Eric Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Kent
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The Hon Daniel Eric Kent OAM in April 2011
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| Minister for Agriculture | |
| In office 8 April 1982 – 14 March 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Austin |
| Succeeded by | Evan Walker |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Council | |
| In office 30 May 1970 – 19 March 1976 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Hewson |
| Succeeded by | James Allister Taylor |
| Constituency | Gippsland Province |
| In office 5 May 1979 – 14 July 1985 |
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| Succeeded by | Maureen Lyster |
| Constituency | Chelsea Province |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Daniel Eric Kent
30 June 1919 Areegra, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 26 April 2019 (aged 99) |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse |
Bette Wallis
(m. 1949) |
| Children | Three |
| Occupation | Farmer and grazier |
Daniel Eric Kent (born June 30, 1919 – died April 26, 2019) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, which is part of the state government in Victoria, Australia. He was first elected in 1970.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Daniel Eric Kent was born in a place called Areegra, near Warracknabeal, in Victoria, Australia. His father, Daniel Kent, was a farmer who grew wheat and raised sheep for wool. His mother was Sophie Elizabeth Menzel.
Young Daniel went to Areegra State School. He worked on his family's farm until 1949. After that, he started his own farm in Yannathan. First, he raised dairy cows, and later, from 1973, he focused on beef cattle.
On April 18, 1949, Daniel married Bette Myra Wallis. She was a journalist. They had three children together.
Career in Farming and Community
Daniel Kent was very involved in groups that helped farmers. These included the Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers Association and the Victorian Dairy Farmers' Association. He also joined the Australian Primary Producers' Union and the Victorian Farmers' and Graziers' Association. These groups worked to support farmers and their businesses.
He was also active in his church community. He was a member of the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland Synod. A Synod is like a governing body for a church area. He served on their Social Responsibilities Committee for 30 years. He even helped write a history book about St John's Anglican Church in Lang Lang, Victoria.
Political Journey
Daniel Kent was a lifelong member of the Labor Party. This is one of Australia's major political parties. He spent ten years as the president of the McMillan federal electorate assembly. An electorate is an area that elects a representative to government. He tried to win a seat in the federal parliament himself in 1963 and 1966.
In 1970, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council. This is the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria. He represented the Gippsland Province. He lost his seat in 1976 but was elected again in 1979. This time, he represented the Chelsea Province.
From 1982 to 1985, Daniel Kent served as the Minister for Agriculture. This meant he was in charge of government policies related to farming and food production in Victoria. He stayed in the Legislative Council until 1985, when he decided to retire from politics.
Awards and Recognition
Daniel Kent received several honors for his service. In 1977, he was given the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. This medal celebrated 25 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
In 2008, he received the Order of Australia medal. This is a special award given to Australians who have done great things for their community. He was recognized for his work with church, history, and sports groups in the Gippsland area. He was also honored for his service to the Parliament of Victoria.
In 2015, the Bishop of Gippsland, Kay Goldsworthy, gave him a certificate. This certificate marked his more than 44 years as a member of the Diocesan Synod.
