George Mitchell (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
George Deane Mitchell was an Australian politician and an Independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for a single term between 1941 and 1944. .
and was the son of a railway porter. He was educated in Adelaide and worked as a clerk in Therbarton
until 1914. Mitchell enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force
at the outbreak of World War One and served in the Middle East and France between 1914 and 1919. He reached the rank of Lieutenant and was awarded the Military Cross
and Distinguished Conduct Medal
. In the inter-war period Mitchell was a member of the Citizens' Military Forces
and re-enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
with the rank of Captain at the commencement of World War Two. He reached the rank of Major and commanded an amphibious landing force in the New Guinea Campaign. Mitchell had several other occupations including potato farming in Dorrigo
, owning a motor garage and car sales agency and script writing for the Australian film industry. He was an office holder in the Returned Services League.
state election. He was easily defeated by the United Australia Party
incumbent member and Minister for Local Government and Public Works, Lewis Martin. Mitchell reversed the result with a surprise victory in the land-slide defeat of Alexander Mair
's conservative coalition government at the 1941
election. Mitchell was on extended leave from parliament due to active war service during much of the period following the election. The parliamentary convention was that members on active service were not opposed by candidates from major parties during elections. However, Les Jordan
, a member of the Country Party and two other party members stood as "Independent Country" candidates. Jordan was victorious and immediately joined the Country Party caucus. Mitchell then retired from public life.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for a single term between 1941 and 1944. .
Early life
Mitchell was born in Caltowie near Jamestown, South AustraliaJamestown, South Australia
Jamestown is a town in the Mid North region of South Australia north of Adelaide. It is on the banks of the Belalie Creek and on the railway line between Gladstone and Peterborough, and ultimately on the main line linking Adelaide and Perth to Sydney...
and was the son of a railway porter. He was educated in Adelaide and worked as a clerk in Therbarton
Thebarton, South Australia
Thebarton is a suburb of the city of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is bounded by the River Torrens to the north, Port Road and Bonython Park to the east, Kintore Street to the south, and South Road to the west....
until 1914. Mitchell enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
at the outbreak of World War One and served in the Middle East and France between 1914 and 1919. He reached the rank of Lieutenant and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
. In the inter-war period Mitchell was a member of the Citizens' Military Forces
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
and re-enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
with the rank of Captain at the commencement of World War Two. He reached the rank of Major and commanded an amphibious landing force in the New Guinea Campaign. Mitchell had several other occupations including potato farming in Dorrigo
Dorrigo, New South Wales
Dorrigo is a small town located on the Waterfall Way in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately 580 kilometres north of the state capital, Sydney via the Pacific Highway, and 60 kilometres from the coastal city of Coffs Harbour. The town is situated on the Dorrigo Plateau near the...
, owning a motor garage and car sales agency and script writing for the Australian film industry. He was an office holder in the Returned Services League.
State Parliament
Mitchell unsuccessfully contested the seat of Oxley as an Independent candidate at the 1938New South Wales state election, 1938
The 1938 New South Wales state election was held on 26 March 1938. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 32nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
state election. He was easily defeated by the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
incumbent member and Minister for Local Government and Public Works, Lewis Martin. Mitchell reversed the result with a surprise victory in the land-slide defeat of Alexander Mair
Alexander Mair
Alexander Mair was an Australian politician and served as the Premier of New South Wales from 5 August 1939 to 16 May 1941. Born in Melbourne, working in various businesses, Mair moved to Albury, New South Wales and went on to be a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for fourteen...
's conservative coalition government at the 1941
New South Wales state election, 1941
The 1941 New South Wales state election was held on 10 May 1941. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 33nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting....
election. Mitchell was on extended leave from parliament due to active war service during much of the period following the election. The parliamentary convention was that members on active service were not opposed by candidates from major parties during elections. However, Les Jordan
Les Jordan
Leslie Charles Jordan was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1944 until his death in 1965 . He was initially elected as a member of the Country Party but changed allegiance to the Liberal Party of Australia in 1959.Jordan was born in Sydney...
, a member of the Country Party and two other party members stood as "Independent Country" candidates. Jordan was victorious and immediately joined the Country Party caucus. Mitchell then retired from public life.