Jack Ferguson

Laurie John Ferguson AO (4 September 1924 – 17 September 2002) was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch). He served in Neville Wran's state government as the Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1976 to 1984.


Jack Ferguson

9th Deputy Premier of New South Wales
In office
14 May 1976  10 February 1984
PremierNeville Wran
Preceded byLeon Punch
Succeeded byRon Mulock
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Merrylands
In office
21 March 1959  5 February 1962
Preceded byNew creation
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Fairfield
In office
3 March 1962  23 January 1968
Preceded byClarrie Earl
Succeeded byEric Bedford
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Merrylands
In office
24 February 1968  5 March 1984
Preceded byNew creation
Succeeded byGeoff Irwin
Personal details
Born(1924-09-04)4 September 1924
Zetland, New South Wales, Australia
Died17 September 2002(2002-09-17) (aged 78)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyAustralian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
Spouse(s)Mary Ellen Bett
ChildrenMartin Ferguson, Laurie Ferguson, Andrew Ferguson

Early life

Born in the inner Sydney suburb of Zetland, Ferguson was educated at Granville Convent and Marist Brothers College, Parramatta, both Catholic schools.

After leaving school he was variously a farmhand, textile worker, builder's labourer and bricklayer and was an organiser for the Building Workers' Industrial Union. From 1942 to 1946 he served in the Second Australian Imperial Force.

Following his demobilisation, he became active in municipal, and then state, politics. He was an alderman on Parramatta Council from 1954 to 1959, and Deputy Mayor in 1959. He married Mary Ellen Bett; the couple had three sons (Laurie, Martin and Andrew) and two daughters.[1]

Political career

Ferguson was the member for Merrylands from March 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 5 March 1984. From 1962 to 1968, he was member for Fairfield. A member of the Labor Party's left wing, he was best known as Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Works and Minister for Ports, from May 1976 until February 1984, in the cabinet headed by Neville Wran. He was also Minister for Housing from May 1976 to February 1977.[1]

Death

Ferguson died in Sydney aged 78, from mesothelioma according to his son Andrew.[2]

References

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New district Member for Merrylands
1959–1962
Seat abolished
Preceded by
Clarrie Earl
Member for Fairfield
1962–1968
Succeeded by
Eric Bedford
New district Member for Merrylands
1968–1984
Succeeded by
Geoff Irwin
Political offices
Preceded by
Syd Einfeld
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
of New South Wales

1973–1976
Succeeded by
John Maddison
Preceded by
Leon Punch
Deputy Premier of New South Wales
1976–1984
Succeeded by
Ron Mulock
Minister for Public Works
1976–1984
Succeeded by
Laurie Brereton
Minister for Ports
1976–1984
Succeeded by
Lin Gordon
Preceded by
Ian Griffith
Minister for Housing
1976–1977
Succeeded by
Ron Mulock
Party political offices
Preceded by
Syd Einfeld
Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party
in New South Wales

1973–1984
Succeeded by
Ron Mulock
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.