John Freeman (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Stanley Freeman was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1945 until 1959 and a member of the Australian Labor Party
(ALP) .
Freeman was born in Newtown, New South Wales
. He was the son of a bootmaker, and was educated at Sydney Technical College
as a pathology laboratory technician. He served in the Australian Army Medical Corps with the First Australian Imperial Force
between 1917 and 1919. On repatriation he worked at the University of Sydney
Veterinary Research Unit and was active in ex-servicemen's associations. Freeman was an unsuccessful candidate for the seat of Nepean
at the 1930
state election. He was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Labor member for the seat of Blacktown at the 1945 by-election caused by the death of the sitting Labor member, Frank Hill
. He retained the seat for the next 4 elections. A redistribution prior to the 1959
election made Blacktown a marginal seat. Freeman attempted to win Labor pre-selection for Merrylands
but when he was unsuccessful he retired from parliament. He was awarded the MBE
in 1968.
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...
from 1945 until 1959 and 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) .
Freeman was born in Newtown, New South Wales
Newtown, New South Wales
Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west is located approximately four kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, straddling the local government areas of the City of Sydney and Marrickville Council in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
. He was the son of a bootmaker, and was educated at Sydney Technical College
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
as a pathology laboratory technician. He served in the Australian Army Medical Corps with 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...
between 1917 and 1919. On repatriation he worked at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
Veterinary Research Unit and was active in ex-servicemen's associations. Freeman was an unsuccessful candidate for the seat of Nepean
Electoral district of Nepean (New South Wales)
Nepean was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, and named after the Nepean River. It was abolished in 1904 with the downsizing of the Assembly after Federation. Nepean was recreated in 1927 and abolished again in...
at the 1930
New South Wales state election, 1930
The 1930 New South Wales state election was held on 25 October 1930. The election was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting...
state election. He was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Labor member for the seat of Blacktown at the 1945 by-election caused by the death of the sitting Labor member, Frank Hill
Frank Hill (politician)
Francis Hill was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1941 and his death. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:...
. He retained the seat for the next 4 elections. A redistribution prior to the 1959
New South Wales state election, 1959
The 1959 New South Wales state election was held on 21 March 1959. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution...
election made Blacktown a marginal seat. Freeman attempted to win Labor pre-selection for Merrylands
Electoral district of Merrylands
Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for...
but when he was unsuccessful he retired from parliament. He was awarded the MBE
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 1968.