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 ).
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 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
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
Inquest into the death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32485651?searchTerm=allen%20joseph%20francis%20east%20fremantle&searchLimits=
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=
