Gordon Chalk

Sir Gordon William Wesley Chalk, KBE[1] (16 May 1913  26 April 1991) was Premier of Queensland for a week, from 1 to 8 August 1968.[2] He was the first and only Queensland Premier from the post-war Liberal Party.


Sir Gordon Chalk

KBE
Gordon Chalk in 1963
30th Premier of Queensland
In office
1 August 1968  8 August 1968
Preceded byJack Pizzey
Succeeded byJoh Bjelke-Petersen
ConstituencyLockyer
35th Treasurer of Queensland
In office
23 December 1965  13 August 1976
Preceded byThomas Hiley
Succeeded byWilliam Knox
ConstituencyLockyer
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for East Toowoomba
In office
3 May 1947  29 April 1950
Preceded byLes Wood
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Lockyer
In office
29 April 1950  12 August 1976
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byTony Bourke
Personal details
Born(1913-05-16)16 May 1913
Rosewood, Queensland, Australia
Died26 April 1991(1991-04-26) (aged 77)
Melbourne, Victoria
Political partyLiberal Party
Spouse(s)Ellen Clare Grant (1937–1991)
OccupationSales Representative, Newspaper employee

Career

Chalk entered politics in 1947 having previously worked as a sales manager at the Toowoomba Foundry.[3]

On 23 December 1965, Chalk succeeded Sir Alan Munro as Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party, Deputy Premier and Treasurer in a coalition government with the Country Party led by Frank Nicklin. He continued in these roles when Jack Pizzey succeeded Nicklin as Premier on 17 January 1968. Following the sudden death of Pizzey on 31 July 1968, the Governor Sir Alan Mansfield swore in Chalk as Premier on 1 August, pending the Country Party electing a new leader. They chose Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who succeeded Chalk after a week in office.

Chalk continued as Treasurer and Leader of the Liberal Party until his resignation from parliament in 1976.

Seats held

Gordon Chalk c. 1950

Ministerial positions

  • Minister for Transport 12 August 1957 – 23 December 1965[2][3]
  • Treasurer 23 December 1965 – 13 August 1976[2]
  • Premier 1 August 1968 – 8 August 1968[2]

Honours

In the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1971, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[4]

Personal life

Upon his death in 1991 Chalk was accorded a State funeral which was held at Albert Street Uniting Church[1] and he was later cremated.[1]

References

  1. Gordon William (Chalkie) (1913–1991)Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. New Transport Minister for Queensland Truck & Bus Transportation October 1957 page 66
  4. It's an Honour – KBE
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Les Wood
Member for East Toowoomba
1947–1950
Succeeded by
Seat abolished
Preceded by
Seat created
Member for Lockyer
1950–1976
Succeeded by
Tony Bourke
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Hiley
Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland
1965–1976
Succeeded by
William Knox
Preceded by
Jack Pizzey
Premier of Queensland
1968
Succeeded by
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by
Alan Munro
Deputy Premier of Queensland
1965–1976
Succeeded by
William Knox
Preceded by
Thomas Hiley
Treasurer of Queensland
1965–1976
Succeeded by
William Knox
Preceded by
Thomas Moores
Minister for Transport
1957–1965
Succeeded by
William Knox


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