Bill Sykes (politician)
Encyclopedia
Dr Bill Sykes became the Nationals
Member for Benalla
in November 2002 after a career as a veterinarian and businessman.
Sykes was also a VFL footballer, playing 48 games of football for Fitzroy, and later coaching Shepparton, Benalla and Benalla & District Junior Football teams. As well as being a member of parliament, Sykes and his wife Sally also run a beef cattle and sheep property just out of Benalla.
Together, the Sykes have been involved in a wide range of community activities including school councils, youth groups, sporting clubs, Landcare, fire brigade and the Victorian Farmers Federation. Sykes was also instrumental in the establishment of the Benalla Trust Foundation, a trust to assist local people in times of crisis, and the Benalla Young Sportspersons Trust, a trust that assists promising young athletes to compete in interstate and overseas competitions.
Benalla had been held by the Nationals
since 1943 but was lost in a by-election
in 2000 after the retirement of Pat McNamara. The Labor Party
was re-elected in a landslide in the 2002 election, yet Sykes won Benalla back with only 26% of the primary vote to give a 52% two party preferred vote over the incumbent, Denise Allen
.
In the 2006 election, Sykes increased his primary vote to 42% and his two party preferred vote to 68%.
Bill Sykes is currently the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water. He is also a member of the Victorian Parliament's Public Accounts & Estimates Committee.
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...
Member for Benalla
Electoral district of Benalla
Benalla is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. The electorate covers a rural area of 17,120 km², and includes the towns of Benalla, Bright, Eildon, Euroa, Mansfield, Mount Beauty, Murchison, Myrtleford, Nagambie and Violet Town...
in November 2002 after a career as a veterinarian and businessman.
Sykes was also a VFL footballer, playing 48 games of football for Fitzroy, and later coaching Shepparton, Benalla and Benalla & District Junior Football teams. As well as being a member of parliament, Sykes and his wife Sally also run a beef cattle and sheep property just out of Benalla.
Together, the Sykes have been involved in a wide range of community activities including school councils, youth groups, sporting clubs, Landcare, fire brigade and the Victorian Farmers Federation. Sykes was also instrumental in the establishment of the Benalla Trust Foundation, a trust to assist local people in times of crisis, and the Benalla Young Sportspersons Trust, a trust that assists promising young athletes to compete in interstate and overseas competitions.
Benalla had been held by the Nationals
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...
since 1943 but was lost in a by-election
Benalla state by-election, 2000
A by-election was held for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Benalla on 13 May 2000. The by-election was triggered by the resignation on 12 April of Pat McNamara, the sitting member who was Deputy Premier of Victoria until the defeat of the Kennett government at the 1999 state...
in 2000 after the retirement of Pat McNamara. The 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...
was re-elected in a landslide in the 2002 election, yet Sykes won Benalla back with only 26% of the primary vote to give a 52% two party preferred vote over the incumbent, Denise Allen
Denise Allen
Denise Margaret Allen is a former Australian politician.Born in Alexandra, Victoria to Jack Donald and Bette Doreen Boote, she attended local public schools before graduating in 1970. She was a professional model from 1972 to 1994 before becoming a motivational speaker...
.
In the 2006 election, Sykes increased his primary vote to 42% and his two party preferred vote to 68%.
Bill Sykes is currently the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Water. He is also a member of the Victorian Parliament's Public Accounts & Estimates Committee.