Edward Brooker
Edward Brooker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 31stPremier of Tasmania | |
| In office 19 December 1947 – 24 February 1948 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Cosgrove |
| Succeeded by | Robert Cosgrove |
| Constituency | Franklin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1891 London,England,UK |
| Died | 18 June 1948(aged 57) Montrose,Tasmania,Australia |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Spouse | Lydia Grace Minnie Wilson |
| Residence(s) | Montrose,Tasmania |
William Edward Brooker(4 January 1891 – 18 June 1948) was aLabor Partypolitician. He became the interimPremier of Tasmaniaon 19 December 1947 whileRobert Cosgrovewas facing corruption charges. He died on 18 June 1948, shortly after returning the premiership to Cosgrove on 24 February 1948.
Early life and military service
[edit]Brooker was born inHendon,a suburb ofLondon,and was educated atEnfield Grammar School.He began working as a clerk for theAsiatic Petroleum Company,and later managed his father's business.[1]
Brooker was a member of theTerritorial Force,the volunteer component of theBritish Army,and a precursor to theTerritorial Army.DuringWorld War Ihe served with theRoyal Army Medical CorpsinGallipoli,ThessalonikiandPalestine.[1]
Leaving the army as a sergeant in 1919, Brooker married Lydia Wilson in London, and in 1921 was tempted by the offer of free passage toAustralia.Brooker, his wife and their baby arrived inMelbourneon 31 August 1921, and moved toTasmaniawhere he worked as a farm labourer, then as a pipe-fitter at theCadbury's Chocolate FactoryinClaremont.[1]
Political career
[edit]As afitter,Brooker was a member of the Australian branch of theAmalgamated Engineering Union,[2]and joined theLabor Party,unsuccessfully running for the electorate ofFranklinin theTasmanian House of Assembly.Inspired byMajor C. H. Douglas'Social Creditmovement, Brooker ran for Franklin again in 1934 and won, becoming an MHA on 9 June 1934.[1]In the House of Assembly, he served asGovernment Whip(1936–1939) until joining thecabinetofRobert Cosgroveas Minister for Transport (1939–42), Chief Secretary (1939–43) and Minister for Tourism (1942–43). In November 1943, he was made Minister for Land and Works, and in 1946, the portfolio of Post-War Reconstruction.[3]
In December 1947, thePremierRobert Cosgrovewasindictedon charges of bribery and corruption. Cosgrove stood down as Premier during his trial, and Brooker was sworn in as his replacement on 19 December 1947. The trial was concluded by February the next year, and the charges against Cosgrove were dropped. Brooker stood down after only two months as Premier, and Cosgrove was reinstated, appointing Brooker as Treasurer and Minister for Transport.[4]Four months after resigning the Premiership, Brooker died at his home inMontroseafter suffering apulmonary oedemaon 18 June 1948.
Legacy
[edit]TheHobarthighway known as the Northern Outlet, the idea of which was conceived by Brooker as transport minister, was renamed theBrooker Highwayin his honour.
References
[edit]- ^abcdR. P. Davis,'Brooker, William Edward (1891 - 1948)',Australian Dictionary of Biography,Volume 13,Melbourne University Press,1993, p. 265.
- ^Brooker, William Edward (1891 - 1948),Australian Trade Union Archives.
- ^Ministers - House of Assembly - 1856 to 1950Archived3 March 2016 at theWayback Machine,Parliament of Tasmania,24 February 2006.
- ^"Brooker, Edward".Members of theParliament of Tasmania.Retrieved24 July2022.,Parliament of Tasmania,24 November 2005.
- 1891 births
- 1948 deaths
- Premiers of Tasmania
- Australian trade unionists
- People from Hendon
- People educated at Enfield Grammar School
- English emigrants to Australia
- 20th-century Australian politicians
- British Army personnel of World War I
- Royal Army Medical Corps soldiers
- Politicians from the London Borough of Barnet