People Australia

Joe Clark, n.d.

Joseph James (Joe) Clark (1897-1992) tailor and parliamentarian 

Birth: 29 July 1897 at Coonamble, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Joseph Alfred Clark (1872-1951), master tailor, and Elizabeth Helen (Ellen), née Finlay (1876-1961).

Marriages: (1) 29 January 1927 at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Sydney, to Sydney-born Mary Elizabeth Regan (1902-1961). They had two sons and two daughters (2) 18 February 1963 at St Therese’s Catholic Church, Dover Heights, native-born Melbourne Mary (Mollie), née Porter, late Regan (1904-1985). Death: 9 December 1992in a private hospitals at Bellevue hill; usual residence   Edward Street, Bondi, Sydney. Religion: Catholic. 

• His father was sometime secretary of the local branches of the Australian Workers’ Union and the Australian Labor Party (ALP), an alderman mayor on the Coonamble Municipal Council, and member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Wammerawa in 1920-1927 and for Castlereagh in 1913-1932.
• Young Joe was educated to primary school level. He was a master tailor at Coonamble. Later moved to Dover Heights, Sydney.
• An alderman on Coonamble Council for nine years and mayor for three years, he was president of the local branch of the ALP and Castlereagh Electoral Council. 
• Was member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Darling from 15 September 1934 until October 1969, when he retired. Chairman of committees 1946-1949 and deputy speaker 1948-1949.
• Deputy chairman, Australian Meat Industry Commission in 1942-1943. Leader of delegation to Iron and Steel Committee International Labour Organization 1946.
• President of various sporting associations.
• Cause of death: cardiac failure (hours), atherosclerosis (years) and Parkinson’s disease (years). 

Sources
Joan Rydon (ed), A biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament 1901-1972 (ANU Press, 1975).