Bill Grayden

Hon. William Leonard "Bill" Grayden AM
Member of the Australian Parliament for Swan
In office 10 December 1949 – 29 May 1954
Preceded by	Len Hamilton
Succeeded by	Harry Webb
Personal details
Born	5 August 1920 Bickley, Western Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Betsy Marie Chadwick (1926-2007)
Relations	Nat Harper (grandfather) David Grayden (brother)
Children	5 sons and 5 daughters
Residence	South Perth, Western Australia
Occupation	Mechanical engineer
Religion	Presbyterian
Military career
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Second Australian Imperial Force
Years of service	1940–1946
Rank	Captain
Service number	WX8868
Unit	2/16th Battalion
Battles/wars	Second World War Syria–Lebanon Campaign Kokoda Track campaign Finisterre Range campaign Battle of Balikpapan
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia

William Leonard "Bill" Grayden AM (born 5 August 1920) is an Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at state schools and then at Perth Technical College, as part of an apprenticeship commenced in 1938 as a Motor Mechanic with Winterbottom Motors. He served in the military with the 2/16th Infantry Battalion from 1940–1946. His service covered campaigns in Syria, the Kokoda Track, Ramu-Markham Valley (New Guinea) and Balikpapan (Borneo).^[1]

In 1947, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Middle Swan, where he remained until 1949. In that year, he transferred to the Australian House of Representatives, winning the seat of Swan for the Liberals. He held the seat until his defeat in 1954. In 1956 he returned to the Legislative Assembly, winning the seat of South Perth. He served as a minister in a number of capacities: Labour and Industry 1974–1978; Consumer Affairs 1974–1978; Immigration and Tourism 1974–1975; and Education, Cultural Affairs and Recreation 1978–1982. Grayden left the Assembly in 1993. In total he served 43 years in State and Federal Parliament. He is the maternal grandson of Western Australian businessman and politician Nat Harper.^[1][2]

Along with Henry Pearce, Grayden is the earliest surviving MP, and one of only two living "Forty-Niner" Liberal MPs.

References

1. Grayden, Bill (1989). "Hon Bill Grayden AM" (pdf). Perth, WA: Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
2. Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-01.