Philip Lucock

Philip Ernest Lucock, CBE (16 January 1916 – 8 August 1996) was an English born Presbyterian minister and politician. Although he was born in England, he spent most of his life in Australia.

Early life

Born in Eltham, Kent, on 16 January 1916, Philip Lucock emigrated to New Zealand in 1923, where he was educated.

In 1937, after working in the retail trade, 21-year-old Lucock emigrated again, this time to Australia.

Pastoral career

He studied for the ministry at St Andrew's College in Sydney, but suspended his studies to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force between 1941 and 1943 during World War 2.

In 1948 Lucock was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. He became the minister at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Wingham, New South Wales.

Political career

One year after he was ordained, Lucock stood as one of four candidates for the Country Party of Australia in the newly created seat of Lyne. He polled third behind Jim Eggins, who won the seat for the Country Party, and the Labor candidate Edward Hayes.

Lucock did not stand at the 1951 poll, but on the death of Jim Eggins in January 1952 a by-election was called. Lucock and Donald Lancaster stood for the Country Party against Edward Hayes. The presence of two Country Party candidates split the vote and Hayes took three thousand votes more than either Lucock or Lancaster, but with preferences from Lancaster, Lucock easily won the seat. When he was sworn in as the member for Lyne on 22 March 1952 Philip Lucock became the first member of the House of Representatives to swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II who had ascended to the throne on 6 February.

Once elected Philip Lucock served in the government of Sir Robert Menzies as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Lucock also served in this role under Prime Ministers Harold Holt, John Gorton, William McMahon and Malcolm Fraser.

At the 1954 election Donald Lancaster, Lucock's running partner for the 1952 by election, stood against him as the Labor Party candidate. Although he gained 11.4 percent of the vote Lancaster's presence did not stop Lucock from gaining re-election.

In 1969 the seat of Lyne underwent redistribution, with the electorate area moving southward. Although the Labor Party increased its vote by 2 thousand, this did not have any great effect on the result of the election, with Philip Lucock winning by more than ten thousand votes.

Lyne was again redistributed in 1977 with the electorate again contracting from the north. Lucock retained the seat with a margin of 11.4 percent over Labor.

Retirement

After more than 28 years in the Australian Parliament Philip Lucock retired at the 1980 election. He was succeeded by Bruce Cowan. After leaving Parliament he served as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. He retired to Queensland, living in the Brisbane suburb of Keperra until his death in 1996. His funeral was held in Brisbane and a memorial service was held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wingham, and each were attended by representatives of the Commonwealth Parliament.