Hugh Francis Delahunty (born 28 June 1949) is an Australian politician. He was a National Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2014, representing the electorates of Wimmera (1999–2002) and Lowan (2002–2014). He served as Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Veterans Affairs in the Baillieu and Napthine Coalition governments from 2010 to 2014. Delahunty is the brother of former state Labor minister Mary Delahunty.

Hugh Delahunty
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Wimmera
In office
18 September 1999 – 30 November 2002
Preceded byBill McGrath
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Lowan
In office
30 November 2002 – 29 November 2014
Preceded bySeat recreated
Succeeded byEmma Kealy
Personal details
Born
Hugh Francis Delahunty

(1949-06-28) 28 June 1949 (age 75)
Murtoa, Victoria, Australia
Political partyNational Party
RelationsMary Delahunty (sister) Mike Delahunty (brother)
Hugh Delahunty
Personal information
Full name Hugh Francis Delahunty
Date of birth (1949-06-28) 28 June 1949 (age 75)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1971–1973 Essendon 47
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Political career

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Delahunty was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in the 1999 election to represent the electorate of Wimmera with 58% of the two party preferred vote. He was returned to Parliament at the 2002 election after a redistribution as the Member for Lowan with 67% of the two party vote, and was re-elected at the 2006 election with a massive 72% of the two party vote.

Delahunty is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee, a board member of VicHealth and is a charter member of the Lions Club of State Parliament Victoria.

He retired from politics in 2014.

Personal life

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Delahunty was born and educated in Murtoa, a wheat district town in country Victoria. His secondary education was at Monivae College, Hamilton and further studies at the William Angliss Food and Trade School, Melbourne. He farmed for four years on the family grain and sheep property before moving to Melbourne and later Donald before settling in Horsham. Delahunty worked as a Meat Industry Standards Officer until 1990 when he commenced employment as a Rural Affairs Adviser for the Office of Rural Affairs (Agriculture Victoria and later Department of Sustainability and Environment).

During the early 1970s he played Australian rules football in the Victorian Football League (VFL) with Essendon. Recruited from Murtoa, Delahunty made 46 senior appearances for Essendon and kicked 18 goals.[1] A keen sportsman, Delahunty participated in and coached many sports in the Wimmera and is a life member of the Murtoa Football Club.

Delahunty has been actively involved in community activities for many years. He was a Councillor and Mayor for the former Horsham City Council, Chairman of Commissioners of the Mildura Rural City, and the first Mayor and a Councillor of the new Horsham Rural City Council.

Delahunty is married with three adult sons. He is the brother of former Labor Party Victorian Government minister Mary Delahunty. His younger brother, Mike Delahunty, played football for Collingwood.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Victoria)
2010–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Sport and Recreation (Victoria)
2010–2014
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Wimmera
1999–2002
District abolished
District recreated Member for Lowan
2002–2014
Succeeded by