John Cramer (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Oscar Cramer was an Australia
n politician, representing the Liberal Party of Australia
, of which he was a founding member.
John Cramer was elected as Mayor of North Sydney
in 1939. Later he was Chairman of the Sydney County Council
. He was elected to the House of Representatives
as the inaugural representative of the seat of Bennelong
on its creation in 1949. In 1956, the Prime Minister
Robert Menzies
appointed him Minister for the Army
, a portfolio he held until 1963.
In 1964 he was created a Knight Bachelor
. He retired from parliament before the 1974 election
, and was succeeded by John Howard
(later to become Prime Minister). He died on 18 May 1994, aged 98.
, as well as the first group of the Women's Australian National Service in Sydney and became its first commandant (see biography for Dame Mary Cramer). For these services to Australia she was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1971.
Dame Mary Cramer died on 23 September 1984 (age unknown).
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, representing the Liberal Party of Australia
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...
, of which he was a founding member.
John Cramer was elected as Mayor of North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
in 1939. Later he was Chairman of the Sydney County Council
Sydney County Council
The Sydney County Council was the authority responsible for electricity supplies in Sydney, Australia. The entity was created in 1936, and was elected and controlled by the municipal councils of Sydney. Between 1936 and 1952, it was responsible for electricity generation and distribution...
. He was elected to the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
as the inaugural representative of the seat of Bennelong
Division of Bennelong
The Division of Bennelong is an Australian electorate in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Bennelong, an Aboriginal man befriended by the first Governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip...
on its creation in 1949. In 1956, the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
appointed him Minister for the Army
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
, a portfolio he held until 1963.
In 1964 he was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. He retired from parliament before the 1974 election
Australian federal election, 1974
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution...
, and was succeeded by John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
(later to become Prime Minister). He died on 18 May 1994, aged 98.
Personal life
In 1922 he married Mary Therese Earls, a teacher, charity worker and community activist. The couple had four children. In 1939 she assumed the duties of lady mayoress of North Sydney. She later organised a Voluntary Aid Detachment for North Sydney at the beginning of World War IIWorld 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...
, as well as the first group of the Women's Australian National Service in Sydney and became its first commandant (see biography for Dame Mary Cramer). For these services to Australia she was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1971.
Dame Mary Cramer died on 23 September 1984 (age unknown).