Don McLeod

Who was Don McLeod?

Donald "Don" McLeod was an Australian politician. Born in Strathmerton, Victoria, he received a primary education and worked as a farmer before enlisting in the AIF in March 1916. He served as a Gunner in the 36 Australian Heavy Artillery Group until leaving the military in April 1919 to become a soldier settler at Gringegalgona. In 1940, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Wannon. He held the seat until his defeat by Liberal candidate Dan Mackinnon in 1949. He defeated Mackinnon in a rematch two years later. In 1954, he was nearly defeated by Liberal challenger and future Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, holding onto his seat by only 17 votes. After a redistribution made his seat notionally Liberal, McLeod retired in 1955 and returned to farming. He died in 1963.