Dawn Fardell

Fardell was born Sydney and moved to Dubbo in 1977. She is married to a local businessman and has three adult children. Fardell was a Councillor for Dubbo City Council between 1999 and 2005.

Following the 2004 death of independent Tony McGrane, Fardell was elected to represent Dubbo at the subsequent by-election. At the time, the by-election was seen as a test of the NSW Nationals, who had held the seat for 17 years prior to McGrane's election in 1999,[1] while Fardell presented herself as "capable of working with any party and not having to toe the party line".[2] Labor, which had not held the seat since 1959, did not field a candidate, and federal independents Peter Andren and Tony Windsor supported Fardell in her campaign.[3] In the final result, Fardell picked up 49.3% of the primary vote, with 56% on a two-party preferred basis.[4]

She was returned to office in the 2007 state election, winning 41.66% of the primary vote with both major parties once again running,[5] and served as a member of parliamentary standing committees on public works and road safety.[6] Fardell was defeated at the 2011 state election by the National Party candidate, Troy Grant, a local police inspector.[7]