Noel Hicks Politician

Noel Jeffrey Hicks (born 4 November 1940) was an Australian politician. Born in Adelaide, he was a plumber and road design draughtsman. Having moved to Broken Hill, he was mayor of Broken Hill City Council 1974–75 and 1976–77. In 1980 he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the National Country member for Riverina, based around Broken Hill. He was the first non-Labor MP since Federation to be elected from a Broken Hill-based seat. Riverina was abolished in 1984, replaced mostly by the newly created Riverina-Darling. Hicks followed most of his constituents into this seat, and overcame a notional Labor majority to win it. He was reelected from this seat in 1987 and 1990 against spirited Labor opposition. Riverina-Darling was abolished in 1993 and was mostly replaced by a recreated Riverina, while Broken Hill was transferred to neighboring Farrer. Since Farrer was held by Nationals leader Tim Fischer, Hicks opted to contest the new Riverina, now a safe National seat, and won it easily. He held this seat for two more terms until retiring in 1998.