Neil Pickard
|
The Honourable Neil Pickard |
|
|---|---|
Pickard in 1980
|
|
| Minister for Education | |
|
In office 23 January 1976 – 14 May 1976 |
|
| Premier | Sir Eric Willis |
| Preceded by | Sir Eric Willis |
| Succeeded by | Eric Bedford |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Hornsby |
|
|
In office 17 November 1973 – 3 May 1991 |
|
| Preceded by | John Maddison |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 February 1929 Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 13 April 2007 (aged 78) Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Teacher |
Neil Edward William Pickard (13 February 1929 – 13 April 2007) was a New South Wales politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Eric Willis and Nick Greiner. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 26 years from 17 November 1973 to 3 May 1991 for the Liberal Party of Australia until his retirement from politics upon the abolition of his seat at the election. He was appointed NSW Agent-General in London, but was recalled soon after due to expenses abuse.
Pickard was born in Strathfield in Sydney, the son of Edward Picard and Mary MacGilvray. Having left school at age 12 to support his family, (Deserted wives were eligible for the Widows' Pension in 1942), Pickard gained a place to study at the Methodist Leigh College in 1951 (after being given free quarters by the Methodists) and was educated at the University of Sydney, Wesley College, where he gained a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Master of Education (MEd), a Diploma of Education (DipEd) and later at the University of Melbourne he gained a Licentiate in Theology (LTh) and a Diploma in Theology (DipTh).
He moved to Peak Hill to serve as a Methodist Minister from 1952 to 1965. He entered politics when he was elected as became an Alderman of the Peak Hill Shire Council and it was there also that he joined the Liberal Party: "to me the Liberal Party was the party that offered the greatest freedom on a grass roots level". In 1965 he became an English and History teacher at Dubbo High School. In 1969 he was also elected an Alderman of Dubbo City Council, becoming Chairman of the Country Mayors Association. Pickard also became Western Regional chairman and a member of the State Executive of the Liberal Party. In May 1971, Pickard was asked by Prime Minister William McMahon to be part of the education sub-committee of the joint standing committee on Federal Policy, to examine Liberal education policy.
...
Wikipedia