Former
Speakers

Sir Kenneth Henry Wheeler
1912-
Speaker: 1973-1979

Kenneth Wheeler was born at Mernda, and left school at thirteen to work on his father's farm. In 1934 he married Hazel Jean Collins, moved to Coburg and established himself as a retail dairyman. In 1950 his dairy amalgamated with Croft Bank Dairies Ltd. and he became manager of the company that was to become Metropolitan Dairies.

Wheeler was a Coburg city councillor in the years 1950-59, and was mayor in 1955-56. In 1958 he entered parliament as the Liberal MLA for Essendon. He became Speaker in 1973, and retained the position until 1979 when he retired from politics. He was knighted in 1976. He and his wife have two children.