Max Willis
Encyclopedia
Max Frederick Willis RFD
, ED
, CSI
, (born 6 December 1935) is a former Australia
n politician. He was a Liberal
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1970 to 1999. His brother Sir Eric Willis
was briefly Premier of New South Wales in 1976.
Born in Murwillumbah
, Willis was the son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand, and Vida Buttenshaw. He was educated at Murwillumbah High School
and then received a Bachelor of Laws
from the University of Sydney
in 1957. Following his admission as a solicitor in 1958, Willis became a partner with Serisier, Willis and Bowring in Miranda
until 1971. On 8 August 1970 he married Wendy Patricia Booth, with whom he had four children. Willis had joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1953, and was involved in the Army Reserve for thirty years, attaining the rank of Brigadier
. For his military service, Willis was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration
(RFD), the Efficiency Decoration
(ED) and the Cross of Solomon Islands
(CSI). He was furthermore conferred with the Centenary Medal
on 1 January 2001 and the National Medal
on 24 October 2001 with the first clasp.
In 1970, Willis was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
. He was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council from 1977 to 1978 and Leader from 1978 to 1981. In 1991 he was elected President of the Council, succeeding Johno Johnson
who had been President since 1978. Willis was forced to resign as the President and from the house when, under the influence of alcohol, he was unable to control proceedings during voting on a motion to dismiss Supreme Court Justice Vince Bruce. He was replaced by Virginia Chadwick
in 1998 and retired from politics in 1999.
Reserve Force Decoration
The Reserve Force Decoration is an Australian Military award given for long service by officers of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Medal The Reserve Force...
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
, CSI
Cross of Solomon Islands
The Cross of Solomon Islands is the highest civilian award in Solomon Islands. The Cross of Solomon Islands was awarded posthumously to the former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Greg Urwin, in 2008, by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua....
, (born 6 December 1935) is a former Australia
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 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...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1970 to 1999. His brother Sir Eric Willis
Eric Willis
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a...
was briefly Premier of New South Wales in 1976.
Born in Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Murwillumbah is a town of approximately 7,500 people in far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in the Tweed Shire. It lies on the Tweed River, 848 km north-east of Sydney, 13 km south of the Queensland border and 132 km south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Murwillumbah had a...
, Willis was the son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand, and Vida Buttenshaw. He was educated at Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School, is a State run comprehensive secondary, co-educational, high school located at 86 Riverview Street in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established as a comprehensive high school in 1929 being upgraded in status from an intermediate high school. It...
and then received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1957. Following his admission as a solicitor in 1958, Willis became a partner with Serisier, Willis and Bowring in Miranda
Miranda, New South Wales
Miranda is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Miranda is located 24 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the Sutherland Shire....
until 1971. On 8 August 1970 he married Wendy Patricia Booth, with whom he had four children. Willis had joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1953, and was involved in the Army Reserve for thirty years, attaining the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. For his military service, Willis was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration
Reserve Force Decoration
The Reserve Force Decoration is an Australian Military award given for long service by officers of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Medal The Reserve Force...
(RFD), the Efficiency Decoration
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(ED) and the Cross of Solomon Islands
Cross of Solomon Islands
The Cross of Solomon Islands is the highest civilian award in Solomon Islands. The Cross of Solomon Islands was awarded posthumously to the former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Greg Urwin, in 2008, by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua....
(CSI). He was furthermore conferred with the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
on 1 January 2001 and the National Medal
National Medal
National Medal can refer to:* National Medal * National Medal of Arts* National Humanities Medal* National Medal of Science* National Medal of Technology and Innovation...
on 24 October 2001 with the first clasp.
In 1970, Willis was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. He was Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council from 1977 to 1978 and Leader from 1978 to 1981. In 1991 he was elected President of the Council, succeeding Johno Johnson
Johno Johnson
The Hon John Richard "Johno" Johnson KCSG is a former Australian politician. Born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, he was a grocer and trade union official before entering politics. He married Pauline Christina Russell, with whom he has two sons and two daughters...
who had been President since 1978. Willis was forced to resign as the President and from the house when, under the influence of alcohol, he was unable to control proceedings during voting on a motion to dismiss Supreme Court Justice Vince Bruce. He was replaced by Virginia Chadwick
Virginia Chadwick
Virginia Anne Chadwick AO was a Liberal Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1978 to 1999...
in 1998 and retired from politics in 1999.