Donald Macdonald (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Donald Peter Macdonald was an Australian politician and clergyman. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1941 and 1947 and an Independent member of parliament.
and was the son of a stockbroker. With his family he emigrated to Sydney at an early age and was educated at Newington College
and the University of Sydney
. He travelled to Britain to study at the University of Glasgow
where he graduated with a Master of Arts (Divinity) and was ordained as a Presbyterian
minister in 1911. He initially ministered at Minard in Argyll and Bute
but returned to New South Wales and took locum appointments at Coonamble
, Gilgandra
and Ultimo
before being given a permanent position at Scots Kirk, Mosman
in 1915. The next year, Macdonald was given leave to serve as a chaplain with the First Australian Imperial Force
in France, where he was awarded the ED
. He had one son, Roderick, who was a war correspondent killed at the Battle of Monte Cassino
and two daughters. After leaving parliament, Macdonald retired to a farm in the Mudgee area. He was awarded the MBE
in 1962. He had a number of books published in 1909, 1915 and 1930.
(UAP) over many years but had become distressed by the links between big business and the party. He entered parliament as the Independent UAP member for Mosman
after winning the seat at the 1941
state election. He defeated the sitting UAP member General Herbert Lloyd in a campaign marked by bitter attacks against Lloyd who had accepted a position as Director-General of Recruiting without resigning from parliament. In parliament, Macdonald campaigned for the state government to take a loan of ₤ 5,000,000 to revamp the public school system. He also called for education reforms including daily prayers and a ban on caning. Macdonald did not join the Democratic Party or Liberal Party
but easily retained the seat in the 1944
state election. In that year he co-founded the Political Reform League with another independent James Shand, the member for Ryde
. This was intended to be the basis of a new centrist party in NSW but failed to attract public support. Macdonald was defeated by the official Liberal Party candidate Pat Morton
at the next election in 1947
. He then retired from public life. He did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office but was said to be only the second active clergyman in the Legislative Assembly since the Rev. J D Lang
.
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...
between 1941 and 1947 and an Independent member of parliament.
Early life
Lethbridge was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and was the son of a stockbroker. With his family he emigrated to Sydney at an early age and was educated at Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and 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...
. He travelled to Britain to study at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
where he graduated with a Master of Arts (Divinity) and was ordained as a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
minister in 1911. He initially ministered at Minard in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
but returned to New South Wales and took locum appointments at Coonamble
Coonamble, New South Wales
Coonamble is a town on the central-western plains of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Castlereagh Highway north-west of Gilgandra. At the 2006 census, Coonamble had a population of 2,549...
, Gilgandra
Gilgandra, New South Wales
Gilgandra, is a town and Local Government Area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the junction of the Newell Highway, Oxley Highway and Castlereagh Highway. It can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. Like Coonabarabran, Gilgandra can be...
and Ultimo
Ultimo, New South Wales
Ultimo is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Ultimo is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney....
before being given a permanent position at Scots Kirk, Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
in 1915. The next year, Macdonald was given leave to serve as a chaplain with the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
in France, where he was awarded the ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
. He had one son, Roderick, who was a war correspondent killed at the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
and two daughters. After leaving parliament, Macdonald retired to a farm in the Mudgee area. He was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1962. He had a number of books published in 1909, 1915 and 1930.
State Parliament
Macdonald had a conservative philosophy and was a member of the United Australia PartyUnited 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...
(UAP) over many years but had become distressed by the links between big business and the party. He entered parliament as the Independent UAP member for Mosman
Electoral district of Mosman
Mosman was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1913 and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Mosman. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Middle Harbour. Mosman...
after winning the seat at the 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
state election. He defeated the sitting UAP member General Herbert Lloyd in a campaign marked by bitter attacks against Lloyd who had accepted a position as Director-General of Recruiting without resigning from parliament. In parliament, Macdonald campaigned for the state government to take a loan of ₤ 5,000,000 to revamp the public school system. He also called for education reforms including daily prayers and a ban on caning. Macdonald did not join the Democratic Party or 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...
but easily retained the seat in the 1944
New South Wales state election, 1944
The 1944 New South Wales state election was held on 27 May 1944. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
state election. In that year he co-founded the Political Reform League with another independent James Shand, the member for Ryde
Electoral district of Ryde
Ryde is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It includes the suburbs and localities of Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Ryde, North Ryde, West Ryde; and part of Eastwood.It is...
. This was intended to be the basis of a new centrist party in NSW but failed to attract public support. Macdonald was defeated by the official Liberal Party candidate Pat Morton
Pat Morton
Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician. Born in Lismore in Northern New South Wales to a prominent political family and educated at Lismore High School, Morton left school at fourteen to be employed in a legal firm, before branching out into various businesses...
at the next election in 1947
New South Wales state election, 1947
The 1947 New South Wales state election was held on 3 May 1947. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1940 redistribution...
. He then retired from public life. He did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office but was said to be only the second active clergyman in the Legislative Assembly since the Rev. J D Lang
John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
.