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Former Member Details

Mr Tom Nicholson Pearce DOUGHERTY (1902 - 1972)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 02/03/1902
Place of Birth: Bollen, Queensland, Australia
Date of Death: 14/10/1972
Place of Death: Laurieton, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 24 Sep 1957 01 May 1961 3 years 7 months 8 days A Member of the indirectly elected Council 1934 - 1978. Date of Election 24 September 1957. Casual vacancy – elected for balance of term of service of Hon. J.Stewart, deceased.
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of the Queensland Central Executive of New South Wales Central Executive from 1949 until 1954, delegate to federal conference in 1940, 1952 until 1954
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Cane cutter and union organiser. Educated at Goondiwindi State School in Queensland. At thirteen was employed as a farm hand; later at timber cutting, fishing, railway construction, road work and from 1921 until 1932 as a cane cutter in Northern Queensland; organiser with the Australian Workers Union from 1932 until 1938, district secretary of Northern Queensland branch from 1938 until 1942, president of the Queensland branch from 1942 until 1944, general secretary from 1944 until 1972; secretary of the Board of Control of the Australian Worker; toured the United States of America at the invitation of the American Federation of Labor. Member of the Wool Consultative Council in the 1940s. He resigned from the Legislative Council in 1961 after the defeat of moves to abolish it.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Robert Alexander Dougherty, linesman, and Louisa Sarah Gibson, schoolteacher and postmistress. Married (1) Ruby McArthur in June 1923 and had issue, 1 daughter and 2 sons. Married (2) Gwendolyn Farrow and had issue, 1 son. Married (3) Elaine Reynolds on 14 November 1959 and had issue, 1 daughter. Funeral at Northern Suburbs crematorium from Epping Presbyterian Church.
Additional Information
Photo supplied by the family.