Ray Chappell

He was educated in Armidale in New South Wales at De La Salle College, receiving his Leaving Certificate in 1959.

During this period he became active in the National Party, holding positions on the state and federal electorate councils.

Labor endorsed McCarthy's widow Thelma to contest the by-election, and in a tightly fought campaign Chappell emerged the victor with a small 2.5% margin.

He was comfortably reelected at the 1988 state election amid that year's decisive Coalition victory,[3] actually winning enough primary votes to retain the seat without the need for preferences.

In 1993 he was appointed Minister for Small Business and Regional Development, but he lost that position when Labor won office in 1995.