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Former Member Details

Mr Edward John KAVANAGH (1871 - 1956)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 30/10/1871
Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 10/10/1956
Place of Death: Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Minister for Labor 20 Dec 1921 13 Apr 1922 3 months 25 days Granted retention of title of 'Honourable' for life.
Vice-President of Executive Council and Representative of Government 20 Dec 1921 13 Apr 1922 3 months 25 days
Vice-President of Executive Council and Representative of Government 21 Apr 1920 20 Dec 1921 1 year 8 months
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 23 Jul 1912 22 Apr 1934 21 years 9 months Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 29 March 1912
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP). Member of central executive from 1907 until 1910
Community Activity
Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1911
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Union official. Educated at Marist Brothers' College, Sydney; worked on a coastal vessel, trading to islands, joined Cooks and Steward's Union; soon afterwards employed in tailoring trade, member of Pressers' Union which he helped to organise, holding all offices, delegate to Clothing Trades' Council, to the Trades and Labor Council (TLC), executive member from 1900 until 1918, president from 1905 until 1906, member of Eight Hour Day committee; delegate to Trade Union Anti-Conscription conference in 1916 and to Federal Grand Council of Labor in 1915 and 1916; arrested during 1917 strike; member of Board of Trade from 1918 until 1926; deputy industrial commissioner from 1926 until 1931, industrial advocate from 1931 until 1937; Apprenticeship and Conciliation Commissioner of New South Wales from 1937 until 1941; director of labor in Commonwealth Ministry of Munitions from 1941 until 1945; supporter of Homes for Consumptives; government representative of Senate of University of Sydney from 1913 until 1916; noted boxer in youth.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of William Kavanagh, publican and Irish Migrant, and Ellen Carty. Married Agnes Jane Cousins on 31 December 1894 and had issue, 3 daughters and 3 sons. Church of England rites.
Additional Information

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.