Date of Birth: 22/01/1905
Place of Birth: Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Date of Death: 10/12/1968
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Member for Lake Macquarie |
24 Feb 1968 |
10 Dec 1968 |
9 months 17 days |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
01 May 1965 |
23 Jan 1968 |
2 years 8 months 24 days |
|
Minister for Mines |
14 Mar 1962 |
13 May 1965 |
3 years 2 months |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
03 Mar 1962 |
31 Mar 1965 |
3 years 29 days |
|
Minister for Mines |
01 Apr 1959 |
14 Mar 1962 |
2 years 11 months 14 days |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
21 Mar 1959 |
05 Feb 1962 |
2 years 10 months 16 days |
|
Secretary for Mines |
22 Nov 1957 |
01 Apr 1959 |
1 year 4 months 11 days |
|
Minister Without Portfolio |
15 Mar 1956 |
22 Nov 1957 |
1 year 8 months 8 days |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
03 Mar 1956 |
16 Feb 1959 |
2 years 11 months 14 days |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
19 Jan 1953 |
06 Feb 1956 |
3 years 19 days |
|
Member for Lake Macquarie |
17 Jun 1950 |
14 Jan 1953 |
2 years 6 months 29 days |
|
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
17 Jun 1950 |
10 Dec 1968 |
18 years 5 months 24 days |
|
Political Party Activity
Socialist Labor Party in 1919. Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1921, member of central executive 1945 - 1950.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Miner and union secretary. Educated at Pykehead public school, Scotland, commenced work at age fourteen in coal mines; arrived in New South Wales with parents in 1921, worked in Stockton Borehole Colliery, Cockle Creek until seriously injured in a mining accident in 1924; was hospitalised for seven months, studied commercial subjects, employed by Northern Districts Miners' Federation as assistant secretary in 1927, secretary from 1940 - 1950; delegate to International Labor Organisation conference in Geneva in 1947; advisory committee Newcastle University College 1959 - 1962; keen soccer player in youth, member of Soccer State League Council.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of William Simpson, coalminer, and lodge secretary, and Annie Russell Brunton. Married Grace Ellen Gallimore on 24 May 1941 and had issue, 1 daughter and 2 sons. Funeral at Beresfield cemetery from St Phillip's Presbyterian church in Newcastle.