Notable People Western Australia - Part One
Francis James Rowe (Politician)
Hubert Parker (Politician)
Joseph Francis Allen (Politician)
Francis James Rowe
Politician (1929-1932)
10 Irwin Street East Fremantle
Francis James Rowe was born on 22 September, 1860
in Richmond, Victoria to Francis and Susan Ann Stephens. He went to school in
Melbourne where he left at 13 to take up an apprenticeship where he followed in
his father’s footsteps and trained as a stonemason for five years. His father
was an office bearer in the Stonemason’s Union which began work on implementing
an eight hour day for their workers. Rowe married Rose Kaveney in Hiawatha,
East Melbourne, Victoria on 24 May, 1887. They had no children.
“...In 1897
he came to Western Australia and got a job with Baxter and Prince on the
Mullewa-Cue railway construction. He followed the rail-head as far as Yagoo and
then made back to Fremantle, where casual jobs kept him going. The big
waterside workers strike in 1900 crystallised into the humper’s union, and he
joined with them, and two years later was elected secretary. The position under
rules of the union was vacated annually by Frank Rowe was re-elected year after
year, sometimes in the face of opposition, but more often unopposed…” (reference).
On the death of Mr Rowe in 1939, The Westralian
Worker wrote about his entry into the Lumper’s union as it’s secretary “...The manner of Mr. Rowe’s entry to the
job was unique. For the greater part of the year 1902 there was considerable
dissatisfaction amongst members with the administration of the union’s affairs,
and the feeling found expression at a lively stop-work meeting in the old
Rechabite Hall in William street. Mr Rowe was called on to take the minutes of
the meeting and later in his quasi-secretarial capacity, was directed to obtain
the keys of the office (then located next to the old Pier Hotel in
Cliff-street). The stormy meeting removed their secretary from office. At a
subsequent meeting nominations for the office of secretary were called. Mr Rowe
and one other were nominated and Mr. Rowe was elected on a show of hands…” (reference).
Rowe established the ambulance movement in
Fremantle in 1908. He was secretary of the ambulance service until the end of
1928 when it was disbanded and reformed under St. John’s Ambulance. He remained
a member of the committee of management until his death.
The Empire newspaper published in Fremantle on 27
June, 1908 describes an article titled ‘The Ambulance Van’ described the
opening of the citizen ambulance service and its collaboration with the fire
brigade for which Mr Rowe had collected funds for… ”It is intended that one of the fire brigade horses shall be utilised
when-ever the van is needed, but the horse would do, swaying the vehicle from
one side to the other and lashing out with its heels at the splashboard.
Evidently it had an idea that it was a trick circus horse, but the occupants of
the van escaped from a most serious accident, only averted by the animal taking
the fence near the Beaconsfield Hotel, with the result that Mr. Rowe escaped
with a sprained arm… It is unfortunate that the van and its promoter should
have met at the beginning of the van’s career, but that should not dim the
gratification that an appliance so greatly in Fremantle should at last have
been installed. We repeat our previous wish-that the van will be seldom called
into requisition....” It was then handed over to a motor vehicle when the
St. John’s Ambulance took over (reference) .
Rowe joined the Australian Labor Party and was
elected to the Western Australian Parliament for the Legislative Assembly for
North East Fremantle on 26 March, 1927 after Angwin had accepted the role of
Agent General in London. In an article in The West Australian published on 28
March 1927 titled ‘North-East Fremantle Mr Rowe Elected’ wrote about Rowe
winning the election… “...For the first
time in 21 years, the electors of the North-East Fremantle electorate were
called upon on Saturday to exercise the franchise, which had been denied them
since 1906 owing to the fact that Mr. W. C. Angwin had not been opposed. On
October 27, 1905, Mr Angwin was defeated by Mr. J. J. Homes by a majority of 20
votes. He regained the seat on November 13, 1906, after the election had been
voided and the seat declared vacant. Since then he held the seat unopposed
until his appointment as Agent-General again left it vacant…
...Mr. Rowe
is making his first entry into the political arena though he contested a
selection ballot with Mr. J. B Sleeman in 1924 when he was defeated by seven
votes on the final count. He is the third member of the Lumpers’ Union to
occupy a seat in Parliament…” (reference).
He retired on the 12 April, 1930 after losing the seat to Mr H. S. W.
Parker.
In an article in The West Australian 4 April,
1930 titled ‘North East Fremantle Candidature Mr. F. Rowe’ about the support
for him to be re-elected into parliament describe a long list of activities
that he had been associated with including passing a Bill through the
Legislative Assembly… “He had a Bill passed
through the Legislative Assembly enabling the Texas Oil Co. to establish an
industry in North Fremantle. Thus work had been found for a large number of men
in the district. During the last six years many Bills of importance had been
dealt with by Parliament one of the principal being that in connection with the
extension of the Fremantle harbour and erection of a new bridge across the Swan
River. All realised the necessity for the work, which would be of some
magnitude and take some years…” (reference).
The same article describes notable changes to the
Lumpers union in which Rowe was involved…
“...Industrially
the two principal Acts dealt with by the Collier Government were the Arbitration
Act and Workers’ Compensation Act. The reforms under the latter meant much to
workers who suffered injuries at work. The community had much to thank the
Collier Government for as a result of its attitude in connection with the
waterside trouble in 1928. The lumpers refused to accept the Beeby award and
the whole of the waterside work in the Commonwealth was at a standstill. Free
labour was employed at Adelaide and Melbourne, and a state of affairs arose
bordering on civil war. A body known as the Essential Services Association was
organised in this State and was ready to go to work at Fremantle, and other
ports. The Government was urged by the association, which included many leading
Nationalists to give the free labourers police protection. The Government,
however, concentrated on a satisfactory settlement of the trouble…” (reference).
During his lifetime Rowe had a number of
interests. Prior to entering Parliament he established the ambulance movement
in 1908, was a member of the East Fremantle City Council from 1920 to 1921.
Rowe was delegate on the Labor Council for Fremantle for 28 years, a member of
the Fremantle Hospital Board, president of the Trades Hall Association, a trustee
of the Fremantle Trades Hall, a justice of the peace and was a life member of
the Ugly Men’s Association. In his spare time as a young man he followed and
played cricket in Melbourne with Richmond Cricket Club and in Fremantle with
the Mercantile Association (reference).
Rowe died on 23 October, 1939 at the Fremantle
Hospital. He was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery.
Hubert Parker
Nationalist Politician
1930-1933
East Fremantle
Hubert Parker was one of four politicians elected
in the then North-East Fremantle (which was an amalgamation of the electorate
of North Fremantle and East Fremantle) including William Angwin, Francis Rowe
and John Tonkin between 1915 and 1950.
Hubert Stanley Wyborn Parker was born on the 16
October, 1883 in Perth, Western Australia to Sir Stephen Henry Parker, a
lawyer, Federal judge, politician and Chief Justice of Western Australia and
Amy Katherine Leake. Parker was educated at Hale School, Perth and Malvern
College. He went on to study law, articled to his father and was admitted to
the bar in 1906, aged 22 before going on to practice in Kalgoorlie, Northam and
Perth ( reference ).
Parker married Helen Riall in 1917 in London,
England. They had no children and divorced in 1923. He then married Ada Edith
Sholl in 1923 at Cottesloe in Perth, Western Australia. They had three
children, two boys and a girl.
Parker enlisted as a gunner in the WA Artillery
in 1900 with the 2nd WA When World War 1 broke out Parker enlisted with the
Australian Imperial Forces in 1914. He served in Egypt with the Imperial Camel
Corps, at Gallipoli with 16th Field Artillery and Belgium and France with the
5th Division Artillery Aide-de-camp. During the war he rose to the rank of
General Officer Commanding 1st Division by 6 June 1916. Parker was wounded and
gassed in France however he was not discharged until 1919.. After the war
Parker received the Distinguished Service Medal, Volunteer Decoration, the
1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal ( reference ).
After the war, Parker returned to practicing law.
In 1921 he became a Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Law Department. In October
1926 he was employed as a Legal Staff Officer to the Australian Armed Services while practising privately in
his partnership Parker and Roe which he continued to maintain until the end of
his death (reference ).
In 1927 Parker tried unsuccessfully to enter into
state politics by contesting the seat of Guildford. He was finally successful
in 1930 for the Nationalists and won the safe Labor seat of North East
Fremantle from the Labor candidate Francis Rowe. He held the seat from April,
1930 to April, 1933. Parker
then successfully contested the Metropolitan-Suburban seat in 1934 for the
Nationalists which he held for 20 years (reference).
Parker
served on various Select Committees both as a member and as Chairman into a
range of subjects and Acts including the Prices of Life (1930), the Wroth
Bankruptcy Case (1930), the Industrial Arbitration Act Amendment Bill (1937),
Inquiring into the Privileges of the House and Exercise of the Royal
Prerogative (1934), Administration Act (Estate and Succession Duties)(1934),
Constitution Acts Amendment Act (1899) and Amendment Bill (1935) and the
Electoral Act and related matters (1935) (reference ).
After the death of Thomas Davy, Parker was appointed as the Attorney-General and
Minister of Education in 1933, then Minister for Mines and Health from April
1947 to January 1948, Chief Secretary, Minister for Mines, Police and Native
Affairs from October, 1949 to 1950 (reference).
In 1940 when World War 2 broke out Parker was
employed with Wester working with the Intelligence Section as a General Staff
Officer Grade 3 and travelled to the Middle East with the AIF in 1941 as a
voluntary officer. When he retired from the service he was discharged on 23
April, 1943 because of his parliamentary duties (reference).
Throughout his life Parker had a variety of
interests that included being active on the Parents and Citizen Association,
Returned Service Soldiers League, the Soccer Association and The WA Turf
Association. He enjoyed sports and played soccer and cricket and was interested
in horse riding (reference).
Parker died on 26 July, 1966 at Sir Charles
Gardiner Hospital in Shenton Park in Western Australia and was buried at
Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia (reference).
From the Swan Express 9 May 1940…
“Enjoying
warm personal friendships in all parties, because of this broad thinking and
downright common sense, Mr. Hubert Parker M.L.C. will be wished success at the
forthcoming poll by many friends and supporters. Labor is not opposing him this
time. He has done good work in the Legislative Council and his straightforward
manner, tinged with a rare sense of humor. Is built upon a solid foundation of
training, knowledge and ability. Brilliant at the Bar Hurbert Parker rose to be
Attorney General after winning the East Fremantle seat in sensation fashion. He
appears be already marked for honors as an M.L.C. for his work on select
committees has been greatly appreciated by fellow legislators who appointed him
to such tasks…” (reference).
Joseph Francis Allen (1869-1933)
Surbiton Road East Fremantle
Joseph Francis Allen was born on 6 August 1869 in Mt Perranzabuloe Cornwall, England. He was the son of William Allen and Salome Williams. In 1879 when aged 10, Allen and his family travelled to Parramatta in New South Wales where he continued his early education.
At the age of 15 he was articaled to the architectural firm Gordon Mckinnon and then worked for the civil engineers Rhodes and Company and for Henry Simon and Company, milling engineers where he managed a workshop from 1894.
After moving to Fremantle, Allen worked as an assistant engineer on emerging Fremantle Harbor and then set up his own practice as an architect with Claude Henry Nicholas. Together they were responsible for designing several buildings in Fremantle including the East Fremantle Town Hall, the Fremantle Trades Hall, Odd Fellows Orphanage at Cottesloe, Geraldton Flour Mills and the Westralian, the first steel ship in Western Australia.
Allen married Jean Symington Buntine on 25 September 1900 at the East Fremantle Presbytarian Church. Together they had one child, a girl Janet.
Allen became interested in local politics and successfully ran and become a councillor on the East Fremantle Municipality in 1903 which he held with the exception for one year of his life until 1933. He was mayor from 1909 to 1914 and then again in 1931.
After an unsuccessful attempt in 1912 Allen was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council as a Liberal member for West Province but was defeated in an election in 1920. In 1921 and 1923 he stood unsuccessfully for the seat of Fremantle in the state Legislative Assembly and for the Commonwealth in the Senate in 1922.
The Daily News Tues 23 May 1933 wrote about Allen’s political career …
“...He was one of the West Province members of the Legislative Council from 1916 to 1922. During that period he was president of the Liberal League precursor of the present National Party. He unsuccessfully sought election to the Senate after his defeat for the Legislative Council and recently his name was mentioned among those likely to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir Hal Colebatch…’
During his life, Allen had a number of diverse community interests and was a member as well as served on a number of committees. These included the President of the Royal Institute of Architects (WA), a patron of the Fremantle Rowing Club, the East Fremantle Bowling Club, the Fremantle Hospital Board and Rotary club.
Allen served on a number of committees including being the Property owners’ representative on Fremantle Municipal Tramways and Electric Lighting Board, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, a foundation member and President of the Rottnest Board and Royal Institute of Architects of Western Australia.
Allen was also active in many community organisations like the Presbyterian Church, a Freemason, a past grand architect and a past grand superintendent of works for Western Australia under the Scottish constitution.
At the age of 63 Allen died suddenly on 23 May 1933 and his body was found in the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. The coroner found no suspicious circumstances. A post-mortem examination found that he most likely died from a heart attack. He was buried at Fremantle cemetery.
The Daily News Tues 23 May 1933 wrote in an article about Allen’s death… ‘Drowned in River...Mayor of East Fremantle… DEATH OF MR. J. F. ALLEN’
The body of Mr. Joseph Allen, Mayor of East Fremantle, architect and prominent citizen of the Port, was found earlier today floating in the Swan River at the foot of East Street. The news of Mr. Allen’s death caused profound regret at Fremantle....Fully clothed, even to an overcoat, Mr. Allen’s body was found floating face downwards 50 yards from the shore about 1 a.m. from where it was found …A wrist watch on the body had stopped at 1 a.m...”
References
Joseph Francis Allen Australian Dictionary of Biography
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/allen-joseph-francis-5003
Biography Joseph Francis Allen
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/98F5269761E00E59482577E50028A4FD?OpenDocument
Biography Claude Henry Nicholas
https://repository.architecture.com.au/download/notable_buildings/act/nicholas-claude-henryf6a0.pdf
Biography
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/207426383?searchTerm=allen%20joseph%20mayor&searchLimits=
Fremantle Cemetery
http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/our-cemeteries/fremantle-cemetery/heritage-walk-trail/14-joseph-allen
Death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/83232435?searchTerm=allen%20joseph%20francis%20east%20fremantle&searchLimits=
Inquest into the death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32485651?searchTerm=allen%20joseph%20francis%20east%20fremantle&searchLimits=
http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/98F5269761E00E59482577E50028A4FD?OpenDocument
http://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/our-cemeteries/fremantle-cemetery/heritage-walk-trail/14-joseph-allen
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/207426383?searchTerm=allen%20joseph%20mayor&searchLimits=
