1. Home
  2. Members
  3. Former Members
  4. Former Members Index A-Z
Contact Print this page Reduce font size Increase font size

Sir Eric Archibald WILLIS (1922 - 1999)

  • 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

Position Start End Period Parliament Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly17 Jun 195016 Jun 197828yr(s)
Member for Earlwood17 Jun 195014 Jan 19532yr(s) 6mth(s) 29day(s)36th (1950 - 1953)
Member for Earlwood14 Feb 19536 Feb 19562yr(s) 11mth(s) 24day(s)37th (1953 - 1956)
Member for Earlwood3 Mar 195616 Feb 19592yr(s) 11mth(s) 14day(s)38th (1956 - 1959)
Member for Earlwood21 Mar 19595 Feb 19622yr(s) 10mth(s) 16day(s)39th (1950 - 1953)
Member for Earlwood3 Mar 196231 Mar 19653yr(s) 29day(s)40th (1962 - 1965)
Member for Earlwood1 May 196523 Jan 19682yr(s) 8mth(s) 23day(s)41st (1965 - 1968)
Member for Earlwood24 Feb 196813 Jan 19712yr(s) 10mth(s) 21day(s)42nd (1968 - 1971)
Member for Earlwood13 Feb 197119 Oct 19732yr(s) 8mth(s) 7day(s)43rd (1971 - 1973)
Member for Earlwood17 Nov 19732 Apr 19762yr(s) 4mth(s) 17day(s)44th (1973 - 1976)
Member for Earlwood1 May 197616 Jun 19782yr(s) 1mth(s) 16day(s)45th (1976 - 1978)
Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourist Activities13 May 19655 Mar 19682yr(s) 9mth(s) 22day(s)
Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism5 Mar 196811 Feb 196911mth(s) 7day(s)
Minister for Labour and Industry, Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism11 Feb 196911 Mar 19712yr(s) 1mth(s) 1day(s)
Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism and Sport11 Mar 197119 Jun 19721yr(s) 3mth(s) 9day(s)
Minister for Education19 Jun 197217 Jan 19736mth(s) 30day(s)
Minister for Education17 Jan 19733 Dec 197310mth(s) 17day(s)
Acting Premier and Treasurer5 Jun 197319 Jun 197315day(s)
Minister for Education3 Dec 19733 Jan 19751yr(s) 1mth(s) 1day(s)
Minister for Education3 Jan 197517 Dec 197511mth(s) 15day(s)
Acting Minister for Tourism28 Apr 19759 Jun 19751mth(s) 13day(s)
Acting Minister of Justice22 Aug 197516 Sep 197526day(s)
Minister for Education17 Dec 197523 Jan 19761mth(s) 7day(s)
Treasurer23 Jan 197614 May 19763mth(s) 22day(s)
Premier23 Jan 197614 May 19763mth(s) 22day(s)

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.


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.


Additional Information



Last modified 15/09/2008 13:28:02   :   Update this page