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Former Member Details

Mr John Joseph CUSACK (1868 - 1956)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 01/01/1868
Place of Birth: Yass, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 08/09/1956
Place of Death: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Refreshment Committee No. 6 21 Jul 1916 21 Dec 1916 5 months 1 day
Case of Denis Maguire Committee No. 13 17 Aug 1915 13 Apr 1916 7 months 28 days
Refreshment Committee No. 4 02 Jul 1915 13 Apr 1916 9 months 12 days
Refreshment Committee No. 5 22 Jul 1914 23 Feb 1915 7 months 2 days
Refreshment Committee No. 5 11 Mar 1914 18 Apr 1914 1 month 8 days
Member for Albury 20 Dec 1913 21 Feb 1917 3 years 2 months 2 days
The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 16 May 1911 16 May 1911 1 day
Member for Queanbeyan 14 Oct 1910 06 Nov 1913 3 years 24 days
Member for Queanbeyan 13 Apr 1910 14 Sep 1910 5 months 2 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 13 Apr 1910 21 Feb 1917 6 years 10 months 9 days
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Foundation member of the Yass League, president; opposed conscription; stood as an Independent in 1917, readmitted to Federal Labor in 1930s.
Community Activity
Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1908
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Blacksmith. Educated at Yass public school ; blacksmith by trade; established a large coachbuilding business, Cusack and Palmer, Yass, exported sulkies to South Africa and became motor mechanics and coachbuilders. Director of Yass Hospital; president of Yass Mechanics Institute; member of Canberra and Yass Historical Society; author.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Member of the House of Representatives for Eden-Monaro 1929 - 1931.
Local Government Activity
Alderman at Yass from 1901 - 1930, Mayor in 1904; member of Local Government Convention in 1910.
Personal
Son of Michael Cusack, farmer and publican, and Bridget Kenny. Married Mary Therese Cassidy in c.1898 and they had 1 daughter and 3 sons. Roman Catholic. Buried in Canberra Cemetery from St Christopher's Roman Catholic cathedral. His great-grand-daughter Catherine Cusack is a Member of the Legislative Council (elected 22 March 2003).
Additional Information