John McDonald (Victorian politician)

Early life

McDonald was born in Falkirk, Scotland, the son of a grocer, and was educated at Carmuirs School. After the death of his father, McDonald and his family emigrated to Australia in 1912 and settled in Shepparton, Victoria where they ran a dairy farm.

On 4 March 1916, McDonald (who was 17 at the time) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I, in which he served with the 37th Battalion on the Western Front. He returned to Shepparton where he and his brother established an orchard. He was elected as president of the Shepparton Irrigators Association in 1922.

Political career

Local politics

McDonald was elected to the Shepparton Shire Council in 1928. During his time on the council, he often clashed with other councillors. In July 1929, after only serving twelve months on the council, he announced that he would not seek reelection for a second term in office.

Parliamentary career

The 1936 Goulburn Valley state by-election was held following the appointment of member for Goulburn Valley Murray Bourchier as Agent-General for Victoria in London. McDonald was elected with 50.6% of the primary vote against three other United Country Party (UCP) members.

McDonald delivered his first speech to Parliament in July 1937 during the Address-in-Reply debate. In it, he strongly endorsed the United Country Party government of Premier Albert Dunstan, describing it as “the best this State has had for many years,” and praised its record on primary industry, irrigation, forestry, and infrastructure development. The speech set out themes that would define much of his later career, including advocacy for rural roads, hydro-electric power, and expanded state support for agricultural science and irrigation schemes such as the Yarrawonga Weir. McDonald also used his maiden speech to press for changes in several policy areas, including unemployment relief, the pace of irrigation works, and what he described as the long-term neglect of the Department of Agriculture.

He became UCP whip in 1938 following the resignation of Norman Martin. There were four other candidates for the position: Hamilton Lamb, Roy Paton, Albert Allnutt and Finlay Cameron. McDonald was elected in the final round of voting with 15 votes to 13 against Lamb. He was party whip until 1943.

Dunstan resigned as leader of the UCP following the 1945 Victorian state election due to significant gains made by the Labor Party. McDonald was elected leader of the UCP on 22 November 1945.

References

|- title=Leader of the Country Party in Victoria| before=Albert Dunstan| after=Herbert Hyland| years=1945–1955|

References

1. Costar, B. J.. "Sir John Gladstone Black (Jack) McDonald (1898–1977)". National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
2. [http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/nominal_rolls/first_world_war/page.asp?p=1653370 First World War Nominal Roll Page - AWM133, 34-099], Australian War Memorial; accessed 11 June 2017.
3. (2006). "The Victorian premiers, 1856-2006". Federation Press.
4. (2006). "The Victorian premiers, 1856-2006". Federation Press.
5. (26 September 1936). "GOULBURN VALLEY BY-ELECTION DECLARATION OF POLL TODAY". Shepparton Advertiser.
6. (11 July 1929). "WESTERN RIDING CR. J. G. B. MCDONALD WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION". Shepparton Advertiser.
7. {{Cite re-member
8. (19 August 1936). "MR BORCHIER RESIGNS". [[The Age]].
9. Mr. J. G. B. McDonald, Address-in-Reply to the Speech of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Victorian Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), Legislative Assembly, 6 July 1937, pp. 34–42, https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4afc6b/globalassets/hansard-historical-documents/weekly/1937/19370706-hansard-combined.pdf.
10. (26 August 1938). "PARTY WHIP Honor for Mr. McDonald?". Shepparton Advertiser.
11. (31 August 1938). "GOVERNMENT WHIP Mr. McDonald Elected". [[The Age]].
12. Paul, J. B.. "Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan (1882–1950)". National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
13. (22 November 1945). "Mr McDonald New Country Party Leader". [[The Herald (Melbourne).