Mac Holten

Who was Mac Holten?

Rendle McNeilage "Mac" Holten CMG was a leading Australian rules footballer, Australian politician and government minister.

Holten was born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He left school at 16 to sell life insurance, but with the outbreak of World War II joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 as a flying instructor and test pilot. He retired in 1946 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and became a grocer. He kicked 83 goals in 82 games for Collingwood Football Club where he played in three losing Preliminary Finals and was also Vice-Captain of the Melbourne Cricket Club at one time. On 1949 he moved to Wangaratta to coach the Wangaratta Football Club.