Archibald Fisken
Encyclopedia
Archibald Clyde Wanliss Fisken CMG
, OBE (11 March 1897 – 20 June 1970) was an Australia
n politician. His grandson is Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson
.
, to grazier Archibald James Fisken and Beatrice Mary, née Wanliss. He attended E.N. Maryatt's Church of England Grammar School for Boys, Ballarat College and Geelong Church of England Grammar School before his 1916 commission in the Royal Field Artillery
. He served on the Western Front
from 1916 to 1918; in 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross
and promoted to lieutenant
, although he was also wounded.
Returning from the war, Fisken maintained the family property (Lal Lal, in the family since 1846) at Yendon. He was elected to the Buninyong Shire Council in 1922 and remained a councillor until his death, being president 1931-32, 1946-47, 1957-58 and 1966-67. He was prominent in the community, both as a sportsman and as a pastoralist. He married Elspeth Anne Cameron on 20 February 1924 at Ross, Tasmania
.
in 1934, as the United Australia Party
member for Ballarat
. He was notably concerned with unemployment
, stating that "all the ills of the country would be rectified" if the problem was solved. Although mentioned as a possibility for promotion to the ministry, Fisken retired from parliament in 1937, stating that he wished to focus on his appointment as chairman of the Australian Meat Board.
and North America
. Fisken was also appointed to the Meat Industry Commission on its creation in 1943, and acted as deputy-controller of meat supplies for Victoria from 1943-45. He also held positions as chairman of Dennys Lascelles Ltd, a director of the Commercial Union Assurance Company, and a life member and trustee of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. He also contributed much time and effort towards establishing a Ballarat tertiary education
institution. Appointed OBE in 1958 and CMG
in 1963, Fisken died at Lal Lal on 20 June 1970 and was cremated. He was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE (11 March 1897 – 20 June 1970) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. His grandson is Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson
Michael Ronaldson
Michael John Clyde Ronaldson is an Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2005, representing the state of Victoria....
.
Early life
Fisken was born at Ballarat, VictoriaBallarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
, to grazier Archibald James Fisken and Beatrice Mary, née Wanliss. He attended E.N. Maryatt's Church of England Grammar School for Boys, Ballarat College and Geelong Church of England Grammar School before his 1916 commission in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
. He served on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
from 1916 to 1918; in 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, although he was also wounded.
Returning from the war, Fisken maintained the family property (Lal Lal, in the family since 1846) at Yendon. He was elected to the Buninyong Shire Council in 1922 and remained a councillor until his death, being president 1931-32, 1946-47, 1957-58 and 1966-67. He was prominent in the community, both as a sportsman and as a pastoralist. He married Elspeth Anne Cameron on 20 February 1924 at Ross, Tasmania
Ross, Tasmania
Ross is a historic town in the Midlands of the state of Tasmania in Australia. Situated on the Macquarie River, Ross is located 78 km south of Launceston and 117 km north of Hobart...
.
Federal politics
Fisken was elected to the federal House of RepresentativesAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
in 1934, as the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
member for Ballarat
Division of Ballarat
The Division of Ballarat is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the provincial city of Ballarat....
. He was notably concerned with unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, stating that "all the ills of the country would be rectified" if the problem was solved. Although mentioned as a possibility for promotion to the ministry, Fisken retired from parliament in 1937, stating that he wished to focus on his appointment as chairman of the Australian Meat Board.
Later life
Fisken continued on the Meat Board for many years, serving as chairman until 1946. He expanded the market for Australian meat, notably in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Fisken was also appointed to the Meat Industry Commission on its creation in 1943, and acted as deputy-controller of meat supplies for Victoria from 1943-45. He also held positions as chairman of Dennys Lascelles Ltd, a director of the Commercial Union Assurance Company, and a life member and trustee of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. He also contributed much time and effort towards establishing a Ballarat tertiary education
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
institution. Appointed OBE in 1958 and CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1963, Fisken died at Lal Lal on 20 June 1970 and was cremated. He was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.