Harold Thorby

He represented the Division of Calare (1931–1940) and held ministerial office as Minister for War Service Homes (1934–1936), Defence (1937–1938), Civil Aviation (1938–1939), Health (1940), and Postmaster-General (1940).He was the son of Elizabeth (née Campbell) and Frederick James Thorby; his mother was Irish and his father English.After its division into single-member electorates in 1927 he represented Castlereagh for one term to 1930 until his defeat by Joseph Alfred Clark of the Labor Party.In November 1937, Thorby was elected deputy leader of the Country Party, defeating John McEwen by a single vote on the second ballot.He returned to farming on his wife's parents property at Wongarbon and remained active in the Graziers' Association and the Country Party.
Thorby in 1930
Thorby as defence minister speaking with senior army officers
The HonourableDeputy Leader of the Country PartyEarle PageArchie CameronThomas PatersonArthur FaddenAustralian ParliamentCalareGeorge GibbonsJohn BreenAnnandale, New South WalesWahroonga, New South WalesCountryCountry PartyDivision of CalareDefenceCivil AviationHealthPostmaster-General1940 federal electionAnnandale, Sydney, New South WalesGeurieSydney Grammar SchoolSydney Technical CollegeNewcastleelectoral district of WammerawaNSW Legislative AssemblyCastlereaghJoseph Alfred ClarkLabor PartyThomas BavinWyangala DamBurrinjuck DamHawkesbury Agricultural CollegeLyons governmentMinister for War Service HomesJohn McEwenMinister for DefenceMinister for Civil AviationMenzies governmentcoalition governmentMinister for Health1940 election1941 by-election1946 electionsWongarbonWahroongaParliament of New South WalesAustralian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian National UniversityThe AgeThe LandJosiah FrancisJames HunterJoseph LyonsGeoffrey StreetJames FairbairnFrederick StewartEric HarrisonThomas CollinsNew South Wales Legislative AssemblyJoseph ClarkWammerawaAshfordBill DunnParliament of AustraliaCountry Party of Australia