Cyril Rushton

Edgar Cyril Rushton (23 November 1922 – 23 August 1992) was an Australian politician who was the Deputy Premier of Western Australia from 1982 to 1983. He served as the Liberal member for Dale in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1965 to 1988, and was a minister in the Court–McPharlin, Court, and O'Connor governments.

Born in Denmark, in Western Australia's Great Southern region, Rushton attended schools in Denmark, Mount Barker, and Katanning, before boarding at Scotch College in Perth.^[1] He served in the military during the Second World War, initially as a signaller in the Australian Army, and then as a navigator (rank leading aircraftman) in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).^[2][3] On returning to Australia, Rushton worked at the Bank of New South Wales, initially in country areas and then closer to Perth. A Shire of Armadale–Kelmscott councillor from 1958 to 1966 (and shire president from 1964 to 1965), he had joined the Liberal Party in 1947. He was first elected to parliament at a 1965 by-election, which came only three months after the 1965 state election. The previous holder of the seat, Gerald Wild, had resigned from parliament to take up the position of Agent-General for Western Australia.^[1]

As a new member of parliament, Rushton did not serve in the second ministry led by Sir David Brand, but was appointed Minister for Local Government and Minister for Urban Development and Town Planning after Charles Court led a Liberal–National Country coalition to victory at the 1974 state election.^[4] The ministry was reconstituted in 1978 after a portfolio reshuffle, and Rushton was named Minister for Transport, with June Craig, the only woman in Cabinet, taking over his portfolios.^[5] Following the 1980 state election, at which the government was again returned, there was speculation that Court would retire. Rushton was considered a candidate to replace him, along with Craig, Bill Grayden, Ray Young, Jim Clarko, and Court's deputy, Ray O'Connor.^[6] Court eventually resigned in early 1982. He was replaced by O'Connor, who was elected unopposed, and Rushton was elected deputy leader in a four-way contest.^[7] Retaining his transport portfolio, he also served as Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services in O'Connor's new ministry, which was defeated at the following year's election.^[6]

With the Liberal Party now in opposition, Rushton was one of four men to contest a leadership ballot in February 1984, along with O'Connor, Bill Hassell, and Barry McKinnon. Hassell replaced O'Connor as leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition, while McKinnon replaced Rushton as deputy leader of the party, narrowly defeating Richard Court.^[8][9] Re-elected again at the 1986 state election, Rushton underwent open-heart surgery in August 1987,^[10] and, having missed much of the following parliamentary session, resigned on 25 February 1988. The resulting by-election was won by Liberal candidate Fred Tubby, with Labor not fielding a candidate. Rushton died at the Nedlands Golf Club in Dalkeith, a suburb of Perth, in August 1992, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.^[11] He had married Elizabeth Melva (Betty) Crouch in 1947, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. They divorced in 1976, and he then re-married to Jean Rachel Evans, in 1977.^[1][12]

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