Tribute to Richard Shalders 1938-2026
Richard Shalders was a dedicated Liberal and a vigorous campaigner who retained and consolidated a marginal seat for Sir Charles Court’s government but whose ministerial career was cut short by the major statewide defeat of 1983.
Richard was born in Midland where his father owned a drapery business and was educated locally before joining the workforce at 16, with WA Government Railways and the Commonwealth public service before attending Claremont Teachers College in 1957-58. He commenced his 15-year teaching career at Manjimup High School and married Ann in 1960. From 1963 he taught in the South West primary schools of Cowaramup, Waterloo, and Dunsborough (1971-73), with postings at Warburton Range and Yalgoo primary schools in 1964-65 and 1970: he published a book on his experience of teaching English to Aboriginal children in Warburton.
He was a keen sportsman who was selected for the 1958 State Badminton team, played for Swan Districts thirds in 1957-58, and coached the Busselton league football team in 1973. Richard joined the Liberal Party in 1966 and served as President of the Busselton branch in 1972-73. When the veteran MLA Iven Manning decided to retire from his seat of Wellington ahead of the 1974 state election, Richard was one of 11 applicants for the Liberal selection that was won by June Craig. Despite living outside the Wellington district, his articulate, energetic presentation impressed many delegates.
Soon afterwards another incumbent Liberal MLA, Ewart Runciman, decided to stand down in the seat of Murray. This was a continuous Liberal seat once held by Sir Ross McLarty but it was no longer safe, with more blue-collar electors and a margin of 53.2%. Richard Shalders defeated 13 other preselection applicants and then campaigned very hard across the Shires of Murray, Mandurah and Waroona. At the March 1974 election Richard won Murray by 276 votes after preferences (51.8%) and Sir Charles Court regained government for the Coalition – a victory secured by holding such vulnerable Liberal seats as well as by capturing seats from Labor.
Having relocated to Mandurah, Richard was a most active Member in the local community and in Parliament. A redistribution removed the Shire of Waroona and thus notionally wiped out the Liberal majority, but at the 1977 election he gained a 10.0% swing and a margin of 1650 votes (60.3%). Following the election, he served for five years as Government Whip and was re-elected at the 1980 election with a convincing majority of 59.2% in a growing electorate.
With the retirement of Sir Charles Court in January 1982, Premier Ray O’Connor appointed Richard Shalders as Minister for Community Welfare, Housing and Community Affairs. A redistribution had replaced the districts of Murray and Wellington with the three seats of Mitchell, Murray-Wellington and Mandurah, for which Richard was the logical incumbent. However, the 1983 State election proved a perfect storm for the WA Liberal Party, when PM Malcolm Fraser called a federal election in the middle of the State campaign, intensifying anti-Liberal sentiment. Richard narrowly outpolled the ALP on primary votes but after preferences lost Mandurah by 55 votes (49.7%). Three of his Cabinet colleagues also lost their seats.
As a true Liberal Richard organised the Mandurah polling booths for the federal election two weeks later, when the seat of Forrest was narrowly retained by Peter Drummond amid an even greater federal rout. He served as President of the Mandurah branch in 1985-86 and as a Councillor and Deputy President of the Shire of Mandurah from 1984 to 1987. Successively he was a fishing boat proprietor, worked as a partner in real estate, and from 1987 to 1999 was the owner of a hot bread shop in Mandurah – continuing his community activity and Liberal values.
Richard Shalders’ career is a reminder that Liberal election victories depend upon active local candidates retaining as well as capturing seats, and that electoral tides can sweep away dedicated local members. We express our condolences and thanks to Mrs Ann Shalders, to Susan, Kim, Shane and Darren, to their partners, to Richard’s 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Tribute prepared by Jeremy Buxton
