Rodney Cavalier
| The Honourable Rodney Cavalier AO |
|
|---|---|
| Member for Fuller | |
| In office 7 October 1978 – 28 August 1981 |
|
| Preceded by | Peter Coleman |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Member for Gladesville | |
| In office 19 September 1981 – 22 February 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Petch |
| Minister for Energy and Minister for Finance | |
| In office 10 February 1984 – 5 April 1984 |
|
| Minister for Education | |
| In office 5 April 1984 – 25 March 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Eric Bedford |
| Succeeded by | Terry Metherell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodney Mark Cavalier 11 October 1948 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Domestic partner | Sally |
| Children | Alison (born 1992), and Nicholas (born 1996) |
| Residence | Bowral, New South Wales |
| Alma mater | Fort Street Boys' High School; The University of Sydney |
| Profession | Politician; public servant |
| Website | NSW Parliament profile |
Rodney Mark Cavalier AO (born 11 October 1948) is a former Australian politician, is the current Chairman of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust and a Fellow of The University of Sydney. Cavalier was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Fuller between 1978 and 1981, and then Gladesville between 1981 and 1988 for the Australian Labor Party. During his term in parliament, Cavalier was Minister for Energy, Minister for Finance, and Minister for Education in the Wran and Unsworth governments.[1]
Biography
Cavalier's father was of Italian extraction, originally surnamed Frank Cavallari, his mother of Scottish background, named Elizabeth.[2] He grew up in the Sydney suburb of Putney, attending the local public school before moving to Fort Street Boys' High School and the University of Sydney, where he studied government and became increasingly involved in left-wing politics. Cavalier worked for the Australia Council, for the Miscellaneous Workers' Union, as an aide to Whitlam minister Clyde Cameron, and was an alderman on Hunters Hill Council.[1][2]
In 1978 he was elected member for the state seat of Fuller, which was later to be redrawn as Gladesville, representing the Australian Labor Party. He served as Minister for Education from 1984 to 1988 in the Neville Wran and Barrie Unsworth governments.[1] He was noted for his abrasive personality, reformist zeal and intolerance of sloppy work.[2] One left-wing Teachers' Federation activist described him as "the rudest, most pugnacious individual to hold office".[2] He lost office, and his seat, in 1988, and subsequently declined an offer to return to State Parliament in the seat of Granville or by way of the Legislative Council.[2]
He was appointed chairman of the Australian Language and Literacy Council and subsequently became deputy chairman of the National Council for the Centenary of Federation and chairman of the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. He was appointed a member of the Council of the National Library of Australia.[2]
Cavalier is an ardent book collector and lover of cricket,[2] and in 2001 was appointed Chairman of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust. In January 2004, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community as a contributor to a range of cultural, literary and sporting organisations, to education and training, and to the New South Wales Parliament.[3]
He now resides in Bowral, New South Wales with his family.
Published works
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