Jack Melloy
Encyclopedia
John Melloy (10 November 19086 January 2006) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for the Australian Labor Party
.
, the youngest of six children of Charles Frederick Melloy and Ada Louise Crampton. Unlike his older siblings, Jack (formally John) had no middle name, which irritated him, so he sometimes called himself John Joseph Patrick Melloy.
He married Elizabeth Maude Garner on 24 June 1933. They had seven children:
John, Elaine
, Lynette, Carol, Noela, Geoffrey, and Christine.
Jack Melloy died at Redcliffe in 2006, aged 97. His wife Maude had died in 1997. The couple were survived by their 7 children, 50 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
, he was a Staff Sergeant for the Australian Army Dental Corps from 1942 to 1946.
From 1951 to 1952 he was organiser and industrial advocate for the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union.
in 1922 at the age of 14. His interest in socialist politics was influenced by his trade unionist cousin Walter Russell Crampton
.
Jack Melloy first ran for public office in 1949 as a Labor candidate for Buranda in Brisbane City Council elections but was unsuccessful.
He stood for the federal electorate of Lilley
in 1955 and 1958 but was unsuccessful both times.
In 1960 he was the Labor candidate in the Queensland electorate of Nudgee
(defeating Frank Sleeman
, who was later Brisbane's Lord Mayor) and was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
. He remained as member for Nudgee until his retirement in 1977.
He was Shadow Minister for Health from 1967 to 1972, where his background as a dental technician made him passionate about the state's lack of dental services and the poor health systems for generally.
In 1974 Melloy was elected deputy leader of the State Labor Party, defeating Keith Wright
and Jack Houston
. He remained deputy leader until 1976.
He championed the safari suit
(a short-sleeved jacket worn without a shirt designed for wear in warm climates) by wearing one in Parliament but was told to leave and derided as a hippy.
He retired in 1977, but continued his political activities through assisting his politically active family in their campaigns. In 1980 his daughter Elaine Darling
won the seat of Lilley (the one he had unsuccessfully contested twice in the 1950s). His grand-daughter Vicky Darling
won the state seat of Sandgate
in 2006. Other family members serve in executive positions of branches of the Labor Party.
Jack Melloy was awarded life membership of the Australian Labor Party in 1984.
At age 95, he was still handing out how-to-vote cards on election day, loyal to his party. He served his party for over 80 years.
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
for 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...
.
Personal life
Jack Melloy was born in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the youngest of six children of Charles Frederick Melloy and Ada Louise Crampton. Unlike his older siblings, Jack (formally John) had no middle name, which irritated him, so he sometimes called himself John Joseph Patrick Melloy.
He married Elizabeth Maude Garner on 24 June 1933. They had seven children:
John, Elaine
Elaine Darling
Elaine Elizabeth Darling is a retired Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, she attended the University of Queensland before becoming a teacher, eventually rising to an assistant to the Director of the Brisbane Kindergarten Training College...
, Lynette, Carol, Noela, Geoffrey, and Christine.
Jack Melloy died at Redcliffe in 2006, aged 97. His wife Maude had died in 1997. The couple were survived by their 7 children, 50 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Business life
Jack Melloy was a dental technician. He was President and secretary of the Dental Technicians Association of Queensland. He served as the union representative on various dental committees. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was a Staff Sergeant for the Australian Army Dental Corps from 1942 to 1946.
From 1951 to 1952 he was organiser and industrial advocate for the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union.
Public life
Jack Melloy joined the Australian Labor PartyAustralian 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...
in 1922 at the age of 14. His interest in socialist politics was influenced by his trade unionist cousin Walter Russell Crampton
Walter Russell Crampton
Walter Russell Crampton was an Australian trade unionist, journalist and politician.-Personal life:Crampton was born in 1877 in Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the eldest child of Walter James Crampton and Sarah Phillips.He left school at age 14 and then "humped his swag" around...
.
Jack Melloy first ran for public office in 1949 as a Labor candidate for Buranda in Brisbane City Council elections but was unsuccessful.
He stood for the federal electorate of Lilley
Division of Lilley
The Division of Lilley is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was first proclaimed in 1913. The division is named after Sir Charles Lilley, a former Premier of Queensland and a former Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of Queensland....
in 1955 and 1958 but was unsuccessful both times.
In 1960 he was the Labor candidate in the Queensland electorate of Nudgee
Electoral district of Nudgee
The district of Nudgee is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. Based in the north-eastern suburbs of Brisbane, the district is a safe seat for the Labor Party.-Members for Nudgee:-Election results:...
(defeating Frank Sleeman
Frank Sleeman
Frank Northey Sleeman was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1976 to 1982.-Early life and education:Sleeman grew up in Redfern, Sydney. He attended Canterbury Boys' High School.-Military Service and Prisoner of War:...
, who was later Brisbane's Lord Mayor) and was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
. He remained as member for Nudgee until his retirement in 1977.
He was Shadow Minister for Health from 1967 to 1972, where his background as a dental technician made him passionate about the state's lack of dental services and the poor health systems for generally.
In 1974 Melloy was elected deputy leader of the State Labor Party, defeating Keith Wright
Keith Wright (Australian politician)
Keith Webb Wright is a former Australian politician and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College in Brisbane before becoming a teacher and author....
and Jack Houston
Jack Houston
John William "Jack" Houston was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Bulimba in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1957 to 1980....
. He remained deputy leader until 1976.
He championed the safari suit
Suit (history)
The man's suit of clothes, in the sense of a lounge or business or office suit, is a set of garments which are crafted from the same cloth. This article discusses the history of the lounge suit, often called a business suit when made in dark colours and of conservative cut.The current styles were...
(a short-sleeved jacket worn without a shirt designed for wear in warm climates) by wearing one in Parliament but was told to leave and derided as a hippy.
He retired in 1977, but continued his political activities through assisting his politically active family in their campaigns. In 1980 his daughter Elaine Darling
Elaine Darling
Elaine Elizabeth Darling is a retired Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, she attended the University of Queensland before becoming a teacher, eventually rising to an assistant to the Director of the Brisbane Kindergarten Training College...
won the seat of Lilley (the one he had unsuccessfully contested twice in the 1950s). His grand-daughter Vicky Darling
Vicky Darling
Vicky Elizabeth Darling is a Labor politician elected to the Queensland State Parliament in September 2006 as the member for the safe seat of Sandgate....
won the state seat of Sandgate
Electoral district of Sandgate
The district of Sandgate is an electoral division in the state of Queensland, Australia.It is located in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, covering Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Deagon, Brighton, Bracken Ridge, Fitzgibbon, and Taigum...
in 2006. Other family members serve in executive positions of branches of the Labor Party.
Jack Melloy was awarded life membership of the Australian Labor Party in 1984.
At age 95, he was still handing out how-to-vote cards on election day, loyal to his party. He served his party for over 80 years.