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Joseph John (Jack) Fitzgerald (1883–1973)

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Joseph Fitzgerald, n.d.

Joseph Fitzgerald, n.d.

Joseph John (Jack) Fitzgerald (1887-1973) nurse, trade union official and Labor parliamentarian 

Birth: 12 February 1883 at Nelligen, New South Wales, son of Robert Fitzgerald, a native-born shoemaker, and Bridget, née Gilligan (c1846-1935), born in Lumcloon, Kings County, Ireland. Marriage: 1916 at Balmain, Sydney, NSW, to native-born Emma (Emily) Maud Hillier (1883-1961). They had one daughter. Death: 5 July 1973 at Lewisham, Sydney, NSW. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Helped on father’s hand ferry on Clyde river. Squared railway sleepers, leased land near Bateman’s Bay used for agistment.
  • Moved to Sydney, becoming nurse at Callan Park Asylum. Helped found Hospital Employees’ Union (later Health and Research Employees Association) 1911 and was secretary 1911-13.
  • Soon after active in Timber Workers’ Union, of which he was secretary from 1916 to 1920 and president in 1920-28.
  • Foundation secretary-organiser NSW Greyhound Coursing Club in 1934. Worked as a real estate agent. Organiser for Hospitals Contribution Fund.
  • Alderman at Marrickville from 1960 to 1967; mayor 1960-62, deputy mayor 1963-67.
  • Labor member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Oxley 1920-27 and for Albury 1930-32.
  • Assistant Minister for Public Health and Local Government in 1925-26. Minister for Local Government 1926-27.

Sources
Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt & Elizabeth Hinton, Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979)

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Citation details

'Fitzgerald, Joseph John (Jack) (1883–1973)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/fitzgerald-joseph-john-jack-33205/text41424, accessed 1 June 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Joseph Fitzgerald, n.d.

Joseph Fitzgerald, n.d.

Life Summary [details]

Birth

12 February, 1883
Nelligen, New South Wales, Australia

Death

5 July, 1973 (aged 90)
Lewisham, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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