Thomas Michael Burke, CMG (30 June 1870 – 16 February 1949) was an Australian businessman and philanthropist.
Burke was born at Norval, near Ararat in Victoria, to Dublin-born miner William Marcus Burke and Aberdeen-born Mary Ann, née Florence. He attended Norval State School and Ararat High School before becoming a railway clerk in 1887, overseeing first Spencer Street station and then Ararat from 1892. On 25 July 1898 he married Margaret Duggan Brady at St Mary's Catholic Church at Ararat. He was involved in the later stages of the Federation movement as president of the local branch of the Australian Natives' Association (ANA) and vice-president (1900–01) and chief president (1902–03) of the Victorian ANA.[1]
Burke was appointed secretary of the Civil Service Co-operative Society of Victoria in March 1902 and was involved in the railway workers' clash with the Irvine government; later that year he resigned from the railways and founded the Civil Service Co-operative Store in Flinders Street. An ardent protectionist, he contested the 1914 federal election as the Labor candidate for Corangamite but was defeated. He sold the Co-operative Store in 1915 and entered the real estate business, and by 1924 was also involved in finance and investment, with offices in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Adelaide and various country centres.[1]
Burke survived the Depression and during the 1930s his company, T. M. Burke Pty Ltd, had established branches in Auckland, Singapore and London. He retired from everyday management of the business in May 1936, but remained chairman of directors. He held several other positions in addition to his business interests, serving as president of the Breeders, Owners and Trainers' Association of Victoria (as an avid horse racer), member (1931–49) and chairman (1936–39, 1944–45) of the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Board, member of the Victorian Council of the Australian Red Cross, and consul for Poland (1933–49). He also gave financial support to the Melbourne University Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, and donated both land and money to the Catholic Church; he was inaugural national chairman of the Knights of the Southern Cross, accepted a chalice from Pope Pius XI on behalf of Australian Catholic businessman, and lobbied for state aid to Catholic schools.[1]
thomas, burke, businessman, thomas, michael, burke, june, 1870, february, 1949, australian, businessman, philanthropist, burke, born, norval, near, ararat, victoria, dublin, born, miner, william, marcus, burke, aberdeen, born, mary, née, florence, attended, no. Thomas Michael Burke CMG 30 June 1870 16 February 1949 was an Australian businessman and philanthropist Burke was born at Norval near Ararat in Victoria to Dublin born miner William Marcus Burke and Aberdeen born Mary Ann nee Florence He attended Norval State School and Ararat High School before becoming a railway clerk in 1887 overseeing first Spencer Street station and then Ararat from 1892 On 25 July 1898 he married Margaret Duggan Brady at St Mary s Catholic Church at Ararat He was involved in the later stages of the Federation movement as president of the local branch of the Australian Natives Association ANA and vice president 1900 01 and chief president 1902 03 of the Victorian ANA 1 Burke was appointed secretary of the Civil Service Co operative Society of Victoria in March 1902 and was involved in the railway workers clash with the Irvine government later that year he resigned from the railways and founded the Civil Service Co operative Store in Flinders Street An ardent protectionist he contested the 1914 federal election as the Labor candidate for Corangamite but was defeated He sold the Co operative Store in 1915 and entered the real estate business and by 1924 was also involved in finance and investment with offices in Sydney Newcastle Brisbane Adelaide and various country centres 1 Burke survived the Depression and during the 1930s his company T M Burke Pty Ltd had established branches in Auckland Singapore and London He retired from everyday management of the business in May 1936 but remained chairman of directors He held several other positions in addition to his business interests serving as president of the Breeders Owners and Trainers Association of Victoria as an avid horse racer member 1931 49 and chairman 1936 39 1944 45 of the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Board member of the Victorian Council of the Australian Red Cross and consul for Poland 1933 49 He also gave financial support to the Melbourne University Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and donated both land and money to the Catholic Church he was inaugural national chairman of the Knights of the Southern Cross accepted a chalice from Pope Pius XI on behalf of Australian Catholic businessman and lobbied for state aid to Catholic schools 1 Appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1942 Burke retired to Armadale He died of cancer in 1949 1 References edit a b c d Hannan Tony 1979 Burke Thomas Michael 1870 1949 Australian Dictionary of Biography Australian National University Retrieved 12 November 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Burke businessman amp oldid 1085063945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
