Jim Sparkes

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Sir Jim Sparkes
Jim Sparkes - Queensland politician.jpg
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Dalby
In office
11 June 1932 – 11 May 1935
Preceded byWilfred Russell
Succeeded byGodfrey Morgan
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Aubigny
In office
29 March 1941 – 28 May 1960
Preceded byArthur Moore
Succeeded byLes Diplock
Personal details
Born
Walter Beresford James Gordon Sparkes

(1889-04-22)22 April 1889
Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Died15 June 1974(1974-06-15) (aged 85)
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyCountry Party
Other political
affiliations		Country and Progressive National Party
Spouse(s)Jessie Elizabeth Lang (m.1912), Alice Goongarry Scott (m.1920 d.1983)
OccupationCattle breeder

Sir Walter Beresford James Gordon Sparkes (22 April 1889 – 15 June 1974) was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Early life[]

Sparkes was born at Dubbo, New South Wales in 1889 to James Sparkes and his wife Mary Ann (née Yates). He was educated at Croydon Park Public School and St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill before moving to Queensland in 1910. By 1912 he had purchased Lyndley Hereford Stud at Jandowae, one of the oldest and best known Hereford studs in Australia. Sparkes expanded the stud from its original 3,000 acres to 16,000 acres by acquiring adjoining properties. Over the years he went on to acquire many properties across the southern part of the state.[1]

Politics[]

Sparkes was elected as a councillor to the Wambo Shire Council in 1916 and eventually became its chairman between 1922–31 and 1937–52.[1] He entered the state parliament in 1932, winning Dalby for the Country and Progressive National Party but did not seek re-election in 1935.[2] Representing the Country Party in 1941, Sparkes won the seat of Aubigny, holding it for 19 years until his defeat in 1960 by Queensland Labor Party candidate, Les Diplock. During this period he was the Opposition whip from 1950 till 1957.

Personal life[]

Sparkes was married twice; first, Jessie Elizabeth Lang in 1912 and then Alice Goongarry Scott in 1920.[3] He had six children with his two partners including Sir Robert Sparkes, president of the Queensland branch of the National Party from 1970 till 1990.[1]

He was knighted in 1970.

Sparkes died at Toowoomba in 1974 and was cremated.[3] The Queensland Premier at the time, Joh Bjelke-Petersen told the members of parliament that "Sparkes spoke almost daily in this Chamber on behalf of the working man and the man on the land. He always fought their case, and fought it hard".[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ "QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 May 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Sparkes, Sir Walter Beresford James Gordon (1889–1974) Archived 23 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Dalby
1932–1935 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Aubigny
1941–1960 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""