Mr John Joseph CUSACK (1868 - 1956)**

Date of Birth: 01/01/1868 Place of Birth: Yass, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 08/09/1956 Place of Death: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 13 Apr 1910 21 Feb 1917 6yrs 10mths 9days Member for Queanbeyan 13 Apr 1910 14 Sep 1910 5mth(s) 2day(s) 21st (1907 - 1910) Member for Queanbeyan 14 Oct 1910 6 Nov 1913 3yr(s) 24day(s) 22nd (1910 - 1913) Member for Albury 20 Dec 1913 21 Feb 1917 3yrs 2mths 2days 23rd (1913 - 1917) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 16 May 1911 16 May 1911 1day 22nd (1910 - 1913) Refreshment Committee No. 5 11 Mar 1914 18 Apr 1914 1mth 8days 23rd (1913 - 1917) Refreshment Committee No. 5 22 Jul 1914 23 Feb 1915 7mths 2days 23rd (1913 - 1917) Refreshment Committee No. 4 2 Jul 1915 13 Apr 1916 9mths 12days 23rd (1913 - 1917) Case of Denis Maguire Committee No. 13 17 Aug 1915 13 Apr 1916 7mths 28days 23rd (1913 - 1917) Refreshment Committee No. 6 21 Jul 1916 21 Dec 1916 5mths 1day 23rd (1913 - 1917)

Political Party Activity

Australian Labor Party (ALP). Foundation member of the Yass League, president; opposed conscription; stood as an Independent in 1917, readmitted to Federal Labor in 1930s.

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1908

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Blacksmith. Educated at Yass public school ; blacksmith by trade; established a large coachbuilding business, Cusack and Palmer, Yass, exported sulkies to South Africa and became motor mechanics and coachbuilders. Director of Yass Hospital; president of Yass Mechanics Institute; member of Canberra and Yass Historical Society; author.

Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held

Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Member of the House of Representatives for Eden-Monaro 1929 - 1931.

Local Government Activity

Alderman at Yass from 1901 - 1930, Mayor in 1904; member of Local Government Convention in 1910.

Personal

Son of Michael Cusack, farmer and publican, and Bridget Kenny. Married Mary Therese Cassidy in c.1898 and they had 1 daughter and 3 sons. Roman Catholic. Buried in Canberra Cemetery from St Christopher's Roman Catholic cathedral. His great-grand-daughter Catherine Cusack is a Member of the Legislative Council (elected 22 March 2003).

Additional Information

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