John Troy (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Robert Troy was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1977 until 1980 representing the seat of Fremantle
.
, an inner suburb of Fremantle
, Western Australia
, to Paddy Troy
, a seaman, union secretary and state leader of the Communist Party of Australia
, and Mabel (née Neilson). He was educated at East Fremantle Primary School and at Fremantle Boys' School before commencing his studies at the University of Western Australia
. Initially an engineering student, he undertook casual work on the docks between 1959 and 1961 before becoming a trainee engineman on the railways and ultimately a qualified fireman, and was involved in the Locomotive Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Union, and also with the Seamen's Union. For a time in the 1960s, he was also a member of the Communist Party and the Eureka Youth League, and played hockey with the North Fremantle Hockey Club. On 21 December 1969, he married his first wife, Virginia Petersen, with whom he was to have one son and one daughter.
In the early 1970s, he completed his medical degree at the University of Western Australia
. He was a resident doctor at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
for 18 months before going on to Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
in 1975–1976. He was a member of the Hospital Employees' Union during this time.
In 1974, he joined the Australian Labor Party
and at the 1977 election
, he contested the safe Labor seat of Fremantle
in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
following the retirement of the member, Harry Fletcher. He made the headlines on a number of occasions—months after his election, in June 1977, he and 21 other people, including two senior Transport Workers Union officials, were arrested on the charge of "obstructing traffic" after a mêlée when a fuel agent attempted to break a union picket line at a North Fremantle
dock. He later became well known, and even attracted censure from the Labor caucus, for his public advocacy in support of the Palestinians. In November 1978, the ALP state executive denied him preselection for the 1980 election
, awarding it to 25-year-old David Parker
instead. The Seamen's Union and the Waterside Workers Federation suggested they might reduce their contributions to the ALP as a result, and a Victorian party member complained to the party's national executive about alleged Zionism
in the Western Australian branch.
He practised medicine as a general practitioner
in Fremantle after leaving politics. On 10 December 1983, he married his second wife, Raylene (née Morley), with whom he had two sons. He left the Labor Party in 1987, and at the 1989 election
and at a by-election
for the Fremantle seat the following year, he ran as an independent, attracting 12.84% and 9.28% of the vote respectively.
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 1977 until 1980 representing the seat of Fremantle
Electoral district of Fremantle
Fremantle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is located in the inner south-west of Perth, centring on the port of Fremantle....
.
Biography
Dr Troy was born in BeaconsfieldBeaconsfield, Western Australia
Beaconsfield is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Named after a property known as ‘Beaconsfield’ located in the area in the1880s, the name was officially adopted from the post office on 1 August 1894....
, an inner suburb of Fremantle
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...
, 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...
, to Paddy Troy
Paddy Troy
Patrick Laurence "Paddy" Troy was an Australian trade unionist and communist activist.Troy was born in South Melbourne to Irish marine officer Patrick William Troy and Hilda Winifred, née Ainsworth. The Troys moved to Fremantle, Western Australia, during World War I, and Paddy attended the local...
, a seaman, union secretary and state leader of the Communist Party of Australia
Communist Party of Australia
The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted...
, and Mabel (née Neilson). He was educated at East Fremantle Primary School and at Fremantle Boys' School before commencing his studies at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. Initially an engineering student, he undertook casual work on the docks between 1959 and 1961 before becoming a trainee engineman on the railways and ultimately a qualified fireman, and was involved in the Locomotive Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Union, and also with the Seamen's Union. For a time in the 1960s, he was also a member of the Communist Party and the Eureka Youth League, and played hockey with the North Fremantle Hockey Club. On 21 December 1969, he married his first wife, Virginia Petersen, with whom he was to have one son and one daughter.
In the early 1970s, he completed his medical degree at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. He was a resident doctor at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is one of Australia's leading teaching hospitals, and is located in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
for 18 months before going on to Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Princess Margaret Hospital for Children is a centre for paediatric research and care. The hospital is located on Roberts Road in Subiaco, Western Australia. It is the state's only specialist children's hospital...
in 1975–1976. He was a member of the Hospital Employees' Union during this time.
In 1974, he joined 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...
and at the 1977 election
Western Australian state election, 1977
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 19 February 1977 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 17 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council...
, he contested the safe Labor seat of Fremantle
Electoral district of Fremantle
Fremantle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is located in the inner south-west of Perth, centring on the port of Fremantle....
in 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....
following the retirement of the member, Harry Fletcher. He made the headlines on a number of occasions—months after his election, in June 1977, he and 21 other people, including two senior Transport Workers Union officials, were arrested on the charge of "obstructing traffic" after a mêlée when a fuel agent attempted to break a union picket line at a North Fremantle
North Fremantle, Western Australia
North Fremantle is a small suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Its postcode is 6159.The suburb is situated on the Swan River, north of the Port of Fremantle...
dock. He later became well known, and even attracted censure from the Labor caucus, for his public advocacy in support of the Palestinians. In November 1978, the ALP state executive denied him preselection for the 1980 election
Western Australian state election, 1980
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 23 February 1980 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 16 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council...
, awarding it to 25-year-old David Parker
David Parker (Australian politician)
David Charles Parker was an Australian politician from Western Australia, serving as a minister in the Burke Ministry , then as Deputy Premier in the Dowding Ministry...
instead. The Seamen's Union and the Waterside Workers Federation suggested they might reduce their contributions to the ALP as a result, and a Victorian party member complained to the party's national executive about alleged Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
in the Western Australian branch.
He practised medicine as a general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in Fremantle after leaving politics. On 10 December 1983, he married his second wife, Raylene (née Morley), with whom he had two sons. He left the Labor Party in 1987, and at the 1989 election
Western Australian state election, 1989
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 4 February 1989 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
and at a by-election
Fremantle state by-election, 1990
The Fremantle state by-election, 1990 was a by-election held on 26 May 1990 for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Fremantle in the southern suburbs of Perth....
for the Fremantle seat the following year, he ran as an independent, attracting 12.84% and 9.28% of the vote respectively.