William McCann (politician)
Encyclopedia
William John McCann was an Australian politician.
Born in Kerang
to farmer David James and Isabella McCurdy, both Irish-born, he became a dairy farmer at Lake Charm, where he helped to establish an aged care home to which he later retired. In 1918 he was organising secretary of the People's Party, and he was a Victorian Farmers Union councillor from 1922 to 1927, serving as chief president from 1924 to 1925 and founding president of the Primary Producers Union in 1926. On 9 January 1926 he married Edith Emily Taylor. In 1928 McCann was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
for North Western Province, representing the Country Progressive Party
. When the Country Progressives rejoined the main Country Party in 1930 McCann followed them, but in 1931 he resigned from the Council to contest the federal seat of Wimmera
, without success. McCann died at Kerang in 1961.
Born in Kerang
Kerang, Victoria
Kerang is a rural town on the Loddon River in northern Victoria in Australia. It is the commercial centre to an irrigation district based on livestock, horticulture, lucerne and grain. It is located north-west of Melbourne on the Murray Valley Highway a few kilometres north of its intersection...
to farmer David James and Isabella McCurdy, both Irish-born, he became a dairy farmer at Lake Charm, where he helped to establish an aged care home to which he later retired. In 1918 he was organising secretary of the People's Party, and he was a Victorian Farmers Union councillor from 1922 to 1927, serving as chief president from 1924 to 1925 and founding president of the Primary Producers Union in 1926. On 9 January 1926 he married Edith Emily Taylor. In 1928 McCann was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
for North Western Province, representing the Country Progressive Party
Country Progressive Party
The Country Progressive Party was a splinter group from the Victorian branch of the Australian Country Party active in the late 1920s. It was formed by federal MP Percy Stewart and future Victorian Premier Albert Dunstan. It was formed in protest over protection of sitting members and state...
. When the Country Progressives rejoined the main Country Party in 1930 McCann followed them, but in 1931 he resigned from the Council to contest the federal seat of Wimmera
Division of Wimmera
The Division of Wimmera was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It was named after the Wimmera region in which it was located. It originally encompassed the towns of Mildura, Swan Hill and Warracknabeal, but by the time it was abolished in 1977, it had drifted south and grown...
, without success. McCann died at Kerang in 1961.