Ken Anderson (politician)

The Honourable Sir Kenneth Anderson KBE
Anderson in 1974
Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office 28 February 1968 – 2 December 1972
Preceded by	John Gorton
Succeeded by	Lionel Murphy
Minister for Health
In office 2 August 1971 – 5 December 1972
Preceded by	Ivor Greenwood
Succeeded by	Doug Everingham
Minister for Supply
In office 28 February 1968 – 2 August 1971
Preceded by	Denham Henty
Succeeded by	Victor Garland
Minister for Customs and Excise
In office 10 June 1964 – 28 February 1968
Preceded by	Denham Henty
Succeeded by	Malcolm Scott
Senator for New South Wales
In office 1 July 1953 – 11 November 1975
Preceded by	John Tate
Succeeded by	Misha Lajovic
Personal details
Born	(1909-10-11)11 October 1909 at sea near Adelaide, South Australia
Died	29 March 1985(1985-03-29) (aged 75) Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Madge Merrion ​ (m. 1936)​
Occupation	Auctioneer, valuer

Sir Kenneth McColl Anderson KBE (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.

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.

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.

Anderson was a Senator for New South Wales, representing the Liberal Party from the 1953 half-senate elections until the dissolution of parliament before the 1975 election. He was Minister for Customs and Excise from June 1964 until February 1968 and Minister for Supply from February 1968 until August 1971 and Minister for Health from August 1971 until the defeat of the McMahon government at the December 1972 election.

Anderson was made a Knight Bachelor in 1970 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972.

Personal life

In 1936, Anderson married Madge Merrion, with whom he had one daughter. His wife ran his business while he was on military duties.

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.