2 Eric Willis Quotes

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"Sir Eric Archibald Willis" Order of the British Empire/KBE, Order of St Michael and St George/CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with double honours. Enlisting during the Second World War, Willis served on the homefront and later served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He continued to serve the Australian Army Reserve/Citizen Military Forces until 1958.

After serving a period as a geographer, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Liberal Party of Australia/Liberal member for Electoral district of Earlwood/Earlwood in 1950. He rose to become a long-serving Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1959 to 1975 under Robert Askin. When the Coalition won the 1965 election, Willis was made a Minister of the Crown as Chief Secretary, Minister for Labour and Industry, Tourism and Sport but rose to prominence in his role as Minister for Education (New South Wales)/Minister for Education from 1972 to 1976. When Askin retired in 1975, Willis failed in his attempts to succeed him.