Frank Wilkes
Encyclopedia
Frank Noel Wilkes AM
(born 16 July 1922), Australia
n politician, was Leader of the Labor
Opposition in Victoria from 1977 to 1981. Wilkes was born in Melbourne
and educated at Northcote Primary and Secondary Schools and Preston Technical College. During the Second World War
he served in the southwest Pacific in the Australian Army
as a radio operator. After the war he studied accountancy, and worked in his father's furniture factory, of which he later became manager. In 1954 he was elected to Northcote City Council
, which he almost completely dominated. Wilkes served as a Councillor until 1978, but he never became Mayor, as work commitments being both a councillor and a parliamentarian were too great.
The state electorate of Northcote
had been held since 1917 by John Cain
, leader of the Labor Party
and three times Premier of Victoria. Wilkes became a protege of Cain's and joined the Labor Party in 1948, despite his family background in business. He was Cain's campaign manager at the 1952 and 1955 state elections. When Cain died in 1957, Wilkes was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
at the subsequent by-election. He became Labor Whip in 1959, and Deputy Leader in 1967.
Wilkes was a loyal deputy to Clyde Holding
, who led the party in opposition from 1967 to 1977 and lost three elections to the Liberal Party
, first to Henry Bolte
and then to Dick Hamer. When Holding resigned after the 1976 election, Wilkes claimed the leadership by right of long and loyal service, rather than any outstanding ability. He was an uninspiring speaker and no match for the urbane Hamer in Parliament or on the hustings. Nevertheless, at the 1979 state elections, Labor under Wilkes gained eleven seats, the party's best showing for many years.
Few in the Labor Party believed that Wilkes could defeat the Liberals, however, and the 1979 election had seen John Cain
, son of the former Premier and a man most believed to be of greater ability than Wilkes, elected to Parliament. During 1980 and 1981 Cain's supporters destabilized Wilkes's leadership and eventually forced his resignation. When Cain led Labor to victory in 1982, Wilkes was made Minister for Local Government. He retired in 1988 from Parliament after more than 30 years service. In the 1989 Queen's Birthday honours, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
for service to government and politics and to the Victorian parliament.
Wilkes' daughter Helen Buckingham
was a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council
from 2002 to 2006.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 16 July 1922), Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was Leader of the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Opposition in Victoria from 1977 to 1981. Wilkes was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and educated at Northcote Primary and Secondary Schools and Preston Technical College. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the southwest Pacific in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
as a radio operator. After the war he studied accountancy, and worked in his father's furniture factory, of which he later became manager. In 1954 he was elected to Northcote City Council
City of Northcote
The City of Northcote was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1883 until 1994.-History:...
, which he almost completely dominated. Wilkes served as a Councillor until 1978, but he never became Mayor, as work commitments being both a councillor and a parliamentarian were too great.
The state electorate of Northcote
Electoral district of Northcote
The Electoral district of Northcote is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It currently covers the suburbs of Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Thornbury, and part of Preston. It lies on the northern bank of the Yarra River between the Merri and Darebin creeks.The seat...
had been held since 1917 by John Cain
John Cain (senior)
John Cain was an Australian politician, who became the 34th premier of Victoria, and was the first Australian Labor Party leader to win a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was the only premier of Victoria whose son also served as premier.-Early life:Cain was born, one of 18...
, leader of the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and three times Premier of Victoria. Wilkes became a protege of Cain's and joined the Labor Party in 1948, despite his family background in business. He was Cain's campaign manager at the 1952 and 1955 state elections. When Cain died in 1957, Wilkes was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
at the subsequent by-election. He became Labor Whip in 1959, and Deputy Leader in 1967.
Wilkes was a loyal deputy to Clyde Holding
Clyde Holding
Allan Clyde Holding Australian politician, was Leader of the Opposition in Victoria for ten years, and was later a federal minister.-Early life and education:...
, who led the party in opposition from 1967 to 1977 and lost three elections to the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, first to Henry Bolte
Henry Bolte
Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG was an Australian politician. He was the 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria.- Early years :...
and then to Dick Hamer. When Holding resigned after the 1976 election, Wilkes claimed the leadership by right of long and loyal service, rather than any outstanding ability. He was an uninspiring speaker and no match for the urbane Hamer in Parliament or on the hustings. Nevertheless, at the 1979 state elections, Labor under Wilkes gained eleven seats, the party's best showing for many years.
Few in the Labor Party believed that Wilkes could defeat the Liberals, however, and the 1979 election had seen John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
, son of the former Premier and a man most believed to be of greater ability than Wilkes, elected to Parliament. During 1980 and 1981 Cain's supporters destabilized Wilkes's leadership and eventually forced his resignation. When Cain led Labor to victory in 1982, Wilkes was made Minister for Local Government. He retired in 1988 from Parliament after more than 30 years service. In the 1989 Queen's Birthday honours, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to government and politics and to the Victorian parliament.
Wilkes' daughter Helen Buckingham
Helen Buckingham
Helen Elizabeth Buckingham is a retired Australian politician. She was the Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2002 to 2006, representing Koonung Province...
was a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
from 2002 to 2006.