Michael Bruxner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner KBE, DSO (25 March 1882–28 March 1970) was an Australian politician and soldier.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and military career
Bruxner was born in Tabulum, near the Clarence River, New South Wales and was educated in private tuition and at at the Armidale School. From 1901 to 1903, he studied arts and law at the University of Sydney, but was expelled for non-attendance of lectures. Several years later he moved to Tenterfield and established a business as a stock and station agency. In 1908, he married Midge Caird.
In 1914, Bruxner joined the Australian Imperial Force and was wounded at Gallipoli. In 1916, he commanded the the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and was Mentioned in Dispatches. By wars end, Bruxner had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and decorated four times, receiving a Distinguished Service Order, two Mentions in Dispatches and the French Légion d'honneur.
In 1919, he returned to Tenterfield and became a grazier.[1]
[edit] Political career
Bruxner was elected under proportional representation as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1920, representing the three-member electorate of Northern Tablelands for the Progressive Party.[2] It split in 1921 over whether to join the Fuller government in coalition and in 1922, Bruxner was elected as the leader of the "True Blues", who refused to join the coalition. In 1925, they renamed themselves the Country Party. Bruxner also became involved in the New England New State Movement. In 1925, he resigned the leadership of the Country Party, and in 1927, with the abandonment of proportional representation, he won the seat of Tenterfield.
Bruxner became Minster for Local Government in the Bavin government in 1927 until its defeat in 1930. Bruxner became party leader again in 1932 and, with Governor Game's dismissal of the Lang government, he became Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport for the duration of the government. In 1938, he helped to establish the New England University College. After the coalition's defeat by William McKell in 1941, he remained the member for Tenterfield, continuously in opposition, until his retirement in 1962.
Bruxner died in Sydney and was survived by a daughter and two sons. One, James Bruxner succeeded him as member for Tenterfield, and the other became a district judge.[1]
[edit] Honours
Bruxner was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1917 and awarded a Distinguished Service Order in 1918. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962.[2] The Bruxner Highway is named after him.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Aitkin, Don. Bruxner, Sir Michael Frederick (1882 - 1970). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2007-04-05.
- ^ a b Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner (1882 - 1970). Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved on 2007-04-05.
| Preceded by None |
Deputy Premier of New South Wales 1932-1941 |
Succeeded by John Baddeley |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bruxner, Michael Frederick |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician and soldier |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 25 March 1882 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Tabulum, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 28 March 1970 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Sydney |
