Sir Kenneth McColl AndersonKBE (11 October 1909 – 29 March 1985) was an Australian politician, soldier and businessman. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for New South Wales from 1953 to 1975. He held senior ministerial office in the Coalition governments of the late 1960s and early 1970s, including as Leader of the Government in the Senate from 1968 to 1972.
Early life and career
Anderson was born at sea off of the coast of South Australia on 11 October 1909. He was the fifth of six children born to Florence May (née McWhirter) and David More Anderson. His father, a Scottish-born auctioneer and building contractor, was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1920.[1]
Anderson was educated at Ryde Public School and Petersham Intermediate Schools in Sydney. He worked as an insurance clerk, auctioneer, estate agent and property valuer in the Sydney suburb of Eastwood. He married Madge Merrion in June 1936. He served in the second Australian Imperial Force during World War II as a lieutenant in the 8th Signals Division in Malaya and was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war in for three years at Changi Prison and on the Burma Railway. He was Mayor of Ryde Municipal Council from 1949 to 1950.[2][3][4][5]
Political career
Anderson in 1962.
Anderson was elected as the member for Ryde in 1950, representing the Liberal Party, but was defeated at the 1953 election.[2]
In 1936, Anderson married Madge Merrion, with whom he had one daughter. His wife ran his business while he was on military duties.[1]
Anderson retired to his home at Eastwood and also had a vacation property at Bilgola Beach. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his final years and died at a nursing home in Lane Cove on 29 March 1985, aged 75.[1]
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