John Mason (Australian politician)

John Marsden Mason (born 20 November 1928) is a former Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 16 years.

The Honourable Reverend John Mason
31st Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales
In office 24 October 1978 – 29 May 1981
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Deputy	Bruce McDonald
Preceded by	Peter Coleman
Succeeded by	Bruce McDonald
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Dubbo
In office 1 May 1965 – 28 August 1981
Preceded by	Les Ford
Succeeded by	Gerry Peacocke
Personal details
Born	20 November 1928 Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Liberal Party

Early life

Mason was born in Rose Bay in Sydney in 1928, the son of Kay Mason and Stella Marsden. After his secondary education at Sydney Boys High School, Mason gained a place to study Theology at the University of Sydney while resident at St Andrew's College. Later, Mason studied at the Methodist Leigh College from 1949 to 1951 and later at the Melbourne College of Divinity in 1951.[1]

Upon graduating from his theological studies, Mason became a Methodist minister and was first posted to Lismore in 1952, then the Northern Territory from 1953 to 1955, Goulburn from 1951 to 1958, Tighes Hill from 1958 to 1962 and then finally to Dubbo from 1962 to 1965. On 27 March 1953, he married Lorna Boxsell and together had a daughter and four sons.[1] One of his sons, Dave Mason, was the lead singer of Australian band The Reels.[2]

Political career

Mason joined the Liberal Party and was elected as the member for Dubbo, a large rural seat in central New South Wales which had been vacant owing to the death of the sitting member Les Ford in 1964, in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1 May 1965 election with 62%,[3] holding the seat until his retirement in 1981.[4] Mason served on the backbench throughout the Askin Government, later being appointed to the Zoological Board of New South Wales (1973–1975). However, when Askin retired, his successor as Premier, Tom Lewis, appointed him as Minister for Lands and Minister for Forests on 30 June 1975. Mason served until Lewis was deposed by Sir Eric Willis on 23 January 1976. He was leader of the opposition (succeeding Peter Coleman) from 1978 till 1981.

On 1 January 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal.[5]

References

1. "The Hon. John Marsden Mason (1928- )". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Reels'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
3. Green, Antony. "1965 Dubbo". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
4. Green, Antony. "Elections for Dubbo". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
5. "Centenary Medal entry for Reverend John Marsden Mason". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 24 July 2020.