Cecil G. Murgatroyd
Cecil G. Murgatroyd (1958–2001) was mainly known for being involved in New Zealand national politics along with Australian Federal and State politics, and for his role in the 1998 Australian Constitutional convention. From 1981 until his death in 2001 he was generally associated with running, and standing as a candidate for, 2 non-serious parties, the Imperial British Conservative Party (IBCP) and the McGillicuddy Serious Party (McGSP), which both operated in the two countries. Murgatroyd's platforms were typically absurdist and of a 'pataphysical nature.[1]
Murgatroyd was initially active in New Zealand politics in the early 1980s, as a candidate for the (then) Wizard of Christchurch's IBCP and as the founder of the Waikato Cavalry Rgt of Alf's Imperial Army in the city of Hamilton. In 1982 he moved to Melbourne. It was there he set up the Australian headquarters of the McGillicuddy Serious Party in 1984. After his move to Australia, he stood in elections there too against, among others, Prime Minister Bob Hawke in two federal elections in the 1980s and 1990s. Bob Hawke likened him to the rear end of a donkey. He often returned to New Zealand to contest parliamentary elections also, using tactics he described as being designed for "making elections interesting".[2] In 1990 the McGillicuddy Serious Party invited him back to New Zealand to contest the seat of Christchurch North against New Zealand Prime Minister Mike Moore. In this campaign he described himself as the McGSP's "Prime Ministerial specialist" due to his experience in Australia. Murgatroyd's aim in life was to be the first ever election candidate to not collect even one single vote, a record he hoped to achieve upon his return to New Zealand.[3][4]
Murgatroyd was also involved in the Australian Constitional Convention, being an elected candidate under the ticket "Queen Anne of Australia".[5][6]
In his campaign as a candidate in the 1998 Victorian state election Murgatroyd described himself as "a holy Prophet for the Senate". He proposed that new migrants would have to pass a batting bowling and fielding tests, to assessing their cricket skills, in order to improve Australia's future sporting prospects.[7] He was diagnosed with cancer of the duodenum in 1999, and died in 2001 in Melbourne.[8]
A biography, The Life and Times of Cecil G Murgatroyd was published in 2003 by Spit the Dummy Press.
[edit] References
- ^ Vos, Inger "Murgatroyd Right All Along". 26 May 2001, Waikato Times p2.
- ^ Vos, Inger "Murgatroyd Right All Along". 26 May 2001, Waikato Times p2.
- ^ Kent, Simon "An Australian Ruler for Kiwiland?" 16 September 1990 Sun Herald p158
- ^ Clarke, Magnus "Flying high with Republic Dodo" 23 November 1997 Sunday Herald Sun p 46
- ^ Johnson, Lyall "Vote 1: Sweetness, Light" 9 November 1997, Sunday Age, p 9
- ^ Heaney, Claire "Conventional Wisdom Earns Wide Interest". 11 October 1997 Herald-Sun p 20
- ^ Aubin, Tracey "Some Googlies in Senate Poll". 30 September 1998, The Weekly Times p 32
- ^ Vos, Inger "Murgatroyd Right All Along". 26 May 2001, Waikato Times p2.
Election results for the Seat of Wills
