George Freudenstein
Encyclopedia
George Francis Freudenstein (26 December 1921 – 22 October 2007) was an Australia
n politician. He was a Country Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1959 to 1981, representing the electorate of Young
. He served variously as Minister for Cultural Activities, Minister for Conservation, and Minister for Mines and Energy in the Askin
Coalition
government.
Freudenstein was born in Young
, and was educated at Warrunga Primary School and Grenfell High School. He worked as a bank clerk with the Rural Bank in Sydney after leaving school, but enlisted in the military during World War II
, seeing active service in Papua New Guinea
from 1942 to 1946. He returned to his family property, Chippendale, after the war, where he farmed and bred cattle. He was a committee member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Association, and served as the secretary of the Young branch of the Country Party.
Freudenstein first attempted to enter politics at the 1956 state election
, when he was defeated by the long-time Labor MLA for Young, Fred Cahill
. Freudenstein finished third on that occasion; leakage from his preferences re-elected Cahill over the Liberal candidate. Cahill retired at the 1959 election
, and Freudenstein defeated Goulburn mayor Ernie McDermott to win the seat on his second attempt. Freudenstein was easily re-elected seven times thereafter; Labor would never hold the seat of Young again. Freudenstein was a well-known and popular member in the Young area; Paul Gibson, a future Labor MLA who was a child in Young at the time, later remarked: "It sounds strange but I remember, when George married Joan back in 1960 in Young, it was like Prince Charles and Diana being married. That is the sort of impression it had on us kids at the time."
After ten years as a backbencher, Freudenstein entered the ministry in 1969 under Premier Robert Askin
as Assistant Minister. He was promoted to Minister for Cultural Activities and Assistant Treasurer in 1971 and Minister for Conservation in 1972. He was the responsible minister when the Sydney Opera House
opened in 1973. He shifted to the roles of Minister for Mines and Minister for Energy in 1975, holding them until the defeat of the Askin government in 1976. During the final term of the Askin Government, he ran for the position of Deputy Leader of the Country Party upon Leon Punch
becoming leader, but was defeated by Tim Bruxner
.
The Country Party initially maintained separate portfolios in opposition after the defeat of the Askin-led Coalition
. In 1977, however, the parties established a joint shadow ministry, and Freudenstein returned to his prior portfolios as Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy. He was again touted as a possible deputy leader when Bruxner announced that he would retire at the 1981 election
, but was by then seen as too old. Freudenstein's seat of Young was abolished in a redistribution before the same election, and he decided that he would also retire.On his retirement, he was granted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, retention of the title "The Honourable
" for life.
Freudenstein returned to his family farm and retired from political life after his retirement from the Legislative Assembly. He had a heart attack shortly after, but survived for another twenty-five years. He died in October 2007, and his funeral in Grenfell
was widely attended.
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. He was a Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1959 to 1981, representing the electorate of Young
Electoral district of Young
Young was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Young area. It elected two members between 1880 to 1894 and one member from 1894 to 1904, when it was replaced by Burrangong. Young was recreated in 1927 and abolished in 1981.-Members for...
. He served variously as Minister for Cultural Activities, Minister for Conservation, and Minister for Mines and Energy in the Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
government.
Freudenstein was born in Young
Young, New South Wales
-Demographics:On census night, 7 August 2001, there were 6,821 people counted in Young. There were 238 people who identified as being of Indigenous origin in the 2001 Census...
, and was educated at Warrunga Primary School and Grenfell High School. He worked as a bank clerk with the Rural Bank in Sydney after leaving school, but enlisted in the military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, seeing active service in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
from 1942 to 1946. He returned to his family property, Chippendale, after the war, where he farmed and bred cattle. He was a committee member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Association, and served as the secretary of the Young branch of the Country Party.
Freudenstein first attempted to enter politics at the 1956 state election
New South Wales state election, 1956
The 1956 New South Wales state election was held on 3 March 1956. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
, when he was defeated by the long-time Labor MLA for Young, Fred Cahill
Fred Cahill
Frederick Joseph Cahill was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1959 . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
. Freudenstein finished third on that occasion; leakage from his preferences re-elected Cahill over the Liberal candidate. Cahill retired at the 1959 election
New South Wales state election, 1959
The 1959 New South Wales state election was held on 21 March 1959. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution...
, and Freudenstein defeated Goulburn mayor Ernie McDermott to win the seat on his second attempt. Freudenstein was easily re-elected seven times thereafter; Labor would never hold the seat of Young again. Freudenstein was a well-known and popular member in the Young area; Paul Gibson, a future Labor MLA who was a child in Young at the time, later remarked: "It sounds strange but I remember, when George married Joan back in 1960 in Young, it was like Prince Charles and Diana being married. That is the sort of impression it had on us kids at the time."
After ten years as a backbencher, Freudenstein entered the ministry in 1969 under Premier Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
as Assistant Minister. He was promoted to Minister for Cultural Activities and Assistant Treasurer in 1971 and Minister for Conservation in 1972. He was the responsible minister when the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
opened in 1973. He shifted to the roles of Minister for Mines and Minister for Energy in 1975, holding them until the defeat of the Askin government in 1976. During the final term of the Askin Government, he ran for the position of Deputy Leader of the Country Party upon Leon Punch
Leon Punch
Leon Ashton Punch was a New South Wales politician, Deputy Premier, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. From 1975 to 1976 he was the Deputy Premier of New South Wales...
becoming leader, but was defeated by Tim Bruxner
Tim Bruxner
James Caird Bruxner , also known as J.C. Bruxner, was an Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 19 years from 3 March 1962 to 28 August 1981 and the Deputy Leader of the Country Party of Australia and its successors in New South Wales from 1975 to...
.
The Country Party initially maintained separate portfolios in opposition after the defeat of the Askin-led Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
. In 1977, however, the parties established a joint shadow ministry, and Freudenstein returned to his prior portfolios as Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy. He was again touted as a possible deputy leader when Bruxner announced that he would retire at the 1981 election
New South Wales state election, 1981
Elections were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 19 September 1981. The result was a second "Wranslide": a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran, in which the government increased its already sizeable majority.The Liberals suffered the double...
, but was by then seen as too old. Freudenstein's seat of Young was abolished in a redistribution before the same election, and he decided that he would also retire.On his retirement, he was granted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, retention of the title "The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
" for life.
Freudenstein returned to his family farm and retired from political life after his retirement from the Legislative Assembly. He had a heart attack shortly after, but survived for another twenty-five years. He died in October 2007, and his funeral in Grenfell
Grenfell, New South Wales
Grenfell is a country town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia, in Weddin Shire. It is 370 kilometres west of Sydney and five hours' drive from the city. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. At the 2006 census, Grenfell had a population of 1,994.-History:Prior to European...
was widely attended.