Chris Downy
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "Chris" Downy (born 29 March 1955) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Liberal Party
member for Sutherland
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1988 to 1997, and Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing from 1993 to 1995.
Downy was born in Woronora, New South Wales
, the son of Gerald and Marie Downy. He attended the University of Sydney
, where he received his Bachelor of Arts
(Hons), and Sydney Teachers College
, where he received a Diploma of Education
. He was subsequently a secondary school teacher. He joined the Liberal Party
in 1974 and was active in the local community as a member of various local groups including the Boy Scouts
, the fire brigade and the athletics club.
In 1980 Downy was the Liberal candidate for the safe federal Labor
seat of Hughes
; he was unsuccessful. Downy was elected to Sutherland Shire Council in 1983, and in 1988 was selected as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Sutherland
. The seat replaced the abolished Woronora
, and was contested by that seat's Labor member Maurie Keane
, but Downy narrowly defeated him to win the seat.
Downy was appointed Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing in 1993, but lost that position when Labor won office in 1995. He resigned his seat in 1997, prompting a by-election that was won by Liberal candidate Lorna Stone
.
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 the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Sutherland
Electoral district of Sutherland
Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999...
in 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...
from 1988 to 1997, and Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing from 1993 to 1995.
Downy was born in Woronora, New South Wales
Woronora, New South Wales
Woronora is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woronora is located 27 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire. Woronora Heights is a separate suburb, to the south-west.-Placename...
, the son of Gerald and Marie Downy. He attended the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons), and Sydney Teachers College
Sydney Teachers College
The Sydney Teachers College was a tertiary education institution that trained school teachers in Sydney, Australia. It existed from 1906 until 1981, when it became a part of the Sydney Institute of Education which in turn joined the Faculty of Education at the University of Sydney in...
, where he received a Diploma of Education
Diploma of Education
The Diploma of Education, often abbreviated to DipEd or GradDipEd, is a postgraduate qualification offered in many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom...
. He was subsequently a secondary school teacher. He joined the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in 1974 and was active in the local community as a member of various local groups including the Boy Scouts
Scouts Australia
Scouts Australia is an organisation for children and young adults from 6 to 26 years of age. Scouts Australia is part of the global Scouting movement and has been a national member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement since 1953...
, the fire brigade and the athletics club.
In 1980 Downy was the Liberal candidate for the safe federal Labor
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...
seat of Hughes
Division of Hughes
The Division of Hughes is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1955 and is named for Billy Hughes, who was Prime Minister of Australia 1915-23...
; he was unsuccessful. Downy was elected to Sutherland Shire Council in 1983, and in 1988 was selected as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Sutherland
Electoral district of Sutherland
Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999...
. The seat replaced the abolished Woronora
Electoral district of Woronora
Woronora was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after Woronora. It was created in 1894 and abolished in 1904. It was recreated in 1973 and abolished in 1988.-Members for Woronora:...
, and was contested by that seat's Labor member Maurie Keane
Maurie Keane
Maurice Francis "Maurie" Keane is a former Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Woronora in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1973 to 1988....
, but Downy narrowly defeated him to win the seat.
Downy was appointed Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing in 1993, but lost that position when Labor won office in 1995. He resigned his seat in 1997, prompting a by-election that was won by Liberal candidate Lorna Stone
Lorna Stone
Lorna June Stone is a former Australian politician. She was the Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Sutherland from 1997 to 1999....
.