Jim Southee
Encyclopedia
James Bernard "Jim" Southee (6 June 1902 – 30 June 1979) was an Australia
n politician. He was an Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
, representing Blacktown from 1962 to 1971 and Mount Druitt
from 1971 to 1973.
Southee was born in Mildura
to farmer Laurence Southee and Annie Lockie. He was educated at public schools in Mildura and Leeton
and assisted his father on their farm. He joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1929 and became active in the Australian Workers Union (AWU). He married Muriel Crotty in 1944, with whom he had a daughter. In 1956 he became President of the New South Wales branch of the AWU, serving until 1961; he was also a member of the central executive (1957–1961).
In 1962, Southee was the Labor candidate for Blacktown, which had been made notionally Labor by the redistribution (the sitting member, Alfred Dennis
, contested The Hills
as an independent
), and was easily elected. Re-elected in 1965 and 1968, he moved to the new seat of Mount Druitt
in 1971. Southee retired in 1973; he died at Campbelltown
in 1979.
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 an 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 of 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...
, representing Blacktown from 1962 to 1971 and Mount Druitt
Electoral district of Mount Druitt
Mount Druitt is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a 89.01 km² urban electorate in Sydney's outer west, taking in the suburbs of Mount Druitt, Marsden Park, and Arndell Park. There were 45,408 voters enrolled in time for the 2003...
from 1971 to 1973.
Southee was born in Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
to farmer Laurence Southee and Annie Lockie. He was educated at public schools in Mildura and Leeton
Leeton, New South Wales
Leeton is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Leeton is situated approximately 550 km west of Sydney and 450 km north of Melbourne in the productive Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Leeton is administered by Leeton Shire Council...
and assisted his father on their farm. 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...
in 1929 and became active in the Australian Workers Union (AWU). He married Muriel Crotty in 1944, with whom he had a daughter. In 1956 he became President of the New South Wales branch of the AWU, serving until 1961; he was also a member of the central executive (1957–1961).
In 1962, Southee was the Labor candidate for Blacktown, which had been made notionally Labor by the redistribution (the sitting member, Alfred Dennis
Alfred Dennis
Alfred Hugh Dennis is an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1962, representing the electorate of Blacktown. He was elected in 1959 as a Liberal for the typically safe Labor seat, but resigned to sit as an independent in 1962.Dennis was...
, contested The Hills
Electoral district of The Hills
The Hills was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1962 to 2007. It was a 51.08 km² urban electorate in Sydney's north-west, taking in the suburbs of Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Glenhaven, Kellyville, Pennant Hills and West...
as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
), and was easily elected. Re-elected in 1965 and 1968, he moved to the new seat of Mount Druitt
Electoral district of Mount Druitt
Mount Druitt is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a 89.01 km² urban electorate in Sydney's outer west, taking in the suburbs of Mount Druitt, Marsden Park, and Arndell Park. There were 45,408 voters enrolled in time for the 2003...
in 1971. Southee retired in 1973; he died at Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
in 1979.