Alister McMullin
Encyclopedia
Sir Alister Maxwell McMullin (14 July 1900 – 7 August 1984) was an Australia
n politician. Born in Scone
, New South Wales
, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farmer and grazier. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force
in 1940-1945, and when he returned served on Upper Hunter
Shire Council. In 1951, he was elected to the Australian Senate
as a Liberal
Senator for New South Wales. In 1953, he succeeded Ted Mattner as President of the Senate
; he served as President for 18 years, until his retirement from the Senate in 1971. He is thus the longest serving President of the Senate in Australian history.
He was closely associated with the planning and development of the National Library of Australia
as Chairman of the Australian Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services, Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Council of the National Library of Australia.
He was also involved in the preparation of plans for the new Parliament House
in Canberra as Chairman of a special Parliamentary Joint Select Committee. He represented the Australian Government at numerous international events, included the funeral of John F. Kennedy
.
Outside of politics, Sir Alister was Chancellor of the University of Newcastle
from 1966 until 1977.
He died in 1984.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. Born in Scone
Scone, New South Wales
Scone is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is located on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter and Upper...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farmer and grazier. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1940-1945, and when he returned served on Upper Hunter
Upper Hunter
The Upper Hunter Shire is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formed in May 2004 from Scone Shire and parts of Murrurundi and Merriwa shires. The shire council's vision is "A Quality Rural Lifestyle - in a caring and thriving community"...
Shire Council. In 1951, he was elected to the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Senator for New South Wales. In 1953, he succeeded Ted Mattner as President of the Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
; he served as President for 18 years, until his retirement from the Senate in 1971. He is thus the longest serving President of the Senate in Australian history.
He was closely associated with the planning and development of the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
as Chairman of the Australian Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services, Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Council of the National Library of Australia.
He was also involved in the preparation of plans for the new Parliament House
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
in Canberra as Chairman of a special Parliamentary Joint Select Committee. He represented the Australian Government at numerous international events, included the funeral of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Outside of politics, Sir Alister was Chancellor of the University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
from 1966 until 1977.
He died in 1984.