Dan Gleeson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gleeson OBE a politician of North Queensland
Australia, was the first Mayor of the Former City of Thuringowa.
and Mr Gleeson worked in wood-cutting, labouring, cane-cutting and cooking in the Johnstone Shire and in Townsville and Thuringowa. During World War II he was a member of the Civil Construction Corps was helped in the construction of runways in Cairns, Townsville and Thuringowa.
After the war, Gleeson became second-in-charge of the Main Roads Workshops until his retirement in 1955. Mr Gleeson then became a partner in Earthmoving Contractors which operated until 1983.
Dan Gleeson's wife was Daisy Gleeson, he died after a long illness in January, 1994.
Gleeson was awarded the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his "contribution to local government and his role in the field of water resource development in North Queensland". Under his administration the Thuringowa administration building was moved from City of Townsville City out to Thuringowa. Gleeson spearheaded a move which saw Thuringowa become a city on the 1 January 1986 and was elected as the first Mayor of Thuringowa in 1986 and served until April 1991 when he was defeated by, Les Tyrell
, who had been his deputy for two terms.
After his passing the "Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens" were dedicated to the memory of Gleeson by his successor Mayor Les Tyrell.
The then Labor
Member for Thuringowa
Ken McElligott has since stated, that a deal was done before the 1986 state election whereby Minister for Local Government Russ Hinze
would declare Thuringowa a city in return for Gleeson (then shire chairman) who was running as an independent delivering his preferences to the National Party's Peter Arnold. McElligott states that this deal was explained to him by Arnold after the election and that it has never been denied by the National Party. His chairmanship and mayoralty of Thuringowa has been described as colourful but well-connected (within the State Government), he has also been described as 'a political chameleon' for having been previously a member of the Labor Party.
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
Australia, was the first Mayor of the Former City of Thuringowa.
Personal
Mr Gleeson was the fourth child of three pioneering families who came to North Queensland in the late 1800s. He left school and started working for Northern Cars and Tractors before he turned 14. Northern Cars and Tractors did not survive the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and Mr Gleeson worked in wood-cutting, labouring, cane-cutting and cooking in the Johnstone Shire and in Townsville and Thuringowa. During World War II he was a member of the Civil Construction Corps was helped in the construction of runways in Cairns, Townsville and Thuringowa.
After the war, Gleeson became second-in-charge of the Main Roads Workshops until his retirement in 1955. Mr Gleeson then became a partner in Earthmoving Contractors which operated until 1983.
Dan Gleeson's wife was Daisy Gleeson, he died after a long illness in January, 1994.
Political career
In 1970 Gleeson was approached to accept nomination for the Thuringowa Shire Council but he declined. He was again asked in 1973 and agreed to fill one of two positions on offer in Division Four. Within three years Gleeson became the Chairman of the Shire Council.Gleeson was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in the 1984 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his "contribution to local government and his role in the field of water resource development in North Queensland". Under his administration the Thuringowa administration building was moved from City of Townsville City out to Thuringowa. Gleeson spearheaded a move which saw Thuringowa become a city on the 1 January 1986 and was elected as the first Mayor of Thuringowa in 1986 and served until April 1991 when he was defeated by, Les Tyrell
Les Tyrell
Les Tyrell is an Australian local government politician. He has been the Mayor of the City of Townsville since March 2008. He previously served as Mayor of the City of Thuringowa from 1991 until it became part of the City of Townsville in March 2008...
, who had been his deputy for two terms.
After his passing the "Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens" were dedicated to the memory of Gleeson by his successor Mayor Les Tyrell.
The then 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 Thuringowa
Electoral district of Thuringowa
The district of Thuringowa is an electorate in the Legislative Assembly of the state of Queensland, Australia.The division encompasses suburbs of the former City of Thuringowa on the western edge of Townsville in North Queensland, stretching from Deeragun in the north to Kelso in the south...
Ken McElligott has since stated, that a deal was done before the 1986 state election whereby Minister for Local Government Russ Hinze
Russ Hinze
The Hon. Russell James "Russ" Hinze , born in Oxenford on the Gold Coast, was a Queensland politician in the 1970s and 1980s. He presided over an era of controversy that included the setting up of the Racing Development Fund, ministerial rezonings and the licensing of Jupiters Casino...
would declare Thuringowa a city in return for Gleeson (then shire chairman) who was running as an independent delivering his preferences to the National Party's Peter Arnold. McElligott states that this deal was explained to him by Arnold after the election and that it has never been denied by the National Party. His chairmanship and mayoralty of Thuringowa has been described as colourful but well-connected (within the State Government), he has also been described as 'a political chameleon' for having been previously a member of the Labor Party.