Ken McCaw
Encyclopedia
Sir Kenneth Malcolm McCaw QC
(8 October 1907–13 September 1989), an Australia
n politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing Lane Cove
for the Liberal Party of Australia
from 1947 until his retirement from political office in 1975. McCaw served as Attorney General of New South Wales
from 1965 to 1975.
. he was the son of a teamster and was educated in country schools. He initially worked as a farm hand but then moved to Sydney, was employed as a clerk and continued to study at night. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1934 and was active in the New South Wales Law Society and community groups in the Lane Cove
district.
. He retained the seat at the next nine elections and retired in 1975.
With the election of the coalition
government of Robert Askin
at the 1965 election, McCaw was appointed Attorney-General. He held this position until his retirement.
During his term in office, he was appointed Queen's Counsel, in 1972.
, which does not carry post-nominals.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(8 October 1907–13 September 1989), an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
representing Lane Cove
Electoral district of Lane Cove
Lane Cove is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Anthony Roberts of the Liberal Party of Australia...
for the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
from 1947 until his retirement from political office in 1975. McCaw served as Attorney General of New South Wales
Attorney General of New South Wales
The Attorney General of New South Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General of New South Wales and Crown Solicitor, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government...
from 1965 to 1975.
Early years and background
McCaw was born in Chatswood, New South WalesChatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
. he was the son of a teamster and was educated in country schools. He initially worked as a farm hand but then moved to Sydney, was employed as a clerk and continued to study at night. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1934 and was active in the New South Wales Law Society and community groups in the Lane Cove
Lane Cove, New South Wales
Lane Cove is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. An affluent suburb, Lane Cove is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Lane...
district.
Political career
McCaw entered the New South Wales parliament at the 1947 election as the Liberal member for Lane Cove; defeating the sitting Labor member Henry WoodwardHenry Woodward (Australian politician)
Henry Phipps John Woodward was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term between 1944 and 1947. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:...
. He retained the seat at the next nine elections and retired in 1975.
With the election of the coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
government of Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
at the 1965 election, McCaw was appointed Attorney-General. He held this position until his retirement.
During his term in office, he was appointed Queen's Counsel, in 1972.
Career after politics
On retirement from politics, in January 1975 McCaw was appointed Agent-General for New South Wales in London, and awarded a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, which does not carry post-nominals.