Fred Chaney, Sr.

Sir Frederick Charles Chaney KBE AFC (20 October 1914 – 17 December 2001), was an Australian politician and Minister for the Navy.

Chaney was born in Fremantle, Western Australia and educated in state and Catholic schools and gained a scholarship as a result of his sporting ability to attend Christian Brothers' College, Perth. He taught in state schools from 1932 and married Mavis, a fellow teacher, in 1938. They had four sons (including Fred, a deputy leader of the Liberal Party) and three daughters. In 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force as a pilot and flying instructor and served in Australia, New Guinea and Borneo and was awarded the Air Force Cross.^[1][2]

Chaney was elected at the 1955 election as the Liberal member for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Division of Perth, Western Australia. He was selected as Minister for the Navy in Robert Menzies' December 1963 ministry, but not sworn in until 4 March 1964—due to the need to pass legislation to enlarge the ministry—after the 10 February 1964 Voyager disaster and was responsible for dealing with its repercussions. He was not reappointed to Harold Holt's second ministry in December 1966 and he was defeated at the 1969 election by Labor candidate, Joe Berinson.^[1][2]

Chaney was the Administrator of the Northern Territory from 1970 to 1973 and was a strong advocate for Aboriginal land rights. He was Lord Mayor of Perth from 1978 to 1982. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970 and Knight of the Order (KBE) in 1981.^[1][2]

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