Frank McGuren
Encyclopedia
Francis William "Frank" McGuren, OAM
(15 October 1909 – 13 June 1990) was an Australia
n politician. Born in Grafton, New South Wales
, he was educated at St Augustine's School in Coffs Harbour
. He then became a public servant, and was elected to Grafton City Council.
In 1958
, he was the Labor
candidate for the seat of Cowper
in the Australian House of Representatives
, facing former Prime Minister
Earle Page
of the Country Party
. Page had held the seat since 1919--the second-longest serving MP in Australian history--and had skated to reelection time and again. The 1958 election was no different, and McGuren was roundly defeated.
McGuren sought a rematch in 1961
. On paper, he faced very long odds. Cowper appeared to be a reasonably safe seat for Page, with an 11-point swing required for Labor to win it. However, by this time, Page was 81 years old and gravely ill from lung cancer. He was too sick to campaign, but opted to fight the election anyway. McGuren led the field on the first count. On the second count, while an independent candidate's preferences flowed mostly to Page, McGuren's first-count lead was large enough for him to be elected by a slim three-point margin--a 13-point swing to Labor. Page died 11 days later without knowing that he had lost the seat. McGuren's win--one of the largest upsets in Australian political history--was part of a 15-seat swing to Labor which nearly brought down the government of Robert Menzies
. However, McGuren's tenure was short-lived. At the 1963, he was narrowly defeated by the Country Party's Ian Robinson
on the first count as the Menzies-led Coalition
recovered many of the seats it lost two years earlier. He died in 1990.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(15 October 1909 – 13 June 1990) 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. Born in Grafton, New South Wales
Grafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
, he was educated at St Augustine's School in Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
-History:By the early 1900s, the Coffs Harbour area had become an important timber production centre. Before the opening of the North Coast Railway Line, the only way to transport large items of heavy but low value, such as timber, was by coastal shipping. This meant sawmillers on the North Coast...
. He then became a public servant, and was elected to Grafton City Council.
In 1958
Australian federal election, 1958
Federal elections were held in Australia on 22 November 1958. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 32 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, he was the 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...
candidate for the seat of Cowper
Division of Cowper
The Division of Cowper is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election and is named for Charles Cowper, an early Premier of New South Wales...
in the Australian House of Representatives
Australian 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....
, facing former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Earle Page
Earle Page
Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, GCMG, CH was the 11th Prime Minister of Australia, and is to date the second-longest serving federal parliamentarian in Australian history, with 41 years, 361 days in Parliament.-Early life:...
of 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...
. Page had held the seat since 1919--the second-longest serving MP in Australian history--and had skated to reelection time and again. The 1958 election was no different, and McGuren was roundly defeated.
McGuren sought a rematch in 1961
Australian federal election, 1961
Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 December 1961. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 31 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election...
. On paper, he faced very long odds. Cowper appeared to be a reasonably safe seat for Page, with an 11-point swing required for Labor to win it. However, by this time, Page was 81 years old and gravely ill from lung cancer. He was too sick to campaign, but opted to fight the election anyway. McGuren led the field on the first count. On the second count, while an independent candidate's preferences flowed mostly to Page, McGuren's first-count lead was large enough for him to be elected by a slim three-point margin--a 13-point swing to Labor. Page died 11 days later without knowing that he had lost the seat. McGuren's win--one of the largest upsets in Australian political history--was part of a 15-seat swing to Labor which nearly brought down the government of Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
. However, McGuren's tenure was short-lived. At the 1963, he was narrowly defeated by the Country Party's Ian Robinson
Ian Robinson (Australian politician)
Ian Louis Robinson is an Australian politician.Born in Coraki, New South Wales, he was educated at state schools before becoming a dairy farmer, a journalist and company director...
on the first count as the Menzies-led Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
recovered many of the seats it lost two years earlier. He died in 1990.