Ken Anderson (politician)

Sir Kenneth McColl Anderson KBE (11 October 1909 – 29 March 1985) was an Australian politician.

Sir Kenneth Anderson
Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office
28 February 1968 – 2 December 1972
Preceded byJohn Gorton
Succeeded byLionel Murphy
Minister for Health
In office
2 August 1971 – 5 December 1972
Preceded byIvor Greenwood
Succeeded byDoug Everingham
Minister for Supply
In office
28 February 1968 – 2 August 1971
Preceded byDenham Henty
Succeeded byVictor Garland
Minister for Customs and Excise
In office
10 June 1964 – 28 February 1968
Preceded byDenham Henty
Succeeded byMalcolm Scott
Senator for New South Wales
In office
1 July 1953 – 11 November 1975
Preceded byJohn Tate
Succeeded byMisha Lajovic
Personal details
Born(1909-10-11)11 October 1909
Off South Australia
Died29 March 1985(1985-03-29) (aged 75)
Lane Cove, Sydney
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
SpouseMadge Merrion
OccupationAuctioneer, valuer

Early life and career

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Anderson was born at sea, off South Australia, when his parents were returning from a visit to Europe. He was the son of David Anderson (member for Ryde in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1920–1927) and educated at Ryde Public School and Petersham Intermediate Schools in Sydney. He worked as an insurance clerk, auctioneer, estate agent and property valuer in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood. He married Madge Merrion in June 1936. He served in the second Australian Imperial Force during World War II as a lieutenant in the 8th Signals Division in Malaya and was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war in for three years at Changi Prison and on the Burma Railway. He was Mayor of Ryde Municipal Council from 1949 to 1950.[1][2][3][4]

Political career

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Anderson in 1962.

Anderson was elected as the member for Ryde in 1950, representing the Liberal Party, but was defeated at the 1953 election.[1]

Anderson was a Senator for New South Wales, representing the Liberal Party from the 1953 half-senate elections until the dissolution of parliament before the 1975 election. He was Minister for Customs and Excise from June 1964 until February 1968 and Minister for Supply from February 1968 until August 1971 and Minister for Health from August 1971 until the defeat of the McMahon government at the December 1972 election.[5][2]

Anderson was made a Knight Bachelor in 1970 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972. He died in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove, New South Wales, survived by his wife and a daughter.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "Sir Kenneth McColl Anderson (1909–1985)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Button, John (16 April 1985). "Death of the Hon. Sir Kenneth Anderson, KBE". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  3. ^ Chaney, Fred (16 April 1985). "Death of the Hon. Sir Kenneth Anderson, KBE". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  4. ^ Carrick, John (16 April 1985). "Death of the Hon. Sir Kenneth Anderson, KBE". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  5. ^ Beauchamp, Clive. "ANDERSON, Sir Kenneth McColl (1909–1985)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

 

Civic offices
Preceded by
E. L. S. Hall
Mayor of Ryde
1948–1950
Succeeded by
H. A. D. Mitchell
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Ryde
1950–1953
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Customs and Excise
1964–1968
Succeeded by
Minister for Supply
1968–1971
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Health
1971–1972
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Party in the Senate
1968–1972
Succeeded by