Ross Freeman (politician)
Encyclopedia
Ross Buchanan Freeman is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Liberal
member for Coogee
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1973 to 1974.
Freeman was born in Maroubra
to Arthur and Wilhelmina Freeman. He was educated at Daceyville
Primary School and Maroubra Bay High School before becoming a clerk in the Supreme Court for the Attorney-General's Department. He studied law part-time, and was eventually admitted to the bar in 1971. In 1965 he became a volunteer in the Liberal Party
, joining officially in 1967. He held various positions in the party in the Coogee
and Randwick
areas.
In 1973, following the retirement of Liberal MP Kevin Ellis
, Freeman was preselected as the candidate for Ellis's seat of Coogee
. In a closely fought race, Freeman emerged with an eight-vote majority over Labor
candidate Michael Cleary. The result was later overturned by the Court of Disputed Returns
, and a by-election was ordered. Held in 1974, the by-election resulted in a very narrow victory for Cleary. Freeman was subsequently Vice-President of the Gordon State Conference of the Liberal Party (1975–1980), and has been President of the Balmoral
branch since 1984.
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. He was the Liberal
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...
member for Coogee
Electoral district of Coogee
Coogee is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Bruce Notley-Smith of the Liberal Party.-Members for Coogee:-Election results:...
in 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...
from 1973 to 1974.
Freeman was born in Maroubra
Maroubra, New South Wales
Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Maroubra is located 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Randwick. Maroubra is the largest suburb in the area governed...
to Arthur and Wilhelmina Freeman. He was educated at Daceyville
Daceyville, New South Wales
Daceyville is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Daceyville is located 7 km southeast of the Sydney central business district and is part of the City of Botany Bay....
Primary School and Maroubra Bay High School before becoming a clerk in the Supreme Court for the Attorney-General's Department. He studied law part-time, and was eventually admitted to the bar in 1971. In 1965 he became a volunteer in the Liberal Party
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...
, joining officially in 1967. He held various positions in the party in the Coogee
Coogee, New South Wales
Coogee is a beachside suburb of local government area City of Randwick. It is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is also a part of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney....
and Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
areas.
In 1973, following the retirement of Liberal MP Kevin Ellis
Kevin Ellis (Australian politician)
Sir Kevin William Collin Ellis KBE was an Australian politician, elected as a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly....
, Freeman was preselected as the candidate for Ellis's seat of Coogee
Electoral district of Coogee
Coogee is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Bruce Notley-Smith of the Liberal Party.-Members for Coogee:-Election results:...
. In a closely fought race, Freeman emerged with an eight-vote majority over Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
candidate Michael Cleary. The result was later overturned by the Court of Disputed Returns
Court of Disputed Returns (NSW)
The Supreme Court of New South Wales sits as the Court of Disputed Returns when considering a petition concerning the validity of any election or return under the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912...
, and a by-election was ordered. Held in 1974, the by-election resulted in a very narrow victory for Cleary. Freeman was subsequently Vice-President of the Gordon State Conference of the Liberal Party (1975–1980), and has been President of the Balmoral
Balmoral, New South Wales
Balmoral is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Balmoral is located in the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman and is part of the Lower North Shore....
branch since 1984.