Bill McCarthy (politician)
Encyclopedia
William John Patrick "Bill" McCarthy (22 May 1923 – 25 April 1987) was an Australia
n politician. He was a Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
, representing Armidale
from 1978 to 1981, and Northern Tablelands
from 1981 to 1987.
McCarthy married Thelma on 8 March 1945, with whom he would have three children. He served as a flying officer in the RAAF
before becoming a grazier in 1959. From 1970 to 1978 he was a field officer with the Community Development and Extension Division.
In 1978, McCarthy was the Labor candidate for the Country Party
-held state seat of Armidale
; he narrowly defeated sitting MP David Leitch
to win the seat. In 1981 the seat was abolished, and McCarthy contested the new seat of Northern Tablelands
, which was essentially a merger of the old seats of Armidale and Tenterfield
. Although the new seat had a notional National Country Party majority, McCarthy was elected. McCarthy died in 1987 while still the MP; in the resulting by-election, his wife Thelma was defeated by National Party candidate Ray Chappell
.
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. He was a Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
, representing Armidale
Electoral district of Armidale
Armidale was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing New England, and named after and including Armidale. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Northern...
from 1978 to 1981, and Northern Tablelands
Electoral district of Northern Tablelands
Northern Tablelands is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently represented by independent member Richard Torbay....
from 1981 to 1987.
McCarthy married Thelma on 8 March 1945, with whom he would have three children. He served as a flying officer in the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
before becoming a grazier in 1959. From 1970 to 1978 he was a field officer with the Community Development and Extension Division.
In 1978, McCarthy was the Labor candidate for the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
-held state seat of Armidale
Electoral district of Armidale
Armidale was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing New England, and named after and including Armidale. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Northern...
; he narrowly defeated sitting MP David Leitch
David Leitch (politician)
David Stanley Leitch was an Australian politician. He was the Country Party member for Armidale in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1973 to 1978....
to win the seat. In 1981 the seat was abolished, and McCarthy contested the new seat of Northern Tablelands
Electoral district of Northern Tablelands
Northern Tablelands is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently represented by independent member Richard Torbay....
, which was essentially a merger of the old seats of Armidale and Tenterfield
Electoral district of Tenterfield
Tenterfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, partly replacing New England and Macleay, and named after, and including, Tenterfield. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was...
. Although the new seat had a notional National Country Party majority, McCarthy was elected. McCarthy died in 1987 while still the MP; in the resulting by-election, his wife Thelma was defeated by National Party candidate Ray Chappell
Ray Chappell
Raymond Francis "Ray" Chappell is a former Australian politician. He was the National Party member for Northern Tablelands in the New South Wales Parliament from 1987 to 1999, and served as a minister from 1993 to 1995....
.