John McDonald (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John James McDonald Australia
n politician
, was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1911 to 1914.
Born in East Ballarat, Victoria
on 21 July 1869, John McDonald was the son of cordial
manufacturer Michael McDonald. He was educated at Christian Brothers College
in East Melbourne
, then spent three years raising stock for his father. In 1895 he emigrated to Western Australia
, where he spent the next twelve years as a prospector
. In 1908 he moved to Carnarvon
, where he became involved in the labor movement. He became a member of the Australian Workers' Union
, and on 21 October 1911 was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
seat of Gascoyne
for the Labor Party
. He held the seat until the election of 4 November 1914, by which time he was living at Highgate
.
McDonald returned to Victoria in 1914, joining the Liquor Trades Union and obtaining work in a soft drink factory. By January the following year he was the Union's Trades Hall representative, and was on the Committee of Management as the Aerated Waters representative. He became vice-president of the Victorian branch in December 1915, and president in December 1916. He remained president until January 1918. Thereafter he was assistant secretary of the union from July 1921 until his death. He died, unmarried, at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
on 19 June 1934.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
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....
from 1911 to 1914.
Born in East Ballarat, 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....
on 21 July 1869, John McDonald was the son of cordial
Cordial
Cordial may refer to:* Squash , a non-alcoholic fruit drink concentrate* Elderflower cordial, a non-alcoholic beverage* Cordial , a medicinal beverage* Cordial , a type of candy that has a fruit filling inside a chocolate shell...
manufacturer Michael McDonald. He was educated at Christian Brothers College
Christian Brothers College
Christian Brothers College can refer to one of several schools:* Christian Brothers College, Adelaide* Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo* Christian Brothers College, Burwood* Christian Brothers College, Cork* Christian Brothers College, Monkstown Park...
in East Melbourne
East Melbourne, Victoria
East Melbourne is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, adjacent to Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, East Melbourne had a population of 4,330....
, then spent three years raising stock for his father. In 1895 he emigrated to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, where he spent the next twelve years as a prospector
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
. In 1908 he moved to Carnarvon
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
, where he became involved in the labor movement. He became a member of the Australian Workers' Union
Australian Workers' Union
The Australian Workers' Union is one of Australia's largest and oldest trade unions. It traces its origins to unions founded in the pastoral and mining industries in the 1880s, and currently has approximately 135,000 members...
, and on 21 October 1911 was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
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....
seat of Gascoyne
Electoral district of Gascoyne
Gascoyne was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1890 to 1989.The district was located in the Western Australian outback, in the north-west of the state...
for the 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 held the seat until the election of 4 November 1914, by which time he was living at Highgate
Highgate, Western Australia
Highgate is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Vincent and north of the CBD. Highgate was named for the village of Highgate in Kent, England...
.
McDonald returned to Victoria in 1914, joining the Liquor Trades Union and obtaining work in a soft drink factory. By January the following year he was the Union's Trades Hall representative, and was on the Committee of Management as the Aerated Waters representative. He became vice-president of the Victorian branch in December 1915, and president in December 1916. He remained president until January 1918. Thereafter he was assistant secretary of the union from July 1921 until his death. He died, unmarried, at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
Bacchus Marsh is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately west of Melbourne and west of Melton. The population of the urban area is estimated at over 17,000 people, while the central locality is home to 5,566 people...
on 19 June 1934.