Don Burton (politician)
Encyclopedia
Donald Ross Burton AM
(3 March 1920 – 17 May 2007) was an Australia
n politician. He was a Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1976 to 1984.
Burton was born in Traralgon
in Victoria
, where he was educated at state schools. In 1941 he enlisted with the Civilian Military Forces, moving to the AIF
in 1943. He left the armed services in 1946, and renewed his membership of the Australian Labor Party
(he had first joined in 1940) in 1948. On 30 November 1946, he married Claire Miller at Ashfield
; they had one son. In 1950, he was made assistant secretary of the Vehicle Builders' Union, and in 1958 became New South Wales
secretary of the Association of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Draughtsman. He rose to further prominence in 1968 as National Secretary of the Australasian Transport Officers Federation.
In 1976, Burton was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
as a Labor member. He served as Government Whip from 1981 to 1984. He left the Council in 1984. Burton died in 2007 at Tuncurry
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(3 March 1920 – 17 May 2007) was an Australia
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 a Labor
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 Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1976 to 1984.
Burton was born in Traralgon
Traralgon, Victoria
Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe....
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....
, where he was educated at state schools. In 1941 he enlisted with the Civilian Military Forces, moving to the AIF
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in 1943. He left the armed services in 1946, and renewed his membership of the 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...
(he had first joined in 1940) in 1948. On 30 November 1946, he married Claire Miller at Ashfield
Ashfield, New South Wales
Ashfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Ashfield is about 9 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield.The official name for the...
; they had one son. In 1950, he was made assistant secretary of the Vehicle Builders' Union, and in 1958 became New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
secretary of the Association of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Draughtsman. He rose to further prominence in 1968 as National Secretary of the Australasian Transport Officers Federation.
In 1976, Burton was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
as a Labor member. He served as Government Whip from 1981 to 1984. He left the Council in 1984. Burton died in 2007 at Tuncurry
Tuncurry, New South Wales
Tuncurry is a coastal town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Great Lakes Council LGA, about north north east of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to its twin town of Forster, which is the larger of the two towns....
.