Holten was born in Melbourne and educated at
Scotch College, Melbourne. He left school at 16 to sell life insurance, but with the outbreak of World War II, he joined the
Royal Australian Air Force in 1940 as a flying instructor and test pilot. He retired in 1946 with the rank of
Flight Lieutenant and became a grocer. Holten kicked 83 goals in 82 games for
Collingwood Football Club, where he played in three losing Preliminary Finals and represented Victoria in a match against the Riverina at
Leeton, New South Wales in August 1948. Holten was also Vice-Captain of the
Melbourne Cricket Club at one time. In January 1949, he married Shirley de Raven and moved to
Wangaratta as captain-coach of the
Wangaratta Football Club and led them to four consecutive
Ovens & Murray Football League premierships from 1949 to 1952. Holten played 54 first eleven matches for the
Melbourne Cricket Club in the Melbourne District Cricket Association between 1943 and 1949 and continued playing cricket in Wangaratta, representing the Victorian Country Cricket League against England. Holten was inducted into the
Ovens & Murray Football League Hall of Fame in 2006 for his outstanding contribution to football both on and off the field. ==Politics==