Jack Simons
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Simons (also widely known and referred to as J. J. Simons and J. J. "Boss" Simons, 12 August 1882 – 24 October 1948) was an Australian businessman and politician, best known for establishing the Young Australia League
.
Simons was born at Clare, South Australia
to Thomas Simons, a currier
, and Margaret Simons, née Henry, a schoolteacher. In about 1896 he arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia
where he worked for a tinsmith
. He developed an interest in labour issues with a strong belief in nationalist policies as well as becoming a prominent advocate against conscription
. At 6 inch he was confident and charismatic and developed strong debating skills.
He was secretary of the Western Australian Football League from 1905 to 1914 and in 1905 established the Young Australia Football League. The same year together with Lionel Boas
, the YAFL was renamed to become the Young Australia League
which aimed to promote healthy outdoor activities for Western Australian youth, particularly boys. The organisation flourished for many years and expanded to other states. Simons was referred to by YAL members as "Boss Simons".
He was secretary of the Western Australian State School Teachers Union until 1917 and was State president of the Australian Natives' Association in 1910-11. He was secretary of the Western Australian Trotting Association in 1913-14, later being made a life member.
he unsuccessfully contested the Division of Fremantle
for Labor
. Simons campaigned with John Curtin
until they disagreed after Simons wrote newspaper articles criticising trade unionists, referring to strikers as "Trade Union Trash". In 1921 he won the Seat of East Perth
in the state parliament
. He resigned his seat on 1 November 1922 and subsequently nominated as a candidate for the resulting by-election on 18 November 1922, but was defeated by the Labor candidate, Thomas Hughes
.
He supported Premier
James Mitchell
's land development and migration programmes and the ill-fated Kendenup
community established by Jack De Garis
in 1920. Simons Road in the town is named in his honour.
, and in 1926 he published Reflections, a collection of his own beliefs and experiences.
In 1935, a syndicate led by Simons and including Courtney and mining entrepreneur Claude de Bernales
purchased Western Press Limited, the publishers of The Sunday Times
for £55,000. Simons was managing director until his death in 1948.
. His epitaph reads "I am the Spirit of the League".
Several years before his death he assigned his interest in Western Press to the Y.A.L. which yielded over £50,000 to the organisation.
When the 3-tier grandstand at Subiaco Oval
was opened on 31 August 1969, it was named the "J J Simons-W R Orr-R W Hill Grandstand", partly in his honour.
Young Australia League
The Young Australia League is an Australian youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1905 by Jack Simons and Lionel Boas...
.
Simons was born at Clare, South Australia
Clare, South Australia
The town of Clare is located in South Australia in the Mid North region, 136 km north of Adelaide. It gives its name to the Clare Valley wine and tourist region.-History:One of the first settlers in the area was John Horrocks, in 1839...
to Thomas Simons, a currier
Currier
A currier is a specialist in the leather processing industry. After the tanning process, the currier applies techniques of dressing, finishing and colouring to the tanned hide to make it strong, flexible and waterproof...
, and Margaret Simons, née Henry, a schoolteacher. In about 1896 he arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
where he worked for a tinsmith
Tinsmith
A tinsmith, or tinner or tinker or tinplate worker, is a person who makes and repairs things made of light-coloured metal, particularly tinware...
. He developed an interest in labour issues with a strong belief in nationalist policies as well as becoming a prominent advocate against conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. At 6 inch he was confident and charismatic and developed strong debating skills.
He was secretary of the Western Australian Football League from 1905 to 1914 and in 1905 established the Young Australia Football League. The same year together with Lionel Boas
Lionel Boas
Lionel Tobias Boas was a prominent public official from Western Australia. The son of Rabbi Abraham Boas, he was born in South Australia and arrived in Perth, Western Australia in 1896....
, the YAFL was renamed to become the Young Australia League
Young Australia League
The Young Australia League is an Australian youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1905 by Jack Simons and Lionel Boas...
which aimed to promote healthy outdoor activities for Western Australian youth, particularly boys. The organisation flourished for many years and expanded to other states. Simons was referred to by YAL members as "Boss Simons".
He was secretary of the Western Australian State School Teachers Union until 1917 and was State president of the Australian Natives' Association in 1910-11. He was secretary of the Western Australian Trotting Association in 1913-14, later being made a life member.
Politics
In the 1917 Federal electionAustralian federal election, 1917
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 May 1917. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
he unsuccessfully contested the Division of Fremantle
Division of Fremantle
The Division of Fremantle is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia.The division was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
for 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...
. Simons campaigned with John Curtin
John Curtin
John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...
until they disagreed after Simons wrote newspaper articles criticising trade unionists, referring to strikers as "Trade Union Trash". In 1921 he won the Seat of East Perth
Electoral district of East Perth
East Perth was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1962.Based in inner urban Perth, the district was one of the original 30 seats contested at the 1890 state election. The district's member from 1894 to 1904 was Walter James,...
in the state parliament
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
. He resigned his seat on 1 November 1922 and subsequently nominated as a candidate for the resulting by-election on 18 November 1922, but was defeated by the Labor candidate, Thomas Hughes
Thomas Hughes (Australian politician)
Thomas John Hughes , sometimes known as Diver Hughes, was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly representing the seat of East Perth for two periods; from 1922 until 1927, and again from 1936 until 1943.-Biography:Hughes was born in South Melbourne,...
.
He supported Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
James Mitchell
James Mitchell (Australian politician)
Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....
's land development and migration programmes and the ill-fated Kendenup
Kendenup, Western Australia
Kendenup is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Plantagenet. It is south east of Perth and north of Mount Barker. The Great Southern Railway passes through the town, being one of the original stations on the line...
community established by Jack De Garis
Jack De Garis
Clement John De Garis was an Australian entrepreneur and aviator, noted for his colourful marketing style and work in the dried fruits industries in the Sunraysia area around Mildura in the 1920s.-Early years:...
in 1920. Simons Road in the town is named in his honour.
Publishing
Simons was active in publishing, producing an annual Australian Junior from 1906 to 1911 as well as the monthly Boomerang, edited from 1914 by himself as an extension to YAL activities. In 1918 he established the Call, a sports focussed weekly newspaper with Victor CourtneyVictor Courtney
Victor Desmond Courtney was a Western Australian journalist. From small beginnings in a partnership in a weekly sporting newspaper, Courtney ended up as the managing director of The Sunday Times and owner of a network of thirty regional newspapers.-Works:* Random Rhymes, Perth, the author.* ...
, and in 1926 he published Reflections, a collection of his own beliefs and experiences.
In 1935, a syndicate led by Simons and including Courtney and mining entrepreneur Claude de Bernales
Claude de Bernales
Claude Albo de Bernales was a Western Australian mining entrepreneur whose business activities and marketing did much to stimulate investment in Western Australia during the early years of the twentieth century...
purchased Western Press Limited, the publishers of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (Western Australia)
The Sunday Times, owned by News Limited, is a tabloid Sunday newspaper printed in Perth and distributed throughout Western Australia.-History:...
for £55,000. Simons was managing director until his death in 1948.
Death
Simons died of heart disease in 1948 and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Karrakatta CemeteryKarrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
. His epitaph reads "I am the Spirit of the League".
Several years before his death he assigned his interest in Western Press to the Y.A.L. which yielded over £50,000 to the organisation.
When the 3-tier grandstand at Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
was opened on 31 August 1969, it was named the "J J Simons-W R Orr-R W Hill Grandstand", partly in his honour.