Leslie George Norman
Encyclopedia
Leslie George Norman was an Australia
n politician. Norman represented Glen Iris
in the Victorian
Legislative Assembly
for four years, and led the Liberal Country Party
from 1951–1952. Norman was a staunch Methodist
and an equally staunch conservative. He held strong small-government views, and had little patience for the "socialism" of the Australian Labor Party
.
Born in Melbourne
, Norman attended primary school in Malvern
and went on to University High School
. Upon graduation at the age of 15, he joined an accounting firm as a clerk. He took night classes in accountancy during his employment there, and at the age of 22, left the firm to set up his own practice, Norman and Cartledge.
At the outbreak of World War II
, Norman enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
and was posted in Malaya
with the Australian 8th Division
. He was captured in Singapore
in 1942, and forced to sit out the rest of the war in Changi Prison
. The prison at the time also housed Wilfrid Kent Hughes
, Tom Mitchell, and William Leggatt
, and the four would often discuss politics together. Norman entered the war as a Private
, and left as a Lieutenant
. After the war, Norman resumed his accounting practice.
In 1947, Norman won the electorate
of Glen Iris
. He became the Government Whip under Thomas Hollway
in 1948. The Hollway government was defeated by the Country Party
in 1950, and in 1951 Norman took over leadership from Hollway, amidst internal dissent over Hollway's plans to redistribute
the seats of Victoria and reduce the power of rural electorates.
Norman's reign was short-lived, however, and he lost his seat in 1952 to a challenge from Hollway. He left politics and returned to his accounting practice. He also became active with various charities, acting as Vice-President of the Australian Red Cross
and, as a member of Moral Re-Armament
, working towards reconciliation with the Japan
ese.
Norman died in 1997 at the age of 83, and is survived by his wife Nina, ex-wife Rosa, and children Douglas and Anne.
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. Norman represented Glen Iris
Electoral district of Glen Iris
The Electoral district of Glen Iris was an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members of Glen Iris:-See also:*Parliaments of the Australian states and territories*List of members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly...
in the Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for four years, and led the Liberal Country Party
Liberal Country Party
The Liberal Country Party was a splinter group of the Victorian branch of the Australian Country Party, formed after federal MP John McEwen was expelled from the state branch, the United Country Party, for accepting a ministry in the Lyons-Page Coalition government in 1937...
from 1951–1952. Norman was a staunch Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
and an equally staunch conservative. He held strong small-government views, and had little patience for the "socialism" of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
.
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Norman attended primary school in Malvern
Malvern, Victoria
Malvern is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Malvern had a population of 9,422.-History:...
and went on to University High School
University High School, Melbourne
The University High School is a public, co-educational high school, located in the Melbourne suburb of Parkville.-History:...
. Upon graduation at the age of 15, he joined an accounting firm as a clerk. He took night classes in accountancy during his employment there, and at the age of 22, left the firm to set up his own practice, Norman and Cartledge.
At the outbreak of 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...
, Norman enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
and was posted in Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
with the Australian 8th Division
Australian 8th Division
The 8th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, who were in turn, part of the Allies of World War II. The 8th Division was raised from regular army units and new, all-volunteer infantry brigades, from July 1940 onwards...
. He was captured in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1942, and forced to sit out the rest of the war in Changi Prison
Changi Prison
Changi Prison is a prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore.-First prison and POW camp:...
. The prison at the time also housed Wilfrid Kent Hughes
Wilfrid Kent Hughes
Sir Wilfrid Selwyn Kent Hughes KBE, MVO, MC was an Australian soldier, Olympian and Olympic Games organiser, author and federal and state government minister.Kent Hughes was born in Melbourne to an upper middle-class family...
, Tom Mitchell, and William Leggatt
William Leggatt
Sir William Watt Leggatt DSO, MC was an Australian soldier, lawyer and politician. He served as commanding officer of the 2/40th Battalion and later Sparrow Force during World War II, fighting in Timor against the Japanese invasion in 1942. He was captured by the Japanese and sent to Changi prison...
, and the four would often discuss politics together. Norman entered the war as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, and left as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. After the war, Norman resumed his accounting practice.
In 1947, Norman won the electorate
Electoral districts of Victoria
The Victorian Legislative Assembly, from the Australian State, is elected from 88 single-member electorates called districts.-Current districts:This is a list of districts .* Electoral district of Albert Park* Electoral district of Altona...
of Glen Iris
Electoral district of Glen Iris
The Electoral district of Glen Iris was an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members of Glen Iris:-See also:*Parliaments of the Australian states and territories*List of members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly...
. He became the Government Whip under Thomas Hollway
Thomas Hollway
Thomas Tuke "Tom" Hollway was the 36th Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1947 to 1950, and again for a short period in 1952....
in 1948. The Hollway government was defeated by the 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...
in 1950, and in 1951 Norman took over leadership from Hollway, amidst internal dissent over Hollway's plans to redistribute
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
the seats of Victoria and reduce the power of rural electorates.
Norman's reign was short-lived, however, and he lost his seat in 1952 to a challenge from Hollway. He left politics and returned to his accounting practice. He also became active with various charities, acting as Vice-President of the Australian Red Cross
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross is one of the many national Red Cross societies around the world. The Australian organisation was established in 1914, nine days after the commencement of World War I, by Karen Tenenbaum, when she formed a branch of the British Red Cross.the organisation grew at a rapid rate...
and, as a member of Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
, working towards reconciliation with the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese.
Norman died in 1997 at the age of 83, and is survived by his wife Nina, ex-wife Rosa, and children Douglas and Anne.