William Wattison
William Wattison | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Electoral district of Sturt | |
| In office 3 April 1947 – 23 January 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Horsington |
| Succeeded by | Seat Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Ernest Wattison 5 November 1903 Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Died | 13 November 1975 (aged 72) Bateau Bay, New South Wales |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Winifred Ivy Williams |
| Occupation | Miner |
William Ernest Wattison (5 November 1903 – 13 November 1975) was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1947 until 1968. He was a member of the Labor Party (ALP).
Early life[]
Wattison was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales and was the son of a miner. He was educated at Burke Ward Public School in Broken Hill and worked for the Barrier Daily Truth while still young. Later he worked as a miner and was active in the local union movement, including serving on the Barrier Industrial Council for 15 years.[1] He was involved in the Broken Hill Unemployed Union in the Great Depression in the early 1930s and served as the assistant secretary of the (WIUA), the local miners' union.[2] He was involved with local organizations including the Broken Hill Hospital Board and the Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme.[1]
Parliamentary career[]
Wattison was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for Sturt at the 1947 election having won preselection against the sitting Labor member Ted Horsington in December 1946.[2] He had contested the preselection ballots of the Barrier District Association of the Australian Labor Party (BDAALP) for Sturt since the early 1930s. Wattison's preselection reflected a general shift to the right in the local labour movement, and away from earlier, more radical political leaders.[2] Wattison was Broken Hill's first MLA to have been born in the town.[2] Wattison retained the seat for the Labor Party at the next 6 elections and retired from public life at the 1968 election. He sat on the central executive of the ALP from 1954 to 1957.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c "Mr William Ernest Wattison (1903-1975)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d Ellem, Bradon; Shields, John (2006). "Chapter 11: The Far West". In Hagan, Jim (ed.). People and Politics in Regional New South Wales. 1, 1856 to 1950s. Leichhardt: The Federation Press. p. 323. ISBN 978-186287-571-5.
- 1903 births
- 1972 deaths
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales
- 20th-century Australian politicians