Harrie Wade

Background

Wade was born in Clear Lake, Victoria (about 40 km southwest of Horsham) and educated at Horsham State School and Horsham High School.

Career

He worked as a schoolteacher and clerk and then as an accountant at Goroke. Wade joined the United Country Party in 1934 and was elected to the Shire of Arapiles in 1941. In 1954 he moved to a farm nearer Horsham.

He was appointed Minister for Air in December 1960 and Minister for Health in December 1961.

He became Leader of the Country Party in the Senate in March 1961 and was promoted to Cabinet in December 1963.

Achievements

• At the 1949 election, he stood for the House of Representatives seat of Wimmera, but it was won by the Liberal candidate, William Lawrence. At the 1955 election, Wade won a seat in the Senate from July 1956.