Sandy Lewis
Encyclopedia
Alexander Ashley Lewis (born 22 January 1931), better known as Sandy Lewis, was an Australian politician who represented the Western Australia
n Legislative Assembly
seat of Blackwood
from 1972 until 1974, and one of the two Legislative Council
seats for Lower Central Province from 1974 until 1989. He was a member of the Liberal Party
.
, a suburb of Adelaide
, South Australia
, to Lancelot Lewis, a managing director of Goldsbrough Mort in Adelaide, and Grace Laidlaw OBE
. His older brother, Tom
, briefly served as Premier of New South Wales from 3 January 1975 until 23 January 1976.
He was educated at St Peter's College
and at the University of Adelaide
, before moving to Western Australia in October 1952. He initially worked as a jackeroo
, trade cadet and farm contractor, before taking up farming at Kojonup
in 1955. On 21 April 1955, he returned to Adelaide to marry Patricia Symons, with whom he had one daughter. In 1961 he founded and was the principal director of PS Agencies and in 1967 became the first individual winner of the John Lynn Memorial Prize for outstanding contribution to the farm machinery industry.
Lewis became active in Liberal
politics, becoming president of the Mobrup branch near Kojonup, and then president for the Division of Forrest
. At a by-election on 16 December 1972, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
of Blackwood
. When this seat was abolished at the 1974 election
, he successfully transferred to a Lower Central Province seat in the Legislative Council
.
From 1977 until 1984, with a brief break in 1982–1983, Lewis served as secretary to the Parliamentary Liberal Party, and in 1983–1984, to the Shadow Cabinet following the defeat of the Liberal government. Additionally, he was a member of the Joint House Committee for the entire period, and chaired a Select Committee into national parks in 1980–1981, into cultural and recreational facilities in 1982, and into the Conservation and Land Management Bill 1984 (during which he became an honorary Royal Commissioner).
He engaged actively in the local community, serving on the Bushfire Brigades Committee as well as football and aero clubs. From 1977, he was also state secretary of the Farm Machinery Dealers' Association, becoming its national secretary in 1979. In March 1978, he and his wife divorced, and nine months later, he married Patricia Wright in Claremont
.
In March 1986, he resigned from the Liberal Party over a disagreement with leader Bill Hassell over the shadow cabinet's relationship with Select Committees. He designated himself an "independent Liberal" but rejoined the party in October 1986. He was rewarded with a shadow secretary role with special responsibility for party liaison, the campaign committee and special projects in December 1986, and served on select committees inquiring into the SEC advanced coal purchase from Western Collieries Ltd and the state funding of Aboriginal programs in 1988. With the abolition of his seat at the 1989 election
, he nominated for Liberal preselection for a winnable seat in the South West
region, but failed in his bid, and exited from political life at the election.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Blackwood
Electoral district of Blackwood
Blackwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1950 to 1974.The district was located in the south-west of the state and first contested at the 1950 state election. The seat was abolished ahead of the 1974 state election.-Members for...
from 1972 until 1974, and one of the two Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
seats for Lower Central Province from 1974 until 1989. He was a member of the Liberal Party
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...
.
Biography
Lewis was born in Glen OsmondGlen Osmond, South Australia
Glen Osmond is a small suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Burnside located in the foothills of the Adelaide Hills.-References:...
, a suburb of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, to Lancelot Lewis, a managing director of Goldsbrough Mort in Adelaide, and Grace Laidlaw OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. His older brother, Tom
Tom Lewis (Australian politician)
Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...
, briefly served as Premier of New South Wales from 3 January 1975 until 23 January 1976.
He was educated at St Peter's College
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
and at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, before moving to Western Australia in October 1952. He initially worked as a jackeroo
Jackaroo (trainee)
A Jackaroo is a young man working on a sheep or cattle station, to gain practical experience in the skills needed to become an owner, overseer, manager, etc. The word originated in Queensland, Australia in the Nineteenth Century and is still in use in Australia and New Zealand in the twenty-first...
, trade cadet and farm contractor, before taking up farming at Kojonup
Kojonup, Western Australia
Kojonup is a town located 256 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia along Albany Highway.The name Kojonup is believed to refer to the "Kodja" or stone axe made by Indigenous Australians from the local stone....
in 1955. On 21 April 1955, he returned to Adelaide to marry Patricia Symons, with whom he had one daughter. In 1961 he founded and was the principal director of PS Agencies and in 1967 became the first individual winner of the John Lynn Memorial Prize for outstanding contribution to the farm machinery industry.
Lewis became active in 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...
politics, becoming president of the Mobrup branch near Kojonup, and then president for the Division of Forrest
Division of Forrest
The Division of Forrest is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia. The division was created in 1922 and is named for Sir John Forrest, the first Premier of Western Australia and a federal Cabinet minister. It is located in the south-western corner of the state, including the towns of...
. At a by-election on 16 December 1972, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
of Blackwood
Electoral district of Blackwood
Blackwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1950 to 1974.The district was located in the south-west of the state and first contested at the 1950 state election. The seat was abolished ahead of the 1974 state election.-Members for...
. When this seat was abolished at the 1974 election
Western Australian state election, 1974
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
, he successfully transferred to a Lower Central Province seat in the Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
.
From 1977 until 1984, with a brief break in 1982–1983, Lewis served as secretary to the Parliamentary Liberal Party, and in 1983–1984, to the Shadow Cabinet following the defeat of the Liberal government. Additionally, he was a member of the Joint House Committee for the entire period, and chaired a Select Committee into national parks in 1980–1981, into cultural and recreational facilities in 1982, and into the Conservation and Land Management Bill 1984 (during which he became an honorary Royal Commissioner).
He engaged actively in the local community, serving on the Bushfire Brigades Committee as well as football and aero clubs. From 1977, he was also state secretary of the Farm Machinery Dealers' Association, becoming its national secretary in 1979. In March 1978, he and his wife divorced, and nine months later, he married Patricia Wright in Claremont
Claremont, Western Australia
Claremont is a western suburb of Perth, Western Australia on the north bank of the Swan River.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Noongar people used the area as a source of water, for fishing and for catching waterfowl. In 1830, John Butler, a settler, set up an inn at Freshwater Bay to...
.
In March 1986, he resigned from the Liberal Party over a disagreement with leader Bill Hassell over the shadow cabinet's relationship with Select Committees. He designated himself an "independent Liberal" but rejoined the party in October 1986. He was rewarded with a shadow secretary role with special responsibility for party liaison, the campaign committee and special projects in December 1986, and served on select committees inquiring into the SEC advanced coal purchase from Western Collieries Ltd and the state funding of Aboriginal programs in 1988. With the abolition of his seat at the 1989 election
Western Australian state election, 1989
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 4 February 1989 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
, he nominated for Liberal preselection for a winnable seat in the South West
Electoral region of South West
The electoral region of South West is a multi-member electoral region of the Western Australian Legislative Council, located in the South West, Peel and part of the Great Southern regions of the state...
region, but failed in his bid, and exited from political life at the election.