Brian Bannon
Encyclopedia
Brian Joseph Bannon, OAM
(born 22 August 1930) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Rockdale
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1959 to 1986.
Bannon was born in Belmore
in Sydney
to storeman Victor Bannon and his wife Kathleen Wilkie. He was educated at St Thomas School in Lewisham
and Marist Brothers in Kogarah
, before becoming a clerk in the Public Trust Office in 1948 and private secretary to state Rockdale
MP John McGrath
. He joined the Australian Labor Party
on 5 October 1952 and rose to become Assistant Secretary of the ALP Youth Council. He was also a footballer, playing two years (1950–51) for St George in the President's Cup.
When McGrath retired in 1959, Bannon was selected as his replacement as Labor candidate for Rockdale. He won the seat by a narrow margin, and held it with much safer margins over the following years. Having spent over twenty-five years as a backbencher, he resigned in 1986 to make way for new Premier Barrie Unsworth
, who needed to transfer to the Assembly from the Legislative Council
. Bannon was appointed Chairman of the Homebush States Sport Centre Trust in return for his resignation.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 22 August 1930) is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member for Rockdale
Electoral district of Rockdale
Rockdale is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Flowers of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1959 to 1986.
Bannon was born in Belmore
Belmore, New South Wales
Belmore is a suburb, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Belmore is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury.-History:...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to storeman Victor Bannon and his wife Kathleen Wilkie. He was educated at St Thomas School in Lewisham
Lewisham, New South Wales
Lewisham is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lewisham is located 8 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council. The postcode is 2049...
and Marist Brothers in Kogarah
Kogarah, New South Wales
Kogarah is a suburb of southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kogarah is located 14 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is considered to be the centre of the St George area...
, before becoming a clerk in the Public Trust Office in 1948 and private secretary to state Rockdale
Electoral district of Rockdale
Rockdale is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Flowers of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
MP John McGrath
John McGrath (New South Wales politician)
The Hon. John Francis McGrath was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1959 . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held a number of ministerial positions including Minister for Housing.-Early and Personal Life:McGrath...
. He joined the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
on 5 October 1952 and rose to become Assistant Secretary of the ALP Youth Council. He was also a footballer, playing two years (1950–51) for St George in the President's Cup.
When McGrath retired in 1959, Bannon was selected as his replacement as Labor candidate for Rockdale. He won the seat by a narrow margin, and held it with much safer margins over the following years. Having spent over twenty-five years as a backbencher, he resigned in 1986 to make way for new Premier Barrie Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
, who needed to transfer to the Assembly from the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. Bannon was appointed Chairman of the Homebush States Sport Centre Trust in return for his resignation.