Bill Willesee

William Francis Willesee (26 December 1911 – 18 August 2000) was an Australian politician who served as a Labor Party member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1954 to 1974.

His father ran for parliament unsuccessfully on three occasions in the 1920s, while his younger brother, Don Willesee, was a senator.

Moving to Western Australia as a small child, Willesee attended various schools in the country, and later studied accounting at Perth Technical College.

In July 1966, Willesee replaced Frank Wise as leader of the Labor Party in the Legislative Council.

When Labor won the 1971 state election, he became Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, and was also made Minister for Community Welfare (a new title) in the new ministry formed by John Tonkin.