Preceded by William Bostock Role Australian Politician Resigned December 10, 1977 Name Mac Holten Succeeded by Ewen Cameron | Occupation Footballer Nationality Australian Died October 12, 1996 | |
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Born 29 March 1922
Melbourne ( 1922-03-29 ) Political party Australian Country Party Party National Party of Australia | ||
Education Scotch College, Melbourne | ||
Rendle McNeilage "Mac" Holten CMG (29 March 1922 – 12 October 1996) was a leading Australian rules footballer, Australian politician and government minister.
Holten was born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He left school at 16 to sell life insurance, but with the outbreak of World War II joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 as a flying instructor and test pilot. He retired in 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and became a grocer. He kicked 83 goals in 82 games for Collingwood Football Club where he played in three losing Preliminary Finals and was also Vice-Captain of the Melbourne Cricket Club at one time. On 1949 he moved to Wangaratta to coach the Wangaratta Football Club.
Political career
Holten was elected as the Country Party member for Indi in the Australian House of Representatives from the 1958 election until his defeat by the Liberal candidate at the 1977 election. He was Minister for Repatriation from November 1969 to the McMahon government's defeat at the 1972 election. As minister he introduced bills, the Native Members of the Forces Benefits Bill 1972 and the Repatriation (Torres Strait Islanders) Bill 1972, to abolish discrimination in the level of benefits for indigenous Australians who had served in World War II.
Holten was Administrator of Christmas Island from 1980 to 1982. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his parliamentary and community service in 1980. He was survived by his wife, Shirley, and three daughters.