Overview

Charles Michael "Chilla" Porter (11 January 1936 – 15 August 2020) was an Australian athlete who won an Olympic medal and later became a prominent political organiser in Western Australia. Born in Brisbane, he came to national attention at the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, where he took silver in the high jump. After retiring from elite sport he moved into political administration and served as general secretary of the Liberal Party's Western Australian division.

Athletic career

Porter competed during a period when track and field in Australia had growing public interest, especially with a home Olympics in 1956. His silver medal was one of the notable Australian performances at those Games and placed him among the country's better-known track and field athletes of the era. Contemporary accounts describe the 1956 competition as highly competitive and of marked significance for Australian sport.

Political and administrative career

After his sporting career Porter remained active in public life. From 1978 to 1987 he was the general secretary of the Liberal Party in Western Australia, a senior operational role responsible for party organisation, campaign logistics and internal administration. His tenure covered multiple state election cycles and reflected a transition from sporting figure to party professional, a path followed by a small number of former athletes.

Achievements and roles

  • Olympic silver medallist in the high jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
  • Long-serving administrator for the Western Australian division of the Liberal Party (general secretary, 1978–1987).
  • Recognised for helping bridge elite sport and political organisation in Australia.

Legacy and death

Porter is remembered for both his athletic achievement on home soil and for a later career in political organisation. Observers note the dual nature of his public service—first as an athlete representing Australia and later as an organiser shaping party operations at state level. He died on 15 August 2020 near Perth after an illness described as cancer, aged 84.

Notable facts

While best known for his Olympic medal, Porter’s life illustrates the wider opportunities athletes in the mid-20th century pursued after competition, including roles in administration and politics. His story intersects with the history of Australian sport, the significance of the 1956 Melbourne Games, and the organisational life of a major political party at the state level.

For further context on the event and era see related resources on the 1956 Olympics and the history of the Melbourne Games.