Jeff Bate

Jeff Bate
Member of the Australian Parliament for Macarthur
In office 10 December 1949 – 2 December 1972
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	John Kerin
Personal details
Born	(1906-05-05)5 May 1906 Tilba, New South Wales, Australia
Died	15 April 1984(1984-04-15) (aged 77) Canberra
Political party	United Australia (1938–1945) Liberal (1945–72) Independent (1972)
Spouse(s)	Thelma Kirkby (1958–68) Zara Holt (1969–84)
Education	Newington College The King's School University of Sydney

Henry Jefferson Percival "Jeff" Bate (5 May 1906 – 15 April 1984) was an Australian politician, representing the United Australia Party and the Liberal Party of Australia for most of his career, but ended as an independent.

Early life

Jeff Bate was born in Tilba, New South Wales, a son of Henry John Bate, a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and his wife Lily Percival, a leading contralto. He was educated at Newington College (1918–21), The King's School, Parramatta (1922–23) and the University of Sydney. He became a farmer at Bodalla, Wallaga Lake and Tilba Tilba. He won prizes for dairy fodder conservation at the Royal Agricultural Society show.

Career

He became director of the Bodalla Co-operative Dairy Company from 1927, later managing the cheese co-operative. He was a Councillor of the Eurobodalla Shire Council 1929–37, and its President 1936–37.

During World War II he served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Forces as a Lieutenant. He was a member of the Armoured Corps in 1940–45, and saw service in Egypt, Cyprus, the Middle East, New Guinea and New Britain.

He followed his father's footsteps into the NSW Legislative Assembly, where he represented the electoral district of Wollondilly from 1938 to 1949. He represented the United Australia Party until 1945, then joined the newly founded Liberal Party of Australia. He moved to federal politics, and in 1949 he was elected as the House of Representatives member for the seat of Macarthur. Bate lost Liberal Party preselection in 1972. He contested the December 1972 election as an "independent Liberal," but finished third behind Labor's John Kerin and his replacement as official Liberal candidate, Max Dunbier.

Marriages

He was married three times: in 1928 to Gerta Homburg (two children, John and Margaret); in 1958 to future Country Women's Association president Thelma Kirkby; and on 19 February 1969 to Dame Zara Holt, the widow of Prime Minister Harold Holt.

Death

He died in Canberra on 15 April 1984, aged 77.