His father died when he was 16 years old, and he had to take much of the responsibility for running two farms totalling more than 1,700 acres (690 ha) in the Napperby region.
Hawkins was involved in the early days of the Farmers' Union, as a shareholder and member of the Port Pirie and Warnertown committees.
[3] He was elected to the directorate of the Union in 1912, which he retained for 25 years, and became chairman in 1922, a position he held until his death.
[2] He was elected for the Liberal and Country League to the Legislative Council for the Northern district in 1933, and died shortly before the expiration of his term.
[2] He married Bertha Elizabeth Sandow (10 February 1882 – 1962) of Trelawney, Mintaro on 3 August 1905; they had no children.