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Mick Cotter

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Mick Cotter
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Kalgoorlie
In office
13 December 1975 – 18 October 1980
Preceded byFred Collard
Succeeded byGraeme Campbell
Personal details
Born (1935-03-21) 21 March 1935 (age 91)
PartyLiberal
OccupationPastoralist, prospector

John Francis "Mick" Cotter OAM (born 21 March 1935) is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1980, representing the Western Australian seat of Kalgoorlie.

Early life

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Cotter was born on 21 March 1935 in Yarram, Victoria. Prior to entering politics he worked for periods as a prospector, miner, contractor and pastoralist, including as manager of Fraser Range Station for a period. He was a member of the Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association of Western Australia.[1]

Cotter joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 1951.[1] He served on the national council for 26 years including a period as federal president.[2]

Politics

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Cotter served on the Coolgardie Shire Council from 1965 to 1974, including as shire president from 1969.[1]

Cotter was an unsuccessful Liberal Party candidate at the 1974 federal election, losing to the incumbent Australian Labor Party member Fred Collard in the seat of Kalgoorlie.[3] He subsequently defeated Collard at the 1975 election and was re-elected in 1977. He was defeated at the 1980 election by ALP candidate Graeme Campbell.[1]

After his defeat, Cotter was an unsuccessful Liberal preselection candidate prior to the 1981 Curtin by-election.[4]

Personal life

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Cotter's wife Judy died in 1981. He retired to Northam.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "COTTER, John Francis, OAM". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Lucas, Jarrod (30 April 2021). "'Brave' Flying Doctor pilot remembered on 40th anniversary of deadliest crash in RFDS history". ABC News. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Liberal hopes in Kalgoorlie". The Canberra Times. 18 May 1974.
  4. ^ "Chaney beaten in preselection". The Canberra Times. 2 February 1981.