People Australia

Francis Hawkins, n.d.

Francis Harold Hawkins (1897-1971) railway worker and politician 

Birth: 1 June 1897 at Tenterfield, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Patrick Hawkins (1862-1942), a blacksmith later coachbuilder, of Irish heritage, and his first wife Ellen M., née Toohey (1866-1906). Marriage: 28 January 1925 at Murrurundi, NSW, to Dorothy Mary Murphy (1898-1997), born at Murrurundi. They had one daughter. Death: 20 December 1971 at Newcastle, NSW. Religion: Catholic. 

• His father was an alderman of the municipality of Tenterfield for many years.
• Educated at St Joseph's Convent, Tenterfield, and De La Salle College, Armidale. Worked as a telephone boy then worked on telephone exchange at Tenterfield.
• Joined railways in 1914: junior porter at Murrurundi; clerk at Inverell 1915-1918; traffic branch official at Werris Creek, Aberdeen and Murrurundi 1918-1924.
• Grade footballer, also cyclist and cricketer. Worked at Junee with railways from 1924 to 1933.
• Australian Labor Party member. Contested State seat of Temora in 1930. Went To Newcastle with railways in 1933.
• Elected member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Newcastle on 11 May 1935, retaining seat until his retirement. Lobbied for re-establishment of shipbuilding industry at Newcastle in 1941.
• Minister without portfolio 1950-52 (assisting Premier in Treasury). Minister for Lands, 1952 to 1956. Minister for Child Welfare and for Social Services 1956 to 1965.
• As Minister for Lands dedicated land at Shortland for a university in 1954. Member advisory committee of Newcastle University College from 1959 to 1962.
• Helped establish International Sports Centre at Newcastle, was its foundation president and trustee from 1964 to 1967.
• Retired from parliament on 23 January 1968, having served thirty-two years, eight months and thirteen days.

Sources
Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt & Elizabeth Hinton (eds), Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979); Newcastle Morning Herald, 13 June 1966, 21 December 1971.