Milton Morris
| The Honourable Milton Morris AO |
|
|---|---|
| Minister for Transport | |
| In office 13 May 1965 – 3 January 1975 |
|
| Premier | Sir Robert Askin |
| Preceded by | John McMahon |
| Succeeded by | Wallace Fife |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Maitland |
|
| In office 3 March 1956 – 29 August 1980 |
|
| Preceded by | Walter Howarth |
| Succeeded by | Peter Toms |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 April 1924 Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Colleen Joan Burgess |
| Children | One son, three daughters |
| Awards |  AO30px 1939–45 Star  Defence Medal_ribbon.png){kind=small} War Medal30px Aus. Service Medal 30px Officer of the Order of Polonia Restituta |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service/branch |  Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1942 – 1945 |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | Volunteer Defence Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Milton Arthur Morris AO (born 2 April 1924) is an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Maitland between 3 March 1956 and 29 August 1980 for the Liberal Party of Australia.
Contents
Early life
He was born on 2 April 1924 at Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia to Arthur Henry Morris, a railway guard, and his wife Janet Thomson. He was educated at Wickham Public School and Newcastle Junior Boys High School. Morris joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1942 as a volunteer Defence Corps as an anti-aircraft gunner from 1942 till 1945. After World War Two he married Colleen Joan Burgess on 13 October 1945. They had one son and three daughters.[1]
Political career
Morris joined the Liberal Party in 1954 and was a member of the Tarro Branch of the Party. He was a Councillor on the Lower Hunter Shire (1954–1958). With the retirement of Incumbent member for Maitland, Walter Howarth, Morris was preselected by the Liberal Party and won the seat at that election. He subsequently won re-election at the 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1978 New South Wales State elections.[1]
During his political career Morris held various portfolios in the Askin Government, Lewis Government and Willis Government including Minister for Transport (1965–1975). During his tenure of that portfolio, he introduced the breathalyser, radar speed traps, compulsory wearing of seat belts and a number of other road-safety initiatives partly though his formation of the scientifically-based Traffic Accident Research Unit, led by Dr Michael Henderson.[2] He was also Minister for Lands, Minister for Forests (1975-1975) and Minister for Decentralisation and Development (1976-1976).[1]
He resigned from his seat of Maitland on 29 August 1980 to contest the New South Wales Federal Seat of Lyne for the Liberal Party. The Lyne contest was a three cornered contest between the Labor Party candidate, National Country Party candidate Bruce Cowan and himself. The results of the 1980 Lyne election were close with Morris coming within 2.9% of out voting his National Country opponent and winning through preferences against the Labor candidate in a heavily conservative seat.[3] On his departure from parliament, he was permitted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, to continue to use the title "The Honourable".[4]
Later life
Morris has not contested any election since his Lyne campaign. In a 2008 interview with the Maitland Mercury it was noted that he had the nickname 'Mr Maitland'.[3] In the interview he claimed that he had no regrets about not re-entering politics, but did say that if given the chance would jump at the it. "I loved every minute of it [being Transport Minister]".[1][3]
Community activity and Honours
- Chairman of Hunter Valley Training.
- Honorary Chairman of Lewis House Apprentice Hostel, Mayfield
- Patron of East Maitland sub branch, Returned Serviceman's League.
- Patron - The Mai-Wel Group.
- Patron - Waratah Brass
- Honorary Prefect of Hunter Christian School (formally Mayfield Christian Community School)
Honours
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - 1988, for his contribution to politics, youth and the community.[1]
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) - 1989, for service to Poland and its people.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 46646. p. 9654. 29 July 1975. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member for Maitland 1956 – 1980 |
Succeeded by Peter Toms |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister for Transport 1965 – 1975 |
Succeeded by Wallace Fife |
| Preceded by | Minister for Lands 1975 |
Succeeded by John Mason |
| New title | Minister for Forests 1975 |
|
| Preceded by | Minister for Decentralisation and Development 1976 |
Succeeded by Don Day |
- Use dmy dates from February 2014
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- 1924 births
- Living people
- Australian businesspeople
- Royal Australian Navy sailors
- Royal Australian Navy personnel of World War II
- Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales
- New South Wales local government politicians
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Officers of the Order of Polonia Restituta
