Theodore Fink
Encyclopedia
Theodore Fink was an Australia
n politician
, newspaper proprietor and educationist.
in the Channel Islands
, the son of Moses Fink, shopkeeper and his wife Gertrude, née Ascher. Brought to Victoria
by his father in 1860 he was educated at the Flinders School, Geelong, at Geelong College, and at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School from 1871, where Alfred Deakin
was a classmate and friend. Fink qualified as a solicitor at the University of Melbourne
and was a successful in his solicitor's practice.
as member for Jolimont and West Richmond, holding the seat for 10 years. On 5 December 1899 he became a minister without portfolio in the Allan McLean
ministry. The treasurer William Shiels
had been in bad health and the intention was that Fink should act as an assistant to him. He, however, objected to some personal remarks made by Shiels at a public meeting referring to the ministry just displaced, and resigned from the ministry.. It was generally felt that his reasons were insufficient, and his action did harm to his future career as a politician. He supported the federation movement and stood for Kooyong
in the house of representatives at the first federal election in April 1901, but was defeated by William Knox. He still held his seat in the Victorian assembly but retired in 1904 and never afterwards entered politics.
, after being in some financial difficulty after the land boom collapse. A few years later he became chairman of directors. It was generally believed that Fink was an important factor in the great improvement that took place in the conduct of The Herald, and that he was largely responsible for the appointment of such excellent editors as Guy Innes and Sir Keith Murdoch
. Fink later resisted Murdoch's attempts to be made a director. He retained his interest in the press until the end of his long life. He died in his Toorak (a Melbourne suburb) on 25 April 1942. He married in 1881 Kate, daughter of George Isaacs, who predeceased him; he was survived by two sons and two daughters.
led to his appointment as director of education and the great expansion which followed.
Fink was President of the Victorian Football Association
. In 1896/97 when the eight strongest teams left the VFA to form the Victorian Football League
, Fink's wise leadership ensured that the VFA continued to retain an important presence in Victorian sporting circles.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, newspaper proprietor and educationist.
Early life
Fink was born in GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the son of Moses Fink, shopkeeper and his wife Gertrude, née Ascher. Brought to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
by his father in 1860 he was educated at the Flinders School, Geelong, at Geelong College, and at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School from 1871, where Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
was a classmate and friend. Fink qualified as a solicitor at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and was a successful in his solicitor's practice.
Political career
In September 1894 Fink was elected to the Victorian Legislative AssemblyVictorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as member for Jolimont and West Richmond, holding the seat for 10 years. On 5 December 1899 he became a minister without portfolio in the Allan McLean
Allan McLean (Australian politician)
Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'...
ministry. The treasurer William Shiels
William Shiels
William Shiels , Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria.-Biography:Shiels was born in County Londonderry, Ireland of a Presbyterian family and arrived in Melbourne as a child in 1853...
had been in bad health and the intention was that Fink should act as an assistant to him. He, however, objected to some personal remarks made by Shiels at a public meeting referring to the ministry just displaced, and resigned from the ministry.. It was generally felt that his reasons were insufficient, and his action did harm to his future career as a politician. He supported the federation movement and stood for Kooyong
Division of Kooyong
The Division of Kooyong is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and encompasses the suburbs of Kew, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Balwyn, Canterbury, Camberwell and Surrey Hills. The Division was proclaimed in 1900, and was...
in the house of representatives at the first federal election in April 1901, but was defeated by William Knox. He still held his seat in the Victorian assembly but retired in 1904 and never afterwards entered politics.
Educationist
During his political career, Fink had been doing valuable work in another direction. He was president of the royal commission on technical education in 1899-1901 which resulted in reforms in primary and technical schools, and he was also president of the royal commission on the University of Melbourne in 1902-4. In August 1904 he was thanked by parliament for his services to education. Subsequently he was chairman of conferences on apprenticeship in 1906-7 and 1911, chairman of a board of inquiry into the working-men's college in 1910, vice-president of the council of public education, vice-chairman of the state war council of Victoria, and chairman of the Commonwealth repatriation board for Victoria in 1917-19.Newspaper director
In his younger days Fink had done some writing for the press and in 1889 he became a director of the Herald and Sportsman Newspapers Co. LtdThe Herald and Weekly Times Ltd
The Herald and Weekly Times Limited is a newspaper publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. It is owned and operated by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited, who purchased HWT in 1987.-Newspapers:...
, after being in some financial difficulty after the land boom collapse. A few years later he became chairman of directors. It was generally believed that Fink was an important factor in the great improvement that took place in the conduct of The Herald, and that he was largely responsible for the appointment of such excellent editors as Guy Innes and Sir Keith Murdoch
Keith Murdoch
Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch was an Australian journalist and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and Chairman of News Corp.-Life and career:Murdoch was born in Melbourne in 1885, the son of Annie and the Rev...
. Fink later resisted Murdoch's attempts to be made a director. He retained his interest in the press until the end of his long life. He died in his Toorak (a Melbourne suburb) on 25 April 1942. He married in 1881 Kate, daughter of George Isaacs, who predeceased him; he was survived by two sons and two daughters.
Other interests
Fink was much interested in the arts and literature and was widely read. In his earlier days he was well-known as an excellent after-dinner speaker, and his witty speeches at social gatherings of artists and literary men were much appreciated. Though he was also well-known in the business life of Melbourne as a lawyer and a power in the newspaper world, comparatively few people realized the full value of his educational work. The advance in education in Victoria during the first quarter of the twentieth century was based on the report of the commissions over which he presided, and his recognition of the ability of Frank TateFrank Tate (educator)
Frank Tate CMG was an Australian educationist who is best remembered for his efforts in expanding secondary education in Victoria, Australia.-Early life:...
led to his appointment as director of education and the great expansion which followed.
Fink was President of the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
. In 1896/97 when the eight strongest teams left the VFA to form the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, Fink's wise leadership ensured that the VFA continued to retain an important presence in Victorian sporting circles.