People Australia

Reg Downing, n.d.

State Library of New South Wales, 110117984

Robert Reginald (Reg) Downing (1904-1994) textile worker, trade union official and parliamentarian

Birth: 6 November 1904 at Tumut, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Robert Downing (1872-1935), council worker and Frances Jean, née Galvin (1869-1961). Marriage: 1932 to Rose Moyeen Ashcroft (1905-1981), a teacher born at Hunters Hill, Sydney. They had one daughter and two sons. Death: 9 September 1994 in St Joh’s Hospital, Goulburn; usual residence Rosemont Road, Goulburn. Religion: Catholic. 

• Educated at Tumut convent school and St Patrick's College, Goulburn; Left school at 15 and worked at odd jobs in Tumut including sorting rabbit skins;
• Moved to Sydney; Labourer in the bleach house, Bonds textile factory. Joined the Australian Textile Workers' Union; was organiser and State president 1928-1934; NSW seretary, and federal president 1934-1941; delegate to Trades and Labor Council 1934-1941, trustee 1935-1941.
• Matriculated University of Sydney 1938, LLB 1943, admitted to NSW Bar 1943, Queen’s Counsel.
• Reg joined the Australian Labor Party in 1924. He was a member of the Heffron group (Labor) in 1936-1939; president of the Gladesville branch for 4 years; president of State and federal electoral councils including Martin Electorate Council; delegate to State and federal conferences; delegate to the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
• Member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1940 until he resigned in 1972. Minister of Justice 1941-1960; Attorney General 1956-1965; vice-president of the Executive Council 1941-6195; leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council 1965-1972.
• He set up the Kinsella Royal Commission into illegal betting which led to the introduction of TAB betting in NSW. He was also active in prison reforms and legislation protecting the rights of people entering hire purchase and other retail agreements. In 1991 he was made a life member the ALP NSW branch, nominated by the Administrative Committee ALP.
• Retired to his 700-acre sheep property outside Goulburn.
• Trustee Taronga Park 1942-1972; vice-president Zoological Parks Board 1972-1974; Fellow of Senate, University of Sydney 1949-1967, honorary LL D 1972; honorary member of NSW State Cancer Council from 1954; president of Australia Cancer Society 1969-1972.
• He was the brother of Francis George Downing (1907-1978) who was MLA for Ryde from 1953 to 1968, and cousin of Thomas Chrysostom O'Mara, MLA for Tumut in 1882-1985 and for Monaro 1887-1889.
• Cause of death: broncho pneumonia (1 week), congestive cardiac failure (years), lymphatic leukaemia (years), sub-pubic catheter (years). 

Sources
Heaher Radi, Peter Spearritt & Elizabeth Hinton (eds), Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979), pp 77-78; Australian Labor Year Book 1934-35, p 230; Sydney Morning Herald, 13 September 1994.