Parliamentary activity
Information about members' parliamentary service including their positions held and biography.
Positions
| Position | Start | End | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council | Sun 23 April 1961 | Thu 24 October 1963 | 2 years 6 months 2 days | A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 16 March 1961. |
Biography
Political party activity
Australian Country Party (subsequently National Party), Deputy Leader of National Party 1971 - 1984. Leader of House of Representatives (in opposition 1975) 1975 - 1979, 1980 - 1982. Leader of National Party 1984 - 1989; Life member of New South Wales National Party.
Honours Received
Privy Councillor in 1977. Hon DUniv (University of New England), Hon DLitt (Southern Cross University). AC 2001.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Member of the House of Representatives for New England 1963 - 1998. Minister for Social Services 1965 - 1968; Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry 1966 - 1971; Minister for Shipping and Transport 1968 - 1971; Minister for Primary Industry 1971, 1972, 1975 - 1979; Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia 1975, Special Trade Representatives 1980, Minster for Communications 1980 - 1982. Speaker of House of Representatives 1998. Longest serving member of House of Representatives. Was also the last serving Australian politician to be a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
Personal information
Son of George McCahon, Chartered Accountant and Gertrude Hazel Smith. Married (1) Margaret Anne Tarrant on 11 February 1956 (deceased 1967) and had issue, 2 daughters and 1 son. Married (2) Rosemary Edna Fenton on 14 February 1970 at Lord Howe Island and had issue, 1 son. Presbyterian.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (barrister) and Grazier. Educated at Knox Grammar and University of Sydney., BA 1949, LLB 1952. Articled clerk with Norton Smith & Co, Admitted to Bar in Supreme Court of New South Wales 1952; Grazier at Bendemeer from 1953 and managing director of Sinclair Pastoral Company in 1953; director of Farmers and Graziers' Co-operative Limited 1962 - 1965; Co-Chairman of New South Wales Drug Summit 1998, New South Wales Salinity Summit 1999; President of Austcare from 2000; Good Beginnings Australia from 2000; Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal from 2000, Australian Taiwan Business Council 2001 -; Australian sheep CRC 2001; Murray Darling Basin Commission 2003 - ; Scouts Australia (New South Wales) from 2005, Co-chairman of Health Care Advisory Council; 2005 -; Adjunct Professor for Social Sciences University of New England 2000 - ; Union and Australia Clubs.
Military service
22 Squadron Citizen Air Forces 1950 - 1952