Rex Jackson
Encyclopedia
Rex Frederick Jackson was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
. He was the son of a railway fettler and born in Wagga Wagga
, New South Wales and educated at Harefield
Public School and Junee
and Sutherland
High Schools. He became a rail employee, professional boxer and printer. He married his wife, Irene, in 1949.
Jackson was Australian Labor Party
member for Bulli
from 1955 to 1971 and for Heathcote
from 1971 to 1986. He was Minister for Youth and Community Services from May 1976 to October 1981 and then Minister for Corrective Services from October 1981 to October 1983. He was also Minister for Roads from February to October 1983.
He resigned his ministerial portfolios on 27 October 1983 and from parliament on 13 August 1986. Jackson was subsequently sent to prison for ten years following conviction on charges of conspiracy in relation to the early release of prisoners.
Following his early release from prison, after serving three years and two months of his 10-year term, he returned to the home he still owns in Helensburgh and was welcomed back by many in his community.
For some years, Jackson operated a Mr Whippy-style ice cream van with business partner Col Alexander, called "Col and Rex's Hot Dogs and Ice Cream" which regularly parked at the top of Bald Hill
, a popular hang-gliding spot in Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney. Jackson's wife Irene had arthritis and diabetes, and had a stroke just six weeks after his homecoming. She was hospitalised and then placed in a nursing home before her death in early 1993.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
. He was the son of a railway fettler and born in Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
, New South Wales and educated at Harefield
Harefield, New South Wales
Harefield is a locality in New South Wales, Australia. It in the central east part of the Riverina and situated about 11 kilometres south from Junee and 35 kilometres north by road from Wagga Wagga....
Public School and Junee
Junee, New South Wales
Junee is a medium sized town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The town's prosperity and mixed services economy is based on a combination of agriculture, rail transport, light industry and government services, and in particular correctional services...
and Sutherland
Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
High Schools. He became a rail employee, professional boxer and printer. He married his wife, Irene, in 1949.
Jackson was 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...
member for Bulli
Electoral district of Bulli
Bulli was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Bulli area. It was originally created in 1930, replacing Wollongong. In 1971 it was abolished and was divided between the new electoral district of Heathcote and Corrimal. In 1991,...
from 1955 to 1971 and for Heathcote
Electoral district of Heathcote
Heathcote is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Lee Evans of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Heathcote:-Election results:...
from 1971 to 1986. He was Minister for Youth and Community Services from May 1976 to October 1981 and then Minister for Corrective Services from October 1981 to October 1983. He was also Minister for Roads from February to October 1983.
He resigned his ministerial portfolios on 27 October 1983 and from parliament on 13 August 1986. Jackson was subsequently sent to prison for ten years following conviction on charges of conspiracy in relation to the early release of prisoners.
Following his early release from prison, after serving three years and two months of his 10-year term, he returned to the home he still owns in Helensburgh and was welcomed back by many in his community.
For some years, Jackson operated a Mr Whippy-style ice cream van with business partner Col Alexander, called "Col and Rex's Hot Dogs and Ice Cream" which regularly parked at the top of Bald Hill
Bald Hill
Bald Hill is one of Illawarra, Australia's best known and most popular lookouts, situated atop the hill of that name. Not only are the views excellent, the area is also internationally known as a major hang gliding centre. It was on the beach below Bald Hill that Lawrence Hargrave, an Australian...
, a popular hang-gliding spot in Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney. Jackson's wife Irene had arthritis and diabetes, and had a stroke just six weeks after his homecoming. She was hospitalised and then placed in a nursing home before her death in early 1993.
Further reading
- Bob Bottom, Without Fear Or Favour, Sun Books Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, 1984, ISBN 0 7251 0453 8. Chapter 10 "A Minister Resigns" is devoted to the Jackson case.