David Wordsworth

David John Wordsworth (born 9 June 1930) is a former Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1971 to 1993. He served as a minister in the government of Sir Charles Court.

The Honourable David Wordsworth
Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia
In office 22 May 1971 – 21 May 1989
Preceded by	Edward House
Succeeded by	None (seat abolished)
Constituency	South Province
In office 22 May 1989 – 21 May 1993 Serving with Brown, Caldwell, Chance, Charlton, McAleer
Constituency	Agricultural
Personal details
Born	(1930-06-09) 9 June 1930 Kashmir, India
Political party	Liberal

Wordsworth was born in Kashmir, India, to Margaret Joan (née Reynolds) and Robert Hurley Wordsworth. His Australian-born father was a British Indian Army general, and settled in Tasmania after World War II, eventually being elected to the Australian Senate. Wordsworth was educated at Launceston Grammar School and Geelong Grammar School (the latter in Victoria), and went on to study agriculture at New Zealand's Lincoln College. He initially farmed at Hagley, Tasmania, but left for Western Australia in 1961, buying a property near Esperance.[1] In 1958, he had married Marie Louise Johnston, a daughter of Bertie Johnston (a former senator). The couple had three children.[1][2]

Wordsworth was elected to the Shire of Esperance council in 1969, and at the 1971 state election was elected to the Legislative Council's South Province. After the 1977 election, he was named Minister for Transport in the Court government. Following a ministerial reshuffle in August 1978, he was instead appointed Minister for Lands and Minister for Forests, titles which he would hold until Court resigned as premier in January 1982. The Legislative Council was reformed prior to the 1989 state election, and Wordsworth transferred to the new Agricultural region. He served only a single four-year term before leaving parliament. Wordsworth retired to Perth, and was a member of the senate of Murdoch University from 1994 to 1998.[1]

References

1. David John Wordsworth – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
2. Melenie Ambrose (17 April 2007). "Discovering Bertie" – PerthNow. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

Political offices
Preceded by Ray O'Connor	Minister for Transport 1977–1978	Succeeded by Cyril Rushton
Preceded by June Craig	Minister for Lands 1978–1982	Succeeded by Ian Laurance
Preceded by June Craig	Minister for Forests 1978–1982	Succeeded by Ian Laurance