John Cusack (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Cusack was an Australia
n politician, coachbuilder and garage proprietor.
, New South Wales
and had some schooling in Yass. He was apprenticed at 15 to a blacksmith at Berrima
. He learnt about coachbuilding in Sydney
and returned to Yass in 1898 to marry Minnie Cassidy and build a coachbuilding business. He was elected to Yass Municipal Council and was Mayor in 1904.
) in Yass in the 1890s. He represented Queanbeyan
from 1910 to 1913 and Albury from 1913 to 1917 in the New South Wales
Legislative Assembly
. He was one of only four Labor members to hold the seat of Albury. Between the years of 1929 and 1931, Cusack was a member of the House of Representatives
for Eden-Monaro
. He stood unsuccessfully for several other elections up to 1953.
. Dymphna Cusack
was his niece. His great-grand-daughter Catherine Cusack
is a Member of the NSW Legislative Council
(elected 22 March 2003).
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, coachbuilder and garage proprietor.
Early life
Cusack was born at Bellevale near YassYass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and had some schooling in Yass. He was apprenticed at 15 to a blacksmith at Berrima
Berrima, New South Wales
Berrima is an historic village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, in Wingecarribee Shire. The village, once a major town, is located on the Old Hume Highway between Canberra and Sydney. It was previously known officially as the Town of Berrima...
. He learnt about coachbuilding in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and returned to Yass in 1898 to marry Minnie Cassidy and build a coachbuilding business. He was elected to Yass Municipal Council and was Mayor in 1904.
Parliamentary career
Cusack established a branch of the Labor League (the predecessor of the Australian Labor PartyAustralian 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...
) in Yass in the 1890s. He represented Queanbeyan
Electoral district of Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1859 to 1913, in the Queanbeyan area. It replaced parts of the electoral district of United Counties of Murray and St Vincent and the electoral district of Southern Boroughs...
from 1910 to 1913 and Albury from 1913 to 1917 in the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Legislative Assembly
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...
. He was one of only four Labor members to hold the seat of Albury. Between the years of 1929 and 1931, Cusack was a member of 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....
for Eden-Monaro
Division of Eden-Monaro
The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales...
. He stood unsuccessfully for several other elections up to 1953.
Later life
In political life Cusack had a major falling out with another prominent local Labor identity, Billy Sheahan, who later served as NSW Attorney General. After his electoral defeat, Cusack returned to his work as a blacksmith in Yass, but still maintained a bitter public feud with Sheahan. He died in the old Canberra Hospital and was survived by his wife, three sons (Linton, Stan and Greg) and a daughter (Ursula). His son Stan established a successful furniture business in Canberra, following the development of the area as the Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. Dymphna Cusack
Dymphna Cusack
Dymphna Cusack AM was an Australian author.Born in West Wyalong, New South Wales, Dymphna Cusack was educated at St Ursula's College, and graduated from Sydney University with an honours degree in Arts and a diploma in Education...
was his niece. His great-grand-daughter Catherine Cusack
Catherine Cusack (politician)
Catherine Eileen Cusack is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, representing the Liberal Party. She was first elected as an opposition member on 22 March 2003 and was re-elected in 2011 when her party won government. Her term is due to expire on 1 March 2019. She is married to...
is a Member of the NSW 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...
(elected 22 March 2003).