Sandy Mackenzie
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{about|the Australian politician|the ice hockey player|Sandy MacKenzie}}
{{distinguish|Alexander Mackenzie (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox MP
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Sandy Mackenzie
| image =
| constituency_MP = Calare
| parliament = Australian
| majority =
| predecessor = John England
| successor = David Simmons
| term_start = 13 December 1975
| term_end = 5 March 1983
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|8|29}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| party = National
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of New England
| occupation = Educator
| profession =
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| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|AM|size=100%}}
}}
Alexander John Mackenzie {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 29 August 1941) is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, representing the New South Wales seat of Calare for the National Party. He was principal of an agricultural college before entering parliament and later became involved with conservationist organisations.
Early life
Mackenzie was born in Melbourne on 29 August 1941.{{cite news|url=https://handbook.aph.gov.au/Parliamentarian/KKT|title=MacKENZIE, Alexander John AM|work=Parliamentary Handbook|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=9 August 2024}} His father was killed in World War II while fighting on the New Guinea campaign and he was raised on his grandfather's farm near Seymour, Victoria.{{cite news|url=https://www.seymourtelegraph.com.au/news/avenel-man-recognised-for-a-lifetime-of-service/|title=Avenel man recognised for a lifetime of service|date=12 June 2023|access-date=9 August 2024|newspaper=Seymour Telegraph}}
Mackenzie attended Geelong Grammar School.{{cite news|url=https://ogg.org.au/ocd.aspx?action=check_bulletin&code=&mess_no=303_1692853912&bulletin_name=news_bulletin_11&category=|title=2023 King's Birthday Honours|date=13 June 2023|publisher=Old Geelong Grammarians|access-date=9 August 2024}} He subsequently completed the degree of Master of Rural Science at the University of New England. After lecturing at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong for a period, he returned to New South Wales in 1970 and was appointed principal of Orange Agricultural College (later incorporated into the University of New England).
Politics
Mackenzie was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1975 federal election, retaining the seat of Calare for the National Country Party following the retirement of incumbent MP John England.
In parliament, Mackenzie serving on the Standing Committee on Environment and Conservation from 1980 to 1983 and was made a deputy whip for the National Party in 1981. His seat became increasingly marginal following a redistribution before the 1977 election and was regarded as a key seat at the election, with several national figures campaigning in the electorate.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110881402|title=Premier, minister back NCP man|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=6 December 1977}} He narrowly retained Calare at the 1980 election,{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/125628527|title=Substantial victory, Fraser says|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=19 October 1980}} but lost his seat to the Australian Labor Party candidate David Simmons at the 1983 election.
Later activities
After leaving parliament, Mackenzie was executive director of the Geelong Grammar Foundation from 1984 to 1995. He was later active in conservation circles as an advocate for "restoration of the lower Darling River, sustainable farming and community empowerment in public environmental and agricultural policy".{{cite news|url=https://www.landcarevictoria.org.au/LVI/About/Members-Council.aspx|title=Members Council|publisher=Landcare Victoria Inc.|access-date=9 August 2024}} He served on the Victorian advisory council for Landcare Australia and represented the organisation at the National Drought Summit in 2018. He also served on the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority from 2010 to 2017.
Mackenzie was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the people and Parliament of Australia, to education, and to conservation".{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Mr Alexander (Sandy) John MacKENZIE |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2014199 |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=Australian Honours Search Facility}}
References
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{{succession box | title=Member for Calare | before=John England| after=David Simmons| years=1975–1983}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mackenzie, Sandy}}
Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Calare
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:University of New England (Australia) alumni
Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Geelong Grammar School
Category:Australian conservationists
Category:Australian MPs 1975–1977