Frederick Osborne

Frederick Meares Osborne CMG, DSC & Bar, VRD (20 January 1909 – 23 July 1996) was an Australian politician and government minister.


Frederick Osborne

CMG, DSC & Bar, VRD
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Evans
In office
10 December 1949  9 December 1961
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byJames Monaghan
Personal details
Born(1909-01-20)20 January 1909
Orange, New South Wales
Died23 July 1996(1996-07-23) (aged 87)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)Elizabeth
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
OccupationNaval officer
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Years of service1938–1967
RankCommander
CommandsHMS Peacock (1945)
HMS Vanquisher (1943–45)
HMS Gentian (1941–43)
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross & Bar
Volunteer Reserve Decoration

Osborne was born in Orange, New South Wales, and educated at North Sydney High School and Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He graduated with a degree in law from the University of Sydney. He joined the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1938, and with the outbreak of the Second World War, he was seconded to the Royal Navy in 1940. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross in 1940 for "bravery and devotion to duty" while assisting the evacuation of forces from Norway as a sub-lieutenant on the St Loman, an armed trawler. He then successively commanded HMS Gentian, HMS Vanquisher and HMS Peacock, escorting ships between the United States and Canada and the United Kingdom in the Battle of the Atlantic. He crossed the Atlantic 22 times and was the only Australian to rise to the command of a Royal Navy destroyer during the war. In 1945 a Bar was added to his DSC for sinking of a German U-boat.[1][2][3][4]

Political career

Osborne was elected as the member for Evans at the December 1949 election as a Liberal. He was Minister for Customs and Excise from January to October 1956, Minister for Air from October 1956 to December 1960 and Minister for Repatriation from December 1960 to his defeat at the December 1961 election. Following his defeat he returned to his legal practice, but continued to play a major role in the New South Wales branch of the Liberal Party and was its president from 1967 to 1970. He supported a change in Liberal Party policy in favour of support for state aid for independent schools, a policy adopted by the three major national political parties by the 1972 election. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for distinguished services to government and the community.[1][2]

Osborne was survived by his wife, Elizabeth and four children, Alick, Michael, Imogen and Penelope.[5]

Notes

  1. Hill, Robert (21 August 1996). "Condolences: Osborne, Hon. Frederick Meares, CMG, DSC and Bar, VRD". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  2. Howard, John (20 August 1996). "Condolences: Osborne, Hon. Frederick Meares, CMG, DSC and Bar, VRD" (PDF). Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  3. Beazley, Kim (20 August 1996). "Condolences: Osborne, Hon. Frederick Meares, CMG, DSC and Bar, VRD". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  4. Faulkner, John (20 August 1996). "Condolences: Osborne, Hon. Frederick Meares, CMG, DSC and Bar, VRD". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  5. Fischer, Tim (20 August 1996). "Condolences: Osborne, Hon. Frederick Meares, CMG, DSC and Bar, VRD". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
Political offices
Preceded by
Neil O'Sullivan
Minister for Customs and Excise
1956
Succeeded by
Denham Henty
Preceded by
Athol Townley
Minister for Air
1956–1960
Succeeded by
Harrie Wade
Preceded by
Walter Cooper
Minister for Repatriation
1956–1958
Succeeded by
Denham Henty
Parliament of Australia
New division Member for Evans
1949–1961
Succeeded by
James Monaghan

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