Allan McDonald (Australian politician)

Not to be confused with Allan MacDonald (Australian politician), Senator for Victoria 1935–1945, or Allan McDonald (cartoonist).

Allan McKenzie McDonald, DFC (4 July 1888 – 10 June 1953) was an Australian politician.

Early life

McDonald was born at Winchelsea, Victoria, the fourth child of contractor Allan McDonald and Elizabeth, née McKenzie. He attended Winchelsea State School and subsequently worked as a farm labourer and then farmer. He married domestic servant Sarah Mary Farquharson at Birregurra on 17 September 1913. When his father died in 1914, McDonald succeeded him on Winchelsea Shire Council, where he remained for almost forty years.

Military service

In April 1916, McDonald joined the Australian Imperial Force, and was assigned to the 14th Battalion in France in December. He was wounded (shot in the left arm) on 11 April 1917 at Bullecourt, and after his dischargement was hospital served at Polygon Wood in Belgium in September. He was promoted to sergeant in October, but was returned to Australia on account of his injured arm and discharged in October 1918.

Politics

McDonald continued as a councillor on Winchelsea Shire Council, and unsuccessfully contested the House of Representatives seat of Corangamite in the Australian federal election, 1919 and 1922 elections, representing the Nationalist Party. He gained political experience as a party organiser, and succeeded his uncle James to the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Polwarth in 1933, representing the United Australia Party. Although considered a possible Victorian party leader, he resigned in 1940 to contest the federal election.

McDonald was successful in winning Corangamite for the UAP in 1940. He was minister for external territories in the governments of Robert Menzies and Arthur Fadden in 1941, and contested the UAP leadership in 1941 and 1943. He was known as an advocate of benefits for returned servicemen, and was Opposition whip from 1946-49. When Menzies and the Liberal Party took government in 1949, McDonald stepped back from prominence, confining himself to party room discussion; this may have been due to his ill health.

A devout Presbyterian and monarchist, McDonald died of cancer on 10 June 1953 at Winchelsea, survived by his wife, four daughters, and one of his two sons. He was given a state funeral.

References

• Cochran, I.C. (2000). "McDonald, Allan Mckenzie (1888 - 1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 2008-03-15.