Date of Birth: 06/12/1935
Place of Birth: Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 18/08/2021
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| President of the Legislative Council |
03 Jul 1991 |
29 Jun 1998 |
6 years 11 months 27 days |
|
| Leader of Opposition |
02 Aug 1978 |
28 Aug 1981 |
3 years 27 days |
|
| Deputy Leader of Opposition |
15 Jan 1977 |
01 Aug 1978 |
1 year 6 months 18 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council |
02 Sep 1970 |
05 Mar 1999 |
28 years 6 months 4 days |
A member before reconstitution. A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Dates of Election 2 September 1970, 5 April 1973. Casual vacancy – elected for balance of term of service of Hon. C.A. Love, deceased. Granted retention of title of "Honourable" for life. |
Political Party Activity
Liberal Party. Variously Shadow Minister for Education, Tourism, Environment and Planning. Member State Council and State Executive. Regional President Sutherland/Illawarra Region.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (solicitor). Educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) 1957; admitted as a solicitor in 1958; became a solicitor with firm Serisier, Willis and Bowring, Miranda to 1971. Recreational interests include sailing, tennis, stamp and coin collecting, music and ballet.
Military Service
Joined Citizen Military Forces in 1953, Commissioned 1958 , Efficiency Decoration (Reserve Forces Decoration), president of Imperial Service Club 1972-1975, commanded UNSWR 1972 - 1975. Commanded 1980 - 1983, Assistant Commander RCSC 1983 - 1986. 33 years active Army Reserve service (rank Brigadier). R.F.D, ED, Cross of Solomon Islands (CSI).
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Archibald Clarence Willis, butter factory hand, and Vida Mabel Buttenshaw. Married Wendy Patricia Booth on 8 August 1970 and had issue, 4 children. His brother Sir Eric Willis, was a member of the Legislative Assembly and Premier of New South Wales in 1976.
