The Honourable Allan McDonald DFC |
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Member of the Australian House of Representatives | |
In office 21 September 1940 – 10 June 1953 |
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Preceded by | Geoffrey Street |
Succeeded by | Dan Mackinnon |
Constituency | Corangamite |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly | |
In office 16 September 1933 – 23 August 1940 |
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Preceded by | James McDonald |
Succeeded by | Edward Guye |
Constituency | Polwarth |
Personal details | |
Born |
Winchelsea, Victoria |
4 July 1888
Died | 10 June 1953 Winchelsea, Victoria |
(aged 64)
Nationality | Australian |
Political party |
UAP (to 1945) Liberal (from 1945) |
Spouse(s) | Sarah May Farquharson |
Occupation | Soldier |
Allan McKenzie McDonald, DFC (4 July 1888 – 10 June 1953) was an Australian politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1940 until his death. He had previously served in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1933 to 1940. McDonald represented the United Australia Party until 1945, when he joined the new Liberal Party.
McDonald was born at Winchelsea, Victoria, the fourth child of contractor Allan McDonald and Elizabeth, née McKenzie. He attended Winchelsea State School and subsequently worked as a farm labourer and then farmer. He married domestic servant Sarah Mary Farquharson at Birregurra on 17 September 1913. When his father died in 1914, McDonald succeeded him on Winchelsea Shire Council, where he remained for almost forty years.
In April 1916, McDonald joined the Australian Imperial Force, and was assigned to the 14th Battalion in France in December. He was wounded (shot in the left arm) on 11 April 1917 at Bullecourt, and after his dischargement was hospital served at Polygon Wood in Belgium in September. He was promoted to sergeant in October, but was returned to Australia on account of his injured arm and discharged in October 1918.
McDonald continued as a councillor on Winchelsea Shire Council, and unsuccessfully contested the House of Representatives seat of Corangamite in the Australian federal election, 1919 and 1922 elections, representing the Nationalist Party. He gained political experience as a party organiser, and succeeded his deceased uncle James to the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Polwarth in 1933, representing the United Australia Party. Although considered a possible Victorian party leader, he resigned in 1940 to contest the federal election.