John Galbally
Encyclopedia
John William 'Jack' Galbally CBE
, QC
(2 August 1910 – 8 July 1990) was an Australian Labor Party
politician.
. He graduated from the University of Melbourne
with a LLB
in 1931, during which time he worked many jobs including car salesman and primary school teacher.
He was a good enough Australian footballer to play in the Victorian Football League
. Galbally played at the Collingwood Football Club
, during one of their strongest eras, having won a record four successive premierships from 1927 to 1930. Under coach Jock McHale
and captain Syd Coventry
, Galbally played two seasons with the club. He made three appearances in the 1933 VFL season
and four in 1934
, all wins. During this period he acted as the club's solicitor and was later Collingwood's vice-president from 1951 to 1962.
in 1949 for a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council
for the electorate of Melbourne North.
Throughout his career he was known to be a social reformer and campaigned against capital punishment. He introduced a private member's bill to ban live trap bird shooting, carried in 1958, despite it being a sport premier Henry Bolte
participated in.
Galbally is credited for starting council committee inquiries into the proposed development at the Royal Botanic Gardens and settlement in the Little Desert.
In December 1952, Galbally was appointed as the Minister of Electrical Undertakings and Minister of Forests, positions he held until June 1955 and July 1954 respectively. He was also Minister of Labour and Industry from July 1954 to June 1955.
Galbally retired from politics in 1979 and was awarded a CBE
.
He was called to the bar in 1956 and was then appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1968.
Galbally's brother Frank
was a famous lawyer and another brother Bob was a well-known doctor. Both also played Australian rules football with Collingwood.
Galbally suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in his later life, before his death at Camberwell
in 1990. He is buried at Melbourne General Cemetery
.
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...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(2 August 1910 – 8 July 1990) was an 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...
politician.
Early life
Galbally was educated at St Patrick's College in East Melbourne and Melbourne High SchoolMelbourne High School
Melbourne High School is a selective entry state school for boys in years 9 to 12 located in the Melbourne suburb of South Yarra. Being a selective school, it is known mainly for its strong academic reputation...
. He graduated from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
with a LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1931, during which time he worked many jobs including car salesman and primary school teacher.
He was a good enough Australian footballer to play in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Galbally played at the Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, during one of their strongest eras, having won a record four successive premierships from 1927 to 1930. Under coach Jock McHale
Jock McHale
James Francis "Jock" McHale, was an Australian rules football player and coach for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League in a marathon career that extended from 1903 to 1949....
and captain Syd Coventry
Syd Coventry
-St Kilda:Originally from Diamond Creek, Victoria, Coventry journeyed across the Bass Strait after the First World War to work in the mines at Queenstown, Tasmania, taking with him a reputation as a fine footballer...
, Galbally played two seasons with the club. He made three appearances in the 1933 VFL season
1933 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1933.-Premiership season:In 1933, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
and four in 1934
1934 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1934.-Premiership season:In 1934, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
, all wins. During this period he acted as the club's solicitor and was later Collingwood's vice-president from 1951 to 1962.
Political career
A member of the ALP since 1933, Galbally defeated Likely McBrienLikely McBrien
Likely Herman "Like" McBrien OBE was a leading Australian rules football administrator in the Victorian Football League and a Victorian politician....
in 1949 for a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
for the electorate of Melbourne North.
Throughout his career he was known to be a social reformer and campaigned against capital punishment. He introduced a private member's bill to ban live trap bird shooting, carried in 1958, despite it being a sport premier Henry Bolte
Henry Bolte
Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG was an Australian politician. He was the 38th and longest serving Premier of Victoria.- Early years :...
participated in.
Galbally is credited for starting council committee inquiries into the proposed development at the Royal Botanic Gardens and settlement in the Little Desert.
In December 1952, Galbally was appointed as the Minister of Electrical Undertakings and Minister of Forests, positions he held until June 1955 and July 1954 respectively. He was also Minister of Labour and Industry from July 1954 to June 1955.
Galbally retired from politics in 1979 and was awarded a CBE
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...
.
Legal career
In 1935 Galbally founded a legal firm, now known as Galbally & O'Bryan, having been admitted as a solicitor two years earlier while played football with Collingwood.He was called to the bar in 1956 and was then appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1968.
Family and later life
He was the second born of nine children. His father, William Stanton, was a draper’s salesman. Galbally himself had three daughters and two sons with his wife Sheila Marie Kenny, whom he married in 1937. One of his daughters, Ann, is a noted art historian while his son Peter was appointed a QC in 1989.Galbally's brother Frank
Frank Galbally
Francis Eugene 'Frank' Galbally CBE was an Australian criminal defence lawyer.Galbally initially trained to be a priest after he left school at the age of 16 but after the events of Pearl Harbor joined the Navy....
was a famous lawyer and another brother Bob was a well-known doctor. Both also played Australian rules football with Collingwood.
Galbally suffered from Alzheimer’s disease in his later life, before his death at Camberwell
Camberwell, Victoria
Camberwell is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Camberwell had a population of 19,637....
in 1990. He is buried at Melbourne General Cemetery
Melbourne General Cemetery
The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large necropolis located north of the city of Melbourne in the suburb of Carlton North.-History:...
.