Personal Profile

Parliamentary Service

In 2001 and 2004, Pat Farmer was proudly elected to the House of Representatives for the electorate of Macarthur, New South Wales.

On 26 October 2004, in addition to his electoral duties for Macarthur, Pat also became the Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Science and Training and the Federal Spokesperson for Western Sydney. Pat has also undertaken committee service in the House of Representatives Standing: Education and Training from 26 September 2002 to 31 August 2004; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 4 November 2003 to 31 August 2004.

Ministerial Appointments

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training from 26.10.04.

Personal

Patrick Francis Daniel Farmer, was born on 14 March 1962 in Ultimo, Sydney, one of seven children to Mary and Frank Farmer. Pat grew up in Sydney’s western suburbs, starting his working life as a motor mechanic (1977-1984) in Granville. Pat was still a teenager when he bought land in the Macarthur area at Eschol Park and built a home.

During this time Pat commenced his passion of ultra-marathon running and worked with his brother Tony as a landscape gardener and later as a motivational speaker (1984-2000). In 1992, Pat married Lisa Bullivant and they bought land in Catherine Field, where they began building their family home. They went onto have two children, Brooke and Dillon. In 1998, Lisa, aged 34, tragically died unexpectedly of a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse and Pat was left to raise his two children on his own.

During this period, Pat set a number of ultra-marathon Australian and world records, which have placed him in the elite of his sport. Before joining politics in 2001 – Pat raised over $3 million for Australian charities – using his amazing endurance abilities to drive a number of unusual fundraising activities for Diabetes Australia, Lifeline, Careflight and the New Children’s Hospital Westmead.

Pat is perhaps best known for his record breaking 14,500km Centenary of Federation run around all of Australia in 1999 – which raised considerable funds for charity and reached out to millions of Australians with a message of unity and nationhood.

Pat was named Achiever of the Year at the Australian of the Year Awards 2000, presented by Prime Minister John Howard.

Pat took his winning ways into politics, and at the 2001 election was elected the Member for Macarthur – formerly a Labor seat – with an 8.65 percent swing. He then held it in 2004 by a margin of 9.5 percent.

Pat is a passionate Macarthur local having lived in the area for more than 20 years. He has a unique way of connecting with people. He wants to know what their problems and concerns are so he can help find solutions. People know that they can rely on Pat to do his best for them.

Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament

Automotive engineer (Granville TAFE).

Motor mechanic 1977-1984.

Landscape gardener 1984-2000.

Athlete 1984-2000.

Motivational speaker from 1984.

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