This article is about the Australian politician. For the Irish cricketer (1877–1951), see Gus Kelly. For his son, also an Irish cricketer (1901–1980), see Gustavus Kelly.
Christopher Augustus "Gus" Kelly (21 August 1890 – 25 March 1967) was an Australian politician. He was a Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1932 and again from 1935 until his death in 1967, representing the electorate of Bathurst. He held numerous ministerial positions between 1941 and 1965 in McKell Labor Government.[1]
Kelly was born near Dubbo, New South Wales and was the son of John Kelly, labourer, and Margaret Kearney. His father died when Kelly was aged [citation needed] and his family moved to Wellington, where he was educated to elementary level at the Wellington convent by Catholic nuns.
In a pre-selection held in 1919, Kelly defeated Ben Chifley[4] and was endorsed as one of three Labor candidates to contest the multi-member electorate of Bathurst at the 1922 State election. Kelly was unsuccessful at this election,[4][5] and successfully sought endorsement (again against Chifley), and succeeded at the 1925 State election winning the third position, defeating Nationalist sitting member, Charles Rosenthal.[6]
Following a statewide electoral redistribution, Kelly retained the seat of Bathurst when New South Wales reverted to single member electorates at the 1927 state election.[7] Kelly was re-elected at the 1930 state election with over 60% of the vote, but was defeated on preferences in the 1932 State election landslide that ended the premiership of Jack Lang.[8][9]
In the William McKell Labor Government that came to power at the 1941 state election, Kelly was appointed to the following portfolios during his parliamentary career spanning 38 years; 24 of which were as a Minister:[1]
Minister for Health (1941 to 1950 and again, during 1960)
Minister for Housing (1950 to 1952 and again, during 1954)
Colonial Secretary (1952 to 1959)
Minister for Immigration (1953–1959)
Minister for Co-operative Societies (1954 to 1959)
Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourist Activities (1959 to 1965)
During Kelly's service as a politician, it was alleged that some members of the McKell cabinet were involved in a large corrupt sly-grog operation, with one particular allegation (never proven but often made) that involved Kelly. In an interview not made public till 1997, McKell (who had died in 1985) alluded to discreditable actions on Kelly's part, while refusing to supply details:[10]
"Kelly became an absolute load on the party... we won't say any more than that..."
Kelly died in 1967, as the sitting member for Bathurst.[1][12] A portrait of Kelly by Australian artist Reg Campbell can be found in the permanent collection of Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.[13]
^Hagan, J (2007). People and Politics in regional New South Wales. Vol 1, 1856 to 1950s. The Federation Press.
^"Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad". Australian Imperial Force. National Archives of Australia. 11 June 1910. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
^ abHamer, Clive. "Hope of the Vale - The Peacock Family". Retrieved 19 June 2010.
^"Government Gazette Appointments and Employment". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 92. New South Wales, Australia. 16 July 1965. p. 2239. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via Trove.
^"Gifted portrait artist dies". Western Advocate. Fairfax Media. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
kelly, politician, this, article, about, australian, politician, irish, cricketer, 1877, 1951, kelly, also, irish, cricketer, 1901, 1980, gustavus, kelly, christopher, augustus, kelly, august, 1890, march, 1967, australian, politician, labor, party, member, so. This article is about the Australian politician For the Irish cricketer 1877 1951 see Gus Kelly For his son also an Irish cricketer 1901 1980 see Gustavus Kelly Christopher Augustus Gus Kelly 21 August 1890 25 March 1967 was an Australian politician He was a Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1932 and again from 1935 until his death in 1967 representing the electorate of Bathurst He held numerous ministerial positions between 1941 and 1965 in McKell Labor Government 1 The HonourableGus KellyMinister for HealthIn office 16 May 1941 30 June 1950PremierWilliam McKellJames McGirrPreceded byHerbert FitzSimonsSucceeded byMaurice O Sullivan41st Chief Secretary of New South WalesIn office 3 April 1952 13 May 1965PremierJoseph CahillBob HeffronJack RenshawPreceded byClive EvattSucceeded byEric WillisPersonal detailsBornChristopher Augustus Kelly 1890 08 21 21 August 1890Obley near Dubbo Colony of New South WalesDied25 March 1967 1967 03 25 aged 76 Mosman New South Wales AustraliaPolitical partyAustralian Labor Party NSW Australian Labor Party New South Wales Branch SpouseEileen Mary MitchellOccupationCement testerMilitary serviceAllegiance AustraliaBranch serviceAustralian ArmyYears of service1910 19141915 1919RankPrivateUnitFirst Australian Imperial ForceBattles warsFirst World WarEarly life editKelly was born near Dubbo New South Wales and was the son of John Kelly labourer and Margaret Kearney His father died when Kelly was aged citation needed and his family moved to Wellington where he was educated to elementary level at the Wellington convent by Catholic nuns He initially worked as a labourer with the New South Wales Government Railways and then later at the Portland New South Wales limestone quarry Following an accident he became a cement tester In 1906 Kelly joined the Australian Labor Party and held office as Portland branch secretary for 18 years and the local union organiser for the Clerk s Division of the Australian Workers Union 2 Kelly had active military service in the First Australian Imperial Force in Egypt and France between 1915 and 1919 1 3 Political career editIn a pre selection held in 1919 Kelly defeated Ben Chifley 4 and was endorsed as one of three Labor candidates to contest the multi member electorate of Bathurst at the 1922 State election Kelly was unsuccessful at this election 4 5 and successfully sought endorsement again against Chifley and succeeded at the 1925 State election winning the third position defeating Nationalist sitting member Charles Rosenthal 6 Following a statewide electoral redistribution Kelly retained the seat of Bathurst when New South Wales reverted to single member electorates at the 1927 state election 7 Kelly was re elected at the 1930 state election with over 60 of the vote but was defeated on preferences in the 1932 State election landslide that ended the premiership of Jack Lang 8 9 After three years working as the gatekeeper at the Sydney Cricket Ground 1 where William McKell sat on the Board of Trustees 10 Kelly regained the seat in the 1935 state election on preferences from the Labor Party candidate whilst standing as a candidate for Australian Labor Party NSW Kelly retained the seat at the 1938 was unopposed in 1941 challenged in 1944 1947 and 1950 state elections again unopposed in 1953 and challenged in 1956 1959 1962 and 1965 state elections winning each time 11 He was a member of the Australian Labor Party NSW while that party was separated from the Federal executive of the Labor Party between 1931 and 1936 citation needed In the William McKell Labor Government that came to power at the 1941 state election Kelly was appointed to the following portfolios during his parliamentary career spanning 38 years 24 of which were as a Minister 1 Minister for Health 1941 to 1950 and again during 1960 Minister for Housing 1950 to 1952 and again during 1954 Colonial Secretary 1952 to 1959 Minister for Immigration 1953 1959 Minister for Co operative Societies 1954 to 1959 Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourist Activities 1959 to 1965 During Kelly s service as a politician it was alleged that some members of the McKell cabinet were involved in a large corrupt sly grog operation with one particular allegation never proven but often made that involved Kelly In an interview not made public till 1997 McKell who had died in 1985 alluded to discreditable actions on Kelly s part while refusing to supply details 10 Kelly became an absolute load on the party we won t say any more than that Kelly died in 1967 as the sitting member for Bathurst 1 12 A portrait of Kelly by Australian artist Reg Campbell can be found in the permanent collection of Bathurst Regional Art Gallery 13 References edit a b c d e The Hon Christopher Augustus Kelly 1890 1967 Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Hagan J 2007 People and Politics in regional New South Wales Vol 1 1856 to 1950s The Federation Press Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad Australian Imperial Force National Archives of Australia 11 June 1910 Retrieved 31 August 2011 a b Hamer Clive Hope of the Vale The Peacock Family Retrieved 19 June 2010 Green Antony 1922 Bathurst New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Green Antony 1925 Bathurst New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Green Antony 1927 Bathurst New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Green Antony 1930 Bathurst New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Green Antony 1932 Bathurst New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 a b Cunneen C 2000 William John McKell boilermaker premier Governor General UNSW Press Green Antony Index to candidates New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 30 April 2019 Government Gazette Appointments and Employment Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales No 92 New South Wales Australia 16 July 1965 p 2239 Retrieved 7 April 2018 via Trove Gifted portrait artist dies Western Advocate Fairfax Media 9 June 2008 Retrieved 19 June 2010 New South Wales Legislative Assembly Preceded byCharles Rosenthal Member for Bathurst1925 1927 Served alongside Fitzpatrick Dooley MMP abolished New districtMMP abolished Member for Bathurst1927 1932 Succeeded byGordon Wilkins Preceded byGordon Wilkins Member for Bathurst1935 1967 Succeeded byClive Osborne Political offices Preceded byHerbert FitzSimons Minister for Health1941 1950 Succeeded byMaurice O Sullivan Preceded byClive Evatt Minister for Housing1950 1952 Succeeded byClive Evatt Preceded byClive Evatt Colonial Chief Secretary of New South Wales1952 1965 Succeeded byEric Willis Preceded byJoshua Arthur Minister for Immigration1953 1956 VacantTitle next held bySteve Maugeras Minister for Youth Ethnicand Community Affairs Preceded byClive Evatt Minister for Housing1954 Succeeded byJohn McGrath Minister for Co operative Societies1954 1959 Succeeded byAbe Landa VacantTitle last held byJoshua Arthuras Minister in Charge of TouristActivities and Immigration Minister for Tourist Activities1959 1965 Succeeded byEric Willis New title Minister for Tourist Activities1959 1965 Succeeded byEric Willis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gus Kelly politician amp oldid 1075516218, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
