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Former Member Details

Mr William Edward DICKSON (1893 - 1966)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 26/04/1893
Place of Birth: Widnes, Lancashire, England
Date of Death: 22/05/1966
Place of Death: Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
President of the Legislative Council 18 Aug 1952 22 May 1966 13 years 9 months 5 days
Minister for Secondary Industries and Minister for Building Materials 03 Apr 1952 15 Aug 1952 4 months 13 days
Minister for Secondary Industries and Minister for Building Materials 30 Jun 1950 15 Aug 1952 2 years 1 month 17 days
Minister for Secondary Industries and Minister for Building Materials 30 Jun 1950 02 Apr 1952 1 year 9 months 4 days
Secretary for Mines and Minister for Building Materials 21 Sep 1949 30 Jun 1950 9 months 10 days
Secretary for Mines and Minister for Building Materials 21 Sep 1949 30 Jun 1950 9 months 10 days
Minister for Building Materials 09 Mar 1948 21 Sep 1949 1 year 6 months 13 days
Minister for Building Materials 09 Mar 1948 21 Sep 1949 1 year 6 months 13 days
Assistant Minister 16 May 1941 09 Mar 1948 6 years 9 months 23 days
Assistant Minister 16 May 1941 19 May 1947 6 years 4 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 23 Apr 1940 22 May 1966 26 years 1 month A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 1 November 1939, 29 November 1951 and 21 November 1963.
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 23 Dec 1925 22 Apr 1934 8 years 4 months Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 21 December 1925.
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of R.J. Heffron's (q.v.) group expelled August 1936 and readmitted; returning officer 1944-1952.
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Accountant and newspaper manager. Educated at Farnworth Church of England Grammar, England; employed in accountancy department of West Gossage and Co., Widnes; arrival at Australia in 1913, joined accountancy department South Mine, Broken Hill; dismissed for activities opposing conscription; worked as labourer underground; employed 1919 as assistant manager, later as general manager Barrier Daily Truth; moved to Sydney, advertising manager Labor Daily, later Daily News, 1938-1940; general secretary Australian Labor Party 1940-1941, campaign director 1940-1952; owned orchard at Lower Portland; director of Stocks and Holdings Ltd 1964-1966, of Associated Rural Industries Ltd 1964-1966 and Australia Rice Pty Ltd 1966; member Amalgamated Miners' Association, later Workers' Industrial Union of Australia, and of Barrier District Assembly; member Chartered Institute of Secretaries; trustee Ku-ring-gai Chase 1947-1963, Chairman 1954-1962.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Edward, alkali labourer, and Bertha Stancliffe. Married Alice Celia Cogan on 22 Oct 1922 at Broken Hill and had issue, l son and 4 daughters. Church of England. Funeral at Northern Suburbs Crematorium from St James' Church of England, King St.
Additional Information
Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995