1. George Rankin served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, representing the Country Party of Australia.
15 Facts About George Rankin
1. 2.
George Rankin attended the local state school and became a farmer.
3.
George Rankin married Annie Isabella Oliver at Rochester, Victoria on 7 July 1912.
4.
George Rankin served in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and reached Gallipoli in May 1915, was wounded in July, became a captain in December, and a major in March 1916.
5.
George Rankin served in the Sinai, and was second in command of his unit from August 1917.
6.
George Rankin was present at the famous charge at Beersheba on 31 October, and in 1918 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry.
7.
George Rankin returned to the Militia, becoming a brigadier in 1936 and a major general in 1937.
8.
George Rankin was elected chief president of the Victorian United Country Party in 1937, but resigned later that year in order to contest the seat of Bendigo in the Australian House of Representatives.
9.
George Rankin was elected, and became part of the faction of the Country Party that advocated coalition with the United Australia Party.
10.
George Rankin became well known as an advocate of returned servicemen and wheat-farmers.
11.
George Rankin was a voracious critic of the Labor governments of John Curtin and Ben Chifley.
12.
George Rankin was returned in 1951, but his parliamentary activity steadily decreased.
13.
George Rankin remained an active and vigorous anti-communist until his retirement, due to ill health, in 1955.
14.
George Rankin died of cerebrovascular disease on 28 December 1957 at Rochester, where he was buried, and was survived by his wife.
15.
George Rankin was played by Serge Lazareff in the film The Lighthorsemen.