15 Facts About Frederick Hewitt

Frederick Maclean Hewitt was an Australian company director and politician.

Frederick Hewitt was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for the 21 years from 1955 to 1976 representing the Liberal Party, serving as Leader of the Liberal Party in the council as well as on the Askin cabinet as Minister for Child and Social Welfare and later as Minister for Labour and Industry.

Frederick Hewitt continued to serve in the Lewis and Willis cabinets in the portfolios of Labour and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Federal Affairs.

Frederick Hewitt received his early education at Muswellbrook Public School and when his family moved to Neutral Bay in Sydney he received his education at Neutral Bay Superior Public School, and Neutral Bay Junior Technical School.

On 19 January 1939 Frederick Hewitt married Enid Brown and they had one daughter and one son.

Frederick Hewitt joined the newly founded Liberal Party in 1945 and was a founding member of the Mosman branch of the party, eventually rising to a position on the party's State Council.

Frederick Hewitt continued his prominence in the Sydney business community while he was in office, becoming President of Sydney Junior Chamber of Commerce and president of Sydney Chamber of Commerce from 1966 to 1967 and as president of the Wine and Food Society of New South Wales.

Frederick Hewitt remained on the backbenches in the council however, until the death of Liberal colleague and Leader of the Government in the Council, Arthur Bridges, on 22 May 1968.

Frederick Hewitt then succeeded in being elected to the role of leader of the Liberal Party in the council, but in a break from convention did not become Leader of the Government, which was instead taken by the more senior John Fuller, who was the leader of the Country Party in the council.

Frederick Hewitt was appointed to serve the remainder of Bridges' term on the Senate of the University of Sydney.

On 11 March 1971, Frederick Hewitt was promoted to the more senior position as Minister for Labour and Industry.

Frederick Hewitt served in these roles through the ministry of Sir Eric Willis until the defeat of the government at the 1976 election, at which point he became the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council.

On his departure from the Ministry, Frederick Hewitt was permitted to retain the title "The Honourable" for life.

However, Frederick Hewitt was to serve in opposition only briefly before his retirement on 31 July 1976.

Frederick Hewitt was not able to enjoy retirement however as he died a few months later on 22 November 1976.