Harold Thorby

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Harold Thorby was an Australian politician and government minister.

He was born in Sydney on 2 October 1888 and died in 1960.He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and worked as a farmer and grazier.

Thorby's initial political experience was as a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly where he was the Member for Wammerawa in 1922 - 1927 and the Member for Castlereagh 1927 - 1930. He was the Minister for Agriculture in the government of Thomas Bavin.

Thorby entered Federal politics at the 1931 general election. He was elected as the Member for Calare and represented the Country Party. He retained the seat ubtil defeated at the 1940 general election.

He was a minister in the Lyons, Page and Menzies Governments.

His ministerial responsibilities were:

Minister without Portfolio 9 November 1934 - 29 November 1937

Minister for Defence 29 November 1937 - 7 November 1938

Minister for Works 29 November 1938 - 26 April 1939

Minister for Civil Aviation 29 November 1938 - 26 April 1939

Minister for Health 14 March 1940 - 28 October 1940

Postmaster-General 14 March 1940 - 28 October 1940