Bill Ely
Encyclopedia
William Thomas Ely (7 June 1869 - 19 April 1957) was an Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1920 to 1922 and 1925 to 1932, representing the electorates of Parramatta
(1920-22, 1925-27) and Granville
(1927-1932). He was Minister for Health during the second Lang
government from 1931 until 1932.
Ely was born at Andersons Creek in Victoria
and trained as a journalist. He worked for The Age
in Melbourne
, for which he was assigned to cover the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide conventions in the leadup to Federation
, and later, some of the first meetings of the federal parliament. Ely was appointed as a representative of the newspaper in Sydney in 1905, and subsequently settled there. In 1912, he became co-proprietor of the Cumberland Times newspaper in Parramatta
, a role he held until his election to parliament.
Ely entered state politics at the 1920 election, when he won the last seat in multi-member Parramatta
with the preferences of Jack Lang
. He lost the seat to Nationalist Thomas Morrow
in 1922, but won it back in 1925. The multi-member system was abolished in 1927, and Ely contested and won the recreated seat of Granville
. He was re-elected in 1930 as Labor won government, and Ely was appointed to the new ministry, initially as Assistant Minister for Labour and Industry, but being promoted to Minister for Health in 1931, following Lang's sacking of James McGirr
. His career came to an end at the 1932 election
, amidst Labor's heavy defeat after Lang was sacked as Premier by Governor Philip Game
; one of many Labor MPs to lose their seats, Ely was defeated by United Australia Party candidate Claude Fleck. He again contested Granville in a much closer race in 1935, but lost to Fleck by 82 votes.
Ely retired from politics after his 1935 loss, and subsequently became a poultry farmer. He died at Bondi
in 1957.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1920 to 1922 and 1925 to 1932, representing the electorates of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
(1920-22, 1925-27) and Granville
Electoral district of Granville
Granville is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's West. It is currently represented by Tony Issa of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
(1927-1932). He was Minister for Health during the second Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
government from 1931 until 1932.
Ely was born at Andersons Creek in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and trained as a journalist. He worked for The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, for which he was assigned to cover the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide conventions in the leadup to Federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
, and later, some of the first meetings of the federal parliament. Ely was appointed as a representative of the newspaper in Sydney in 1905, and subsequently settled there. In 1912, he became co-proprietor of the Cumberland Times newspaper in Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, a role he held until his election to parliament.
Ely entered state politics at the 1920 election, when he won the last seat in multi-member Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
with the preferences of Jack Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
. He lost the seat to Nationalist Thomas Morrow
Thomas Morrow (Australian politician)
Thomas Howard Morrow was an Australian politician.Born in Ballintra, Ireland, to farmer Thomas Morrow and Elizabeth Hill, he was educated at the Civil Service Training College in Belfast and worked in the prison system before coming to Australia in 1913. On 21 May 1914 he married Helen Mary...
in 1922, but won it back in 1925. The multi-member system was abolished in 1927, and Ely contested and won the recreated seat of Granville
Electoral district of Granville
Granville is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's West. It is currently represented by Tony Issa of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
. He was re-elected in 1930 as Labor won government, and Ely was appointed to the new ministry, initially as Assistant Minister for Labour and Industry, but being promoted to Minister for Health in 1931, following Lang's sacking of James McGirr
James McGirr
James McGirr was the Labor Premier of New South Wales from 6 February 1947 to 3 April 1952.A Catholic, McGirr was the seventh son of John Patrick McGirr, farmer and Irish immigrant, and Mary McGirr, whose maiden name was O'Sullivan. Born in Parkes, New South Wales, he grew up on a dairy farm near...
. His career came to an end at the 1932 election
New South Wales state election, 1932
The 1932 New South Wales state election was held on 11 June 1932. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 30th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
, amidst Labor's heavy defeat after Lang was sacked as Premier by Governor Philip Game
Philip Game
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woolcott Game GCB, GCVO, GBE, KCMG, DSO was a British Royal Air Force commander, who later served as Governor of New South Wales and Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis...
; one of many Labor MPs to lose their seats, Ely was defeated by United Australia Party candidate Claude Fleck. He again contested Granville in a much closer race in 1935, but lost to Fleck by 82 votes.
Ely retired from politics after his 1935 loss, and subsequently became a poultry farmer. He died at Bondi
Bondi, New South Wales
Bondi is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bondi is located seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council. The postcode is 2026.-Location:...
in 1957.