Charles Cutler Totally Explained

Everything about Charles Cutler totally explained

Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler, KBE, ED (20 April 1918 - 23 September 2006) was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, who served as NSW Deputy Premier for 10 years and Country Party leader for 16 years.

Biography

Early life

Charles Cutler was born in Forbes in 1918, the son of George Cutler and Elizabeth Booth Cutler. At an early age his family moved to the nearby town of Orange. Cutler was educated at Orange Rural School and Orange High School. After completing his schooling he gained employment as an office worker with the Producers Co-Operative Distributing Society Limited of Orange from 1934 until 1939.

Military service

Cutler served in World War II, first as a member of the Citizens Military Force (CMF; now known as the Australian Army Reserve) from 1938 to 1940. He went on to serve with the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) from 1940 until 1945 and also the 2/17th Battalion in Tobruk and Syria. He was wounded at El Alamein.
Following the war, Charles Cutler was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the CMF from 1948 to 1960 at which time he transferred to the Reserve Forces. Cutler was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (ED) in 1959.

Personal life

Charles Cutler married Dorothy Pascoe on 4 March 1943 in the Church of England at Orange; they'd one daughter and three sons. Following World War II, Cutler returned to his employment at Producers Co-operative Distributing Society Limited in Orange from 1946 to 1947. During this time, he was also a sportswriter for the Bathurst Times newspaper. He also became the vice president of the Orange Returned Serviceman’s League Club and also president of the Orange Apex Club and district rugby union.

Political career

Charles Cutler joined the Country Party in 1944. He was elected as the Member for the Electoral district of Orange at the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 3 May 1947. He was re-elected in 1950, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1971 and 1973 – ten times in total. In 1958, he was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Country Party, and in 1959, he became party leader, a position he held for 16 years.
On 13 May 1965, he became Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Minister for Science under the newly elected Liberal Party Premier Robert Askin. In later years, he also held portfolios as Minister for Local Government, Minister for Highways and Minister for Tourism. For several months in 1968 and 1972, he was Acting Premier and Treasurer in the absence of Robert Askin.
In 1973, Cutler was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). In 1974, Sir Charles led New South Wales at the Premier’s Conference and Loan Council. On 16 December 1975, Sir Charles retired from the New South Wales Parliament after serving continuously as a member for 28 years, 7 months and 14 days.

Later life

Sir Charles Cutler retired to his home at Orange. He became a member of the Former Members of New South Wales Parliament Association. From 1976 to 1978, he was a director of the Sun Alliance Insurance Group. From 1978 to 1988, he was the Chairman of that organisation.
Sir Charles, who had been suffering from cancer, died at the age of 88 on 23 September 2006 in hospital in Orange. New South Wales National Party of Australia Leader Andrew Stoner said that Sir Charles Cutler's commitment to building stronger rural communities was legendary. ť "He was responsible for creating a separate Department of Decentralisation and Development and helping strengthen country communities through the establishment of a Country Industries Assistance Fund."

ť "On behalf of the NSW Nationals and country people, I pass on my condolences to Sir Charles' wife, Lady Dorothy, his family and friends. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed."

ť "Sir Charles Cutler was a true champion of country communities."

ť "As a long-serving deputy premier, he oversaw improvements in country infrastructure and rural education."

ť "He was a humble man, a quiet man - in fact he was a quiet achiever and true gentleman who liked nothing better than a cold beer with his mates in Orange."

Former Nationals Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer, who served under Sir Charles Cutler, says his contribution to education and infrastructure in rural areas was underestimated. ť "He made a giant contribution to the educational resources of the state of New South Wales," Mr Fischer said.

ť "He was a great mentor - he gave great guidance, great advice. Didn't hestitate to criticise and guide you back on to the tracks in a positive way. I owe him personally."

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