People Australia

(Reynold) Arthur Clarey (1897-1972) clerk, accountant, Labor politician 

Birth: 15 March 1897 in South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, son of Victorian-born parents Francis William Clarey, estate agent, and his second wife Catherine, née Lawson. Marriage: (1) 23 September 1940 in the Church of Christ, Melbourne, to  Irene Mary Leech (1901-1957); (2) 1 July 1958 to Doris Jane McGinnis, née Blythe (1901-1997). Death: 9 May 1972 in Fitzroy, Melbourne. 

• Arthur Clarey was half-brother of parliamentarian Percy James Cleary.
• Educated at Flemington State School, Melbourne High School and the University of Melbourne (B. Com).
• Clerk in the Victorian Public Service from 1913 to 1920 and with BHP [Broken Hill Proprietary Company Ltd] from 1920 to 1947. Sometime president Clerk’s Union.
• Joined Australian Labor Party in 1932. Was a branch office-holder, Victorian State branch auditor from 1955 to 1970 and spokesman on treasury from 1967 to 1970.
• Contested seat of Essendon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1937 and 1940 and the Australian Federal Senate in 1949.
• Elected member of the Legislative Assembly for Melbourne from 1955 to 1972. Served on the Public Accounts Committee in 1955-1961, State Development Committee in 1964-1970.
• Member of the Australian Natives Association premier debating team in 1933-34. President of Amalgamated Institute of Secretaries 1954 to 1964. Committee member of the Citizens’ Welfare Board of Victoria.

Sources
Geoff Browne, Biographical register of the Victorian Parliament, 1900-84 (Melbourne, 1985). Parliament of Victoria, former members database: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member/details/24/1111