Walter Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Walter Richard Lawrence MBE
(3 January 1895 – 24 March 1966) was an Australia
n politician. He was the Liberal
member for Drummoyne
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1956 to 1962.
Lawrence was born at Lawsons Creek, near Mudgee in New South Wales
, to farmer Charles Lawrence and Esther Barton. He grew up on his parents' farm, and in 1914 enlisted in the AIF
, serving until 1918. In August 1918 he married Alethia James, with whom he had four children. Also in that year he was employed at Ellerslie station, between Adelong
and Tarcutta
, of which he was manager from 1919 to 1922. He later joined the police force, rising to become Superintendent of the traffic branch and Deputy Commissioner. He retired from the force in 1954. He was briefly a member of Drummoyne Council
in 1966. Lawrence was also a Methodist lay preacher, and was president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
.
In 1956, Lawrence was the Liberal
candidate for Drummoyne
; he defeated sitting Labor
member Roy Jackson
. He was re-elected in 1959, but in 1962 a redistribution gave the seat a notional Labor majority and Lawrence was defeated by Leichhardt MP Reg Coady
, whose seat had been abolished. He died in Sydney
in 1966.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(3 January 1895 – 24 March 1966) was an Australia
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. He was the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Drummoyne
Electoral district of Drummoyne
Drummoyne is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Sidoti of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
in the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1956 to 1962.
Lawrence was born at Lawsons Creek, near Mudgee in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, to farmer Charles Lawrence and Esther Barton. He grew up on his parents' farm, and in 1914 enlisted in the AIF
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
, serving until 1918. In August 1918 he married Alethia James, with whom he had four children. Also in that year he was employed at Ellerslie station, between Adelong
Adelong, New South Wales
Adelong is a small town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia and is a part of the Tumut Shire. The Adelong district has a population of about 1400, while Adelong itself has a population of 829 people....
and Tarcutta
Tarcutta, New South Wales
Tarcutta is a small town located 438 km south-west of Sydney, three kilometres east of the Hume Highway, in New South Wales, Australia. It was proclaimed as a village on 28 October 1890...
, of which he was manager from 1919 to 1922. He later joined the police force, rising to become Superintendent of the traffic branch and Deputy Commissioner. He retired from the force in 1954. He was briefly a member of Drummoyne Council
City of Canada Bay
The City of Canada Bay is a Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia and located in the metropolitan area of Sydney. The city was formed in December 2000, following the merger of Concord and Drummoyne councils...
in 1966. Lawrence was also a Methodist lay preacher, and was president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. In 2009 the RSPCA investigated 141,280 cruelty complaints and collected and rescued 135,293 animals...
.
In 1956, Lawrence was the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
candidate for Drummoyne
Electoral district of Drummoyne
Drummoyne is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Sidoti of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
; he defeated sitting 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...
member Roy Jackson
Roy Jackson (politician)
Roy Stanley Jackson was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for a single term between 1953 and 1956. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
. He was re-elected in 1959, but in 1962 a redistribution gave the seat a notional Labor majority and Lawrence was defeated by Leichhardt MP Reg Coady
Reg Coady
Reginald John Francis Coady was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1954 until 1973. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
, whose seat had been abolished. He died in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1966.