Date of Birth: 15/01/1922
Place of Birth: Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 10/05/1999
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member for Earlwood |
01 May 1976 |
16 Jun 1978 |
2 years 1 month 17 days |
|
| Premier |
23 Jan 1976 |
14 May 1976 |
3 months 22 days |
|
| Treasurer |
23 Jan 1976 |
14 May 1976 |
3 months 22 days |
|
| Minister for Education |
17 Dec 1975 |
23 Jan 1976 |
1 month 7 days |
|
| Acting Minister of Justice |
22 Aug 1975 |
16 Sep 1975 |
26 days |
|
| Acting Minister for Tourism |
28 Apr 1975 |
09 Jun 1975 |
1 month 13 days |
|
| Minister for Education |
03 Jan 1975 |
17 Dec 1975 |
11 months 15 days |
|
| Minister for Education |
03 Dec 1973 |
03 Jan 1975 |
1 year 1 month 1 day |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
17 Nov 1973 |
02 Apr 1976 |
2 years 4 months 17 days |
|
| Acting Premier and Treasurer |
05 Jun 1973 |
19 Jun 1973 |
15 days |
|
| Minister for Education |
17 Jan 1973 |
03 Dec 1973 |
10 months 17 days |
|
| Minister for Education |
19 Jun 1972 |
17 Jan 1973 |
6 months 30 days |
|
| Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism and Sport |
11 Mar 1971 |
19 Jun 1972 |
1 year 3 months 9 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
13 Feb 1971 |
19 Oct 1973 |
2 years 8 months 7 days |
|
| Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism |
11 Feb 1969 |
11 Mar 1971 |
2 years 1 month 1 day |
|
| Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism |
05 Mar 1968 |
11 Feb 1969 |
11 months 7 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
24 Feb 1968 |
13 Jan 1971 |
2 years 10 months 21 days |
|
| Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourist Activities |
13 May 1965 |
05 Mar 1968 |
2 years 9 months 22 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
01 May 1965 |
23 Jan 1968 |
2 years 8 months 24 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
03 Mar 1962 |
31 Mar 1965 |
3 years 29 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
21 Mar 1959 |
05 Feb 1962 |
2 years 10 months 16 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
03 Mar 1956 |
16 Feb 1959 |
2 years 11 months 14 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
14 Feb 1953 |
06 Feb 1956 |
2 years 11 months 24 days |
|
| Member for Earlwood |
17 Jun 1950 |
14 Jan 1953 |
2 years 6 months 29 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
17 Jun 1950 |
16 Jun 1978 |
28 years |
|
Political Party Activity
Liberal Party. Joined in 1945 and became a member of the Earlwood branch, state and federal electorate conferences, state executive 1958-1978; Deputy Leader from July 1959 until Jan 1975.
Leader of Opposition May 1976-December 1977. Party Leader 23 January 1976 - 1916 December 1977. Resigned 16 June 1978
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Research officer. Educated at Tyalgum Public School, Murwillumbah High School, and the University of Sydney, BA (Hons) 1942; Geographer Commonwealth Department Postwar Reconstruction 1946- 1947; Research officer Cumberland County Council 1947- 1950; Secretary of Fibrous Plaster Association 1955-1965; Executive Secretary Royal Australia College of Ophthalmologists 1978; Executive member of Sydney Legacy 1947-1957; Executive of United Nations Association 1948-1951; Fellow Royal George Society, Member Australia Institute of Political Science, Australia Institute of Industrial Relations, Australia Institute of International Affairs, Economics Society, and Australia-American Association; fellow of Senate University of Sydney 1972; Freemason.
Military Service
Served 2nd Australian Imperial Forces 1941-1946, Army Intelligence, New Guinea and Philippines, Sergeant; also Citizen Military Forces, transferred to reserve 1957; Australian International Corps Citizen Military Forces; Major 1948 - 1958.
Honours Received
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1974. Knight of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1975.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Archibald Clarence Willis, butter factory hand, and his wife Vida Mabel Buttenshaw. Married (1) Norma Knight on 11 May 1951 and had issue, 1 daughter and 2 sons. Divorced. Married (2) Lynn. Divorced. Church of England faith.
