Jim Cahill
Encyclopedia
James Edward Cahill was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for one term from 1953 until 1956. He was also an indirectly elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1965 and 1970. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP).
Cahill was born in the farming community of Blackville near Quirindi, New South Wales
and was the son of a schoolteacher. Cyril Cahill a member of the Legislative Council
between 1961 and 1977 was his brother. He was educated at Tamworth High School
and qualified as a licensed pharmacist. Cahill owned a chemist's shop in Armidale, New South Wales
and became involved in community organisations including Lions
and the Chamber of Commerce. He joined the local branch of the ALP in 1930 and served part-time in the Militia
for 5 years. After two unsuccessful attempts, Cahill was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for Armidale
at the 1953
state election. He defeated the incumbent Country Party
member Davis Hughes
by 13 votes. Armidale was usually considered unwinnable for Labor but the result reflected the solid swing to the party at that election. Cahill held the seat for only one term but remained active in the Labor Party after his defeat. He was subsequently indirectly elected, on the party's nomination, to a seat in the Legislative council between 1965 and 1970. He filled the casual vacancy caused by the death of Michael Quinn He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.
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 one term from 1953 until 1956. He was also an indirectly elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1965 and 1970. He was a member of the Australian 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...
(ALP).
Cahill was born in the farming community of Blackville near Quirindi, New South Wales
Quirindi, New South Wales
Quirindi is a small town on the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, in Liverpool Plains Shire Local Government Area ....
and was the son of a schoolteacher. Cyril Cahill a member of the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1961 and 1977 was his brother. He was educated at Tamworth High School
Tamworth High School
Tamworth High School is a situated in South Tamworth, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia.- See also :* List of Government schools in New South Wales*Schools in Tamworth, New South Wales-External links:* *...
and qualified as a licensed pharmacist. Cahill owned a chemist's shop in Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
and became involved in community organisations including Lions
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
and the Chamber of Commerce. He joined the local branch of the ALP in 1930 and served part-time in the Militia
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...
for 5 years. After two unsuccessful attempts, Cahill was elected to the parliament as the Labor member for Armidale
Electoral district of Armidale
Armidale was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing New England, and named after and including Armidale. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Northern...
at the 1953
New South Wales state election, 1953
The 1953 New South Wales state election was held on 14 February 1953. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
state election. He defeated the incumbent Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member Davis Hughes
Davis Hughes
Sir Davis Hughes was an Australian politician and bureaucrat.-Early life:Hughes was born in Launceston, Tasmania and was educated at Launceston High School and the University of Tasmania, although he did not graduate. He married Joan Johnson in 1940 and they had issue one son and two daughters...
by 13 votes. Armidale was usually considered unwinnable for Labor but the result reflected the solid swing to the party at that election. Cahill held the seat for only one term but remained active in the Labor Party after his defeat. He was subsequently indirectly elected, on the party's nomination, to a seat in the Legislative council between 1965 and 1970. He filled the casual vacancy caused by the death of Michael Quinn He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.