The Hon. Athol Railton RICHARDSON (1897 - 1982)**

Date of Birth: 16/10/1897 Place of Birth: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 22/05/1982 Place of Death: Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 11 May 1935 29 Apr 1952 16yr(s) 11mth(s) 19day(s) Member for Ashfield 11 May 1935 24 Feb 1938 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 14day(s) 31st (1935 - 1938) Member for Ashfield 26 Mar 1938 18 Apr 1941 3yr(s) 24day(s) 32nd (1938 - 1941) Member for Ashfield 10 May 1941 24 Apr 1944 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 15day(s) 33rd (1941 - 1944) Member for Ashfield 27 May 1944 16 Aug 1946 2yr(s) 2mth(s) 21day(s) 34th (1944 - 1947) Member for Ashfield 9 Nov 1946 29 Mar 1947 4mth(s) 21day(s) 34th (1944 - 1947) Member for Ashfield 3 May 1947 22 May 1950 3yr(s) 20day(s) 35th (1947 - 1950) Member for Ashfield 17 Jun 1950 29 Apr 1952 1yr(s) 10mth(s) 13day(s) 36th (1950 - 1953) Honorary Minister 13 Apr 1938 13 Oct 1938 6mth(s) 1day(s) Minister for Social Services 13 Oct 1938 5 Aug 1939 9mth(s) 24day(s) Minister for Health 22 Feb 1939 30 Jun 1939 4mth(s) 9day(s) Minister for Labour and Industry 26 Jun 1939 5 Aug 1939 1mth(s) 11day(s) Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Services 5 Aug 1939 16 Aug 1939 12day(s) Colonial Treasurer 16 Aug 1939 16 May 1941 1yr(s) 9mth(s) 1day(s)

Political Party Activity

United Australia Party, prominent in United Australia Party Speakers' Association; Democratic Party 1944; Liberal Party 1945, Member of State Executive 1951 - 1952; Deputy Leader of Opposition 1941 - 1945.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Lawyer (barrister). Articled law clerk in Brisbane; admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 1920, New South Wales 1921, with McNamara and Smith 1924 - 1929; called to Bar 1932; appointed to New South Wales Supreme Court 1952, retired 1967; chairman of Tasmanian Parliamentary Salaries Tribunal 1970; honorary counsel of Benevolent Society of New South Wales 1943 - 1952; member of Commonwealth Council of British and Foreign Bible Society 1954 - 1967, chairman 1960 - 1962; president of United Charities, Sydney . Chairman of committees in Australian, New South Wales and Sydney diocesen synods; president of Appellate Tribunal.

Military Service

Served in 2nd and 4th squadrons, Australian Flying Corps, France 1917 - 1919.

Honours Received

King's Counsel in 1951; Officer Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976. Hon LLD New York 1968

Personal

Son of Stephen Arthur Richardson, Salvation Army officer, and Elizabeth Sarah Urquhart. Married Isabel McCrea Watson on 23 February 1928 and had issue, 1 daughter and 1 son. Church of England.

Additional Information

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