WETTENHALL, Marcus Edwy (1876-1951)
Marcus Edwy Wettenhall, orchardist, farmer and politician, was born on 26 January 1876 at Carrs Plains, Glenorchy.
He was the son of parents Holford Highlord Wettenhall, and Mary Burgess née Dennis. He was first educated at Carr’s Plains State School and then Toorak College and Geelong College which he attended for one year in 1873. In 1873 he played for the 1st Football Team. His obituary in Pegasus recorded that 'Marcus E Wettenhall, who died recently at the age of 74 years, was enrolled at the College in 1893 and passed the matriculation examination the same year. At School and afterwards he was a champion runner and held Victorian Championships for 440 (1896) and 880 yards (1896,1897).
His interests in later life were wide and varied. He was closely associated with country activities and for fifteen years (1920-1935) represented Lowan in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, and was a Minister in the Lawson Government of 1923-24. In Parliament he gave special attention to education, transport and agriculture. In 1929 he was a delegate to the Empire Woolgrower’s Conference and for a time was a member of the Council of the University of Melbourne.'
Sources: Geoff Browne, 'Wettenhall, Marcus Edwy (1876 - 1951)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp 450-451: Pegasus June 1951 p 34; The Age (Melb) 26 June 1951.