Punch, Leon Ashton, 1928 –

Leon Ashton Punch (1928-1991), farmer and parliamentarian, was the son of Dr. Thomas Punch of Inverell. Punch was educated at The King's School, Parramatta. Between 1947 and 1959 Punch was involved in rural properties owned by his family at Jerry's Plains and Barraba, and in 1963 he acquired a dairy farm at Dungog.

Punch was a councillor on Barraba Shire Council (1956-1959) and was elected the Country Party member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Upper Hunter in 1959. In a re-distribution in 1962 the seat became Gloucester and Punch held it until his retirement in 1985. He held various ministerial portfolios including Public Works, Decentralisation and Development, Ports, and Local Government. Punch was Leader of the Country Party and Deputy Premier of NSW (1975-1976).