Mac Holten

Rendle McNeilage "Mac" Holten CMG (29 March 1922 – 12 October 1996) was a leading Australian rules footballer, Australian politician and government minister.

Holten was born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He left school at 16 to sell life insurance, but with the outbreak of World War II joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 as a flying instructor and test pilot. He retired in 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and became a grocer. He kicked 83 goals in 82 games for Collingwood Football Club [cite web
title=Rendell Holten (Collingwood)
publisher=fullpointsfooty.net
url=http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/hi-hz.htm#Rendell Holten (Collingwood)
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ] and was also Vice-Captain of the Melbourne Cricket Club at one time. On 1949 he moved to Wangaratta to coach the Wangaratta Football Club.cite web
last = Howard
first = John
authorlink =John Howard
title =Condolences: Holten, Hon. Rendle McNeilage, CMG
work= Hansard
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date = 17 October 1996
url = http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=47902&TABLE=HANSARDR
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ] cite web
last = McGauran
first = Peter
authorlink =Peter McGauran
title =Condolences: Holten, Hon. Rendle McNeilage, CMG
work= Hansard
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date = 17 October 1996
url = http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=47914&TABLE=HANSARDR
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ]

Political career

Holten was elected as the Country Party member for Indi in the Australian House of Representatives from the 1958 election until his defeat by the Liberal cadidate at the 1977 election. He was Minister for Repatriation from November 1969 to the McMahon government's defeat at the 1972 election. As minister he introduced bills, "the Native Members of the Forces Benefits Bill 1972" and "the Repatriation (Torres Strait Islanders) Bill 1972", to abolish discrimination in the level of benefits for indigenous Australians who had served in World War II.cite web
last = Scott
first = Bruce
authorlink =Bruce Scott
title =Condolences: Holten, Hon. Rendle McNeilage, CMG
work= Hansard
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date = 17 October 1996
url = http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=47918&TABLE=HANSARDR
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ] cite web
last = Beazley
first = Kim
authorlink =Kim Beazley
title =Condolences: Holten, Hon. Rendle McNeilage, CMG
work= Hansard
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date = 17 October 1996
url = http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=47906&TABLE=HANSARDR
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ]

Holten was Administrator of Christmas Island from 1980 to 1982. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his parliamentary and community service in 1980. He was survived by his wife, Shirley, and three daughters.cite web
last = Fischer
first = Tim
authorlink =Tim Fischer
title =Condolences: Holten, Hon. Rendle McNeilage, CMG
work= Hansard
publisher = Parliament of Australia
date = 17 October 1996
url = http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=47910&TABLE=HANSARDR
accessdate = 2008-01-17 ]

Notes

Persondata
NAME = Holten, Rendle McNeilage
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Holten, Mac
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH = 29 March 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH = Melbourne
DATE OF DEATH = 12 October 1996
PLACE OF DEATH =