the steps of Parliament House in Adelaide, 1993. (Pic by unidentified staff photographer)

These included the Hills cricket and football associations, along with Mount Lofty cricket, football and community sports clubs.

Mr Evans served in the state parliament for 25 years, as the MP for Onkaparinga (1968-70), Fisher (1970-85) and Davenport (1985-93).

A Liberal member from age 16 until his passing, he was both government and opposition Whip, and held various shadow ministry portfolios.

SA Liberal politicians (l-r) Stan Evans, Steele Hall and Robin Millhouse on June 10, 1970.

Mr Evans, who also was an Adelaide Hills councillor, was the only metropolitan Liberal MP not to join the Liberal Movement, which split the party in the 1970s.

But he stood as an independent Liberal for Davenport in 1985 against future premier Dean Brown, having lost preselection in a factional feud with the rival moderates.

He defeated Mr Brown at the election and, having maintained his Liberal membership, rejoined the party room soon afterwards.

Liberal MP Stan Evans looks on as John Olsen makes a telephone call to his wife from the party room at Parliament House, Adelaide, after losing the Liberal Party leadership ballot to Dean Brown, on May 11, 1992.

Awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2019, Mr Evans said he got involved in politics not expecting to run for state parliament, but ended up as the longest-serving numbers man it had witnessed.

His 18-year role as Liberal whip is believed to have been bettered in the Westminster system by only one United Kingdom MP.

Stan Evans in 2015 with the-then Liberal leader Steven Marshall. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

Speaking in 2019, he urged a return to a culture where MPs had more freedom to raise important local issues.

“I believe the system of parliament now is abused. The local member can’t get up and ask questions about his area because it’s always smothered up,” Mr Stan Evans said at the time.

“It’s now more controlled by the governing party, Liberal or Labor it doesn’t matter. The opportunity for the individual to ask a question about their electorate is nearly nil.

“It’s now become a more controlled system by the political parties. I think that’s disappointing.”

Mr Evans is survived by wife Barb, five children, 15 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Originally published as South Australian Liberal Party giant Stan Evans dies, aged 95