Shane Paltridge

Sir Shane Dunne Paltridge (11 January 1910 21 January 1966) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the Menzies Government as Minister for Shipping and Transport (1955–1960), Civil Aviation (1956–1964), and Defence (1964–1966). He was a Senator for Western Australia from 1951 until his death in 1966. Prior to entering politics he worked as a bank clerk, hotel manager and soldier.

Early life Paltridge was born on 11 January 1910 in Leederville, Western Australia. His father worked as a banker and the family lived for periods in Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. He attended primary school in Moora, Western Australia, Ipswich, Queensland, and Enmore, New South Wales, before completing his education to the age of 16 with an Intermediate Certificate from Fort Street Boys' High School in Sydney.

In 1927 Paltridge began working for the National Bank of Australasia (NBA) in Sydney. His parents separated the following year and he returned to Perth with his mother and sister, living at the Broken Hill Hotel in Victoria Park that was managed by his uncle by marriage. Paltridge continued to work for the NBA until 1936, when he took over as manager and licensee of the hotel, a "large and busy working man's pub". His aunt had inherited the lease in 1931 following her husband's death.

Paltridge became Minister for Shipping and Transport (1955–60) and Minister for Civil Aviation (1956–64) under Prime Minister Robert Menzies. In April 1964, he became Minister for Defence, during the early period of Australia's participation in the Vietnam War. Although he recommended against the immediate introduction of conscription in 1964, Cabinet decided to introduce it anyway. and died at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on 21 January 1966 having resigned as Minister for Defence two days earlier.

Personal life Paltridge married Molly McEncroe on 21 January 1947, with whom he had two daughters.