Career
Born in Korumburra, Victoria, he was a dairy farmer at Warragul before serving in the military 1941-1945. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Country Party member for McMillan, despite receiving only 16.6% of the primary vote. His election was made possible by a strong flow of preferences from the Democratic Labor Party and from former Liberal member Alexander Buchanan, who was running as an independent after losing his Liberal endorsement to Barrie Armitage.
The Victorian Liberal Party Executive created an unusual three-way campaign in 1974 by fielding Liberal candidate Armitage against Hewson.
Hewson"s allegedly confusing how-to-vote card (using Liberal Party colours rather than Country Party colours and headed "Liberal-Country Party Senate Team") caused a minor controversy during the campaign. Hewson picked up enough preferences from the DLP and Buchanan to overtake Armitage on the third count.
Hewson was in turn defeated by the next Liberal candidate, Barry Simon, in 1975. Hewson died in 1999.