Alexander Skirving

Alexander Skirving (1868 – 28 June 1935) was a trade union secretary and member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[1]

The Hon

Alexander Skirving
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
18 August 1919 – 23 March 1922
Personal details
Born
Alexander Skirving

1868
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died28 June 1935 (aged 66 or 67)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityScottish Australian
Political partyLabor
Spouse(s)Isabella Hyland (m. 1907, d. 1953)
OccupationTrade union secretary

Skirving was born at Edinburgh, Scotland to Alexander Skirving Snr. and his wife Mary Ann (née Hunt). Moving to Brisbane at an early age, he attended Kangaroo Point State School. He was an apprentice lithographer before being appointed as secretary of the hairdressers union. Skirving was President of the Queensland Industrial Council from 1914 to 1916 and, representing the seat of Maree,[2] an alderman with the Brisbane City Council for four years from 1931.

Political career

When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[3] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[4]

In August 1919, Skirving was one of three additional new members, and went on to serve for two and a half years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1]

Personal life

On 20 March 1907, Skirving married Isabella Hyland and together they had one son, Alexander Jnr.[1] A member of the Independent Order of Good Templars,[1] Skirving died in Brisbane in June 1935 and was cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium.[5]

References
  1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  2. "WILL THERE BE FOUR". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 29 June 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 7 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  4. Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 29 June 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
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