Cyril Rushton
Cyril Rushton | |
---|---|
Deputy Premier of Western Australia | |
In office 25 January 1982 – 25 February 1983 | |
Premier | Ray O'Connor |
Preceded by | Ray O'Connor |
Succeeded by | Mal Bryce |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia | |
In office 8 May 1965 – 25 February 1988 | |
Preceded by | Gerald Wild |
Succeeded by | Fred Tubby |
Constituency | Dale |
Personal details | |
Born | Liberal | 23 November 1922
Edgar Cyril Rushton (23 November 1922 – 23 August 1992) was an Australian politician who was a
Early life
Born in Denmark, in Western Australia's Great Southern region, Rushton attended schools in Denmark, Mount Barker, and Katanning, before boarding at Scotch College in Perth.[1] He served in the military during the Second World War, initially as a signaller in the Australian Army, and then as a navigator (rank leading aircraftman) in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[2][3] On returning to Australia, Rushton worked at the Bank of New South Wales, initially in country areas and then closer to Perth. He served on the Armadale-Kelmscott Shire Council 1958 to 1966, including as shire president from 1964 to 1965.
Politics
Rushton joined the Liberal Party in 1947. He was first elected to parliament at the
Following the
With the Liberal Party now in opposition, Rushton was one of four men to contest a leadership ballot in February 1984, along with O'Connor, Bill Hassell, and Barry MacKinnon. Hassell replaced O'Connor as leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition, while MacKinnon replaced Rushton as deputy leader of the party, narrowly defeating Richard Court.[8][9] Re-elected again at the 1986 state election, Rushton underwent open-heart surgery in August 1987,[10] and, having missed much of the following parliamentary session, resigned on 25 February 1988. The resulting by-election was won by Liberal candidate Fred Tubby, with Labor not fielding a candidate.[1]
Later life
Rushton died in Perth in August 1992, aged 69, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.[11] He had married Elizabeth Melva (Betty) Crouch in 1947, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. They divorced in 1976, and he then remarried to Jean Rachel Evans, in 1977.[1][12]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1920830304.
- ^ RUSHTON, EDGAR CYRIL (Australian Army) Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine – WW2 Nominal Roll. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ RUSHTON, EDGAR CYRIL (RAAF) Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine – WW2 Nominal Roll. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ISBN 0-7309-3983-9.
- ^ Phillips 1991, p. 193
- ^ a b Phillips 1991, p. 213
- ^ (19 December 1981). "Court to retire as WA's Premier" – The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ (16 February 1984). "Former WA Premier loses job as leader" – The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Phillips 1991, p. 231
- ^ Steven Loxley (3 September 1987). "Liberal ranks thinned" – The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ RUSHTON, EDGAR CYRIL Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine – Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Rushton, Elizabeth Melva nee Crouch Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine – The Order of Australia Association. Retrieved 20 August 2014.