Doug McClelland

The Honourable
Doug McClelland
AC
Senator for New South Wales
In office
1 July 1962  23 January 1987
Succeeded by Sue West
Personal details
Born 5 August 1926
Wentworthville, New South Wales
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Lorna McNeill
Children Robert McClelland
Occupation Reporter

Douglas (Doug) McClelland, AC (born 5 August 1926) was elected to the Australian Senate as a member of the Australian Labor Party at the 1961 election, representing New South Wales.

McClelland was born in the Sydney suburb of Wentworthville and he served in the second Australian Imperial Force from June 1946 to January 1947 in the Northern Territory. He was a reporter before entering Parliament.[1]

McClelland was the manager of Government Business in the Senate from 9 July 1974, Minister for the Media in the Whitlam Government until 6 June 1975, and then Special Minister of State, he also served as President of the Senate from 21 April 1983 until his resignation on 23 January 1987.[1] (He was no relation to fellow ALP cabinet minister Jim McClelland.) From 1981 until his resignation he was the Father of the Senate. He went on to serve as Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

McClelland was awarded the Douglas Wilkie Medal for services to non-football in 1973 by the Anti-Football League. The accolade was presented after McClelland introduced a points system for television programming.[2]

McClelland married Lorna McNeill and they have one son—Robert McClelland, member for Barton—and two daughters.[3] He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in June 1987.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Biography for McClelland, the Hon. Douglas, AC". ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  2. http://antifootballleague.org/previous-wilkie-winners/
  3. Who's Who in Australia. North Melbourne: Crown Contents. 2008. p. 2303. ISBN 1-74095-160-3.
  4. "McClelland, Douglas". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
Political offices
Preceded by
New title
Minister for the Media
1972–1975
Succeeded by
Moss Cass
Preceded by
Lionel Bowen
Special Minister of State
1975
Succeeded by
Reg Withers
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Justin O'Byrne
Father of the Australian Senate
1981 – 1987
Succeeded by
Peter Durack
Arthur Gietzelt
Preceded by
Sir Harold Young
President of the Australian Senate
1983–1987
Succeeded by
Kerry Sibraa
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Alfred Parsons
Australian High Commissioner
to the United Kingdom

1987–1991
Succeeded by
Richard Smith