Dick Healey.html



The Honourable  Richard Healey
Member of the NSW Parliament for Wakehurst
In office 3 March 1962 – 13 January 1971
Preceded by	New District
Succeeded by	Allan Viney
Member of the NSW Parliament for Davidson
In office 13 February 1971 – 28 August 1981
Preceded by	New District
Majority	Terry Metherell
Minister for Youth and Community Services
In office 3 December 1973 – 3 January 1975
Preceded by	John Waddy
Succeeded by	Rex Jackson
Minister for Health
In office 3 January 1975 – 14 May 1976
Preceded by	Harry Jago
Succeeded by	Kevin Stewart
Born	7 December 1923(1923-12-07) Broken Hill, New South Wales
Died	10 December 2000 (aged 77) Sydney, Australia
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse	Doreen Healey née Robins
Occupation	Broadcaster, Politician

Richard ("Dick") Owen Healey (1923-2000) was an Australian politician and Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Healey represented the electorates of Wakehurst (1962-1971) and Davidson (1971-1981) and was appointed to the cabinet as Minister for Youth and Community Services (1973-1975) and later Minister for Health (1975-1976).

Healey was born on the 7th December 1923 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. He was educated at Parramatta High School and served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between 1942 and 1945.

Healey was encouraged to enter into State politics by the then Liberal Leader Sir Robert Askin and he was first elected as member for Wakehurst in March 1962. He was an important member of the Coalition Government, Liberal Party under Sir Robert Askin and the Country Party under Sir Charles Cutler, which swept into Government in 1965 after almost 25 years of Labor rule. Prior to entering politics, Healey had a successful career as a sports commentator and broadcasting executive with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC).

His areas of community service included Chairman of the Davidson Park Trust, Founder of the New South Wales Water Safety Council, Vice-President of the Royal Life Saving Society, Vice-President of the Manly-Warringah Scouting Association and State President of the New South Wales Little Athletics Association.He attended the official opening of the Forest High School as Member for Wakehurst on the 24th October 1964 and later the official opening of Davidson High School as Member for Davidson in 1974. He was an active member and worker for the RSL up until his death.

In November 1973 Dick Healey was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Youth and Community Services. In 1975 he took over one of the most difficult portfolios, Minister for Health, a position he held until the defeat of the Sir Eric Willis Government in 1976. Dick stayed on in Opposition and served as Shadow Minister for Health until 1978 under Liberal leaders Max Willis and Peter Coleman and then as Shadow Minister for Police and Services under Liberal leader John Mason until his retirement in 1981.

On the 5th December 2000, he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for "Service as President of the Little Athletics Association of NSW for 30 years".¹

He continued to serve the community until his death three days after his 77th birthday on 10th December 2000. He is survived by his wife and his three children.

Sources

• Kerry Chikarovski. Hansard. New South Wales Legislative Assembly. 27 February 2001. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/HansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20010227037