Keith Doyle (politician)
Encyclopedia
Keith Ralph Doyle is an Australia
n politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1965 to 1978, representing the electorate of Vaucluse
.
Doyle was born in Sydney
, and was educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School and the University of Sydney
. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force
during World War II
as a flying officer and navigator. An insurance broker by trade, he was managing director of Banks Brothers and Metcalf Insurance Brokers and the Cooma Development Company, and operated commercial laundries at Cooma, Bega and Ulladulla; He was also involved in charitable causes, serving as a director of the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children from 1952 to 1958. An active member of the Liberal Party, he served on its state executive and as president of his local branch during the 1950s.
Doyle entered state politics at the 1965 state election
, filling a vacancy caused by the death of his predecessor, Geoffrey Cox
, late in the previous term. Vaucluse was a safe seat for the Liberal Party, and he was re-elected with little difficulty at four subsequent elections. A backbencher throughout his political career, Doyle's most prominent moment occurred when he was one of three backbenchers who organised support for Eric Willis
' 1976 ouster of Tom Lewis
as Premier. He retired at the 1978 state election
; his retirement paved the way for Rosemary Foot, later the first female leader of the Liberal Party, to enter politics.
Doyle continued his involvement in charitable and community organisations during and after his political career. While in office, he served as a fellow of the University of Sydney
from 1965 to 1976 and as president of the Vaucluse House Trust
from 1972 to 1975. After his retirement, he was the inaugural president of the New South Wales Kiwi Fruit Growers Association from 1982 to 1987, president of the Taree Legacy Club from 1987 to 1988, and president of the Taree Police Citizens Youth Club from 1991 to 1992. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1981.
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 Liberal Party of Australia
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 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...
from 1965 to 1978, representing the electorate of Vaucluse
Electoral district of Vaucluse
Vaucluse is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, based on the suburb of Vaucluse. Vaucluse is one of two original electorates to have never been held by the opposing Labor party and always by the Liberal Party or its predecessors, the other...
.
Doyle was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and was educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School 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 served in the Royal Australian Air Force
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a flying officer and navigator. An insurance broker by trade, he was managing director of Banks Brothers and Metcalf Insurance Brokers and the Cooma Development Company, and operated commercial laundries at Cooma, Bega and Ulladulla; He was also involved in charitable causes, serving as a director of the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children from 1952 to 1958. An active member of the Liberal Party, he served on its state executive and as president of his local branch during the 1950s.
Doyle entered state politics at the 1965 state election
New South Wales state election, 1965
The 1965 New South Wales state election was held on 1 May 1965. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
, filling a vacancy caused by the death of his predecessor, Geoffrey Cox
Geoffrey Cox (Australian politician)
Brigadier Geoffrey Souter Cox DSO, MC, ED was an Australian soldier and politician. A decorated officer during World War II, he later entered politics, serving as a Liberal Party of Australia member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1964, representing the electorate of...
, late in the previous term. Vaucluse was a safe seat for the Liberal Party, and he was re-elected with little difficulty at four subsequent elections. A backbencher throughout his political career, Doyle's most prominent moment occurred when he was one of three backbenchers who organised support for Eric Willis
Eric Willis
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a...
' 1976 ouster of Tom Lewis
Tom Lewis (Australian politician)
Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...
as Premier. He retired at the 1978 state election
New South Wales state election, 1978
A general election was held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 7 October 1978. The result was the "Wranslide": a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran....
; his retirement paved the way for Rosemary Foot, later the first female leader of the Liberal Party, to enter politics.
Doyle continued his involvement in charitable and community organisations during and after his political career. While in office, he served as a fellow of 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...
from 1965 to 1976 and as president of the Vaucluse House Trust
Vaucluse House
Vaucluse House is a historic estate in Gothic Revival style in the harbourside suburb of Vaucluse in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The suburb takes its name from this house. Vaucluse House is a 19th century estate with house, kitchen wing, stables and outbuildings, surrounded by 28 acres of...
from 1972 to 1975. After his retirement, he was the inaugural president of the New South Wales Kiwi Fruit Growers Association from 1982 to 1987, president of the Taree Legacy Club from 1987 to 1988, and president of the Taree Police Citizens Youth Club from 1991 to 1992. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1981.