The Country Party initially maintained separate portfolios in opposition after the defeat of the Askin-led Coalition. In 1977, however, the parties established a joint shadow ministry, and Freudenstein returned to his prior portfolios as Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy. He was again touted as a possible deputy leader when Bruxner announced that he would retire at the 1981 election, but was by then seen as too old. Freudenstein's seat of Young was abolished in a redistribution before the same election, and he decided that he would also retire. On his retirement, he was granted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, retention of the title "The Honourable" for life. Freudenstein returned to his family farm and retired from political life after his retirement from the Legislative Assembly. He had a heart attack shortly after, but survived for another twenty-five years. He died in October 2007, and his funeral in Grenfell was widely attended. References 1921 births 2007 deaths National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly People from Young, New South Wales 20th-century Australian politicians Australian military personnel of World War II Australian expatriates in Papua New Guinea