Leo Fennessy
Encyclopedia
Leo Michael Fennessy was an Australian politician.
Fennessy was born at Warrnambool to police superintendent Pierce Fennessy and Mary Kenafick. He attended St Thomas' Christian Brothers College at Clifton Hill
and became a boot trader in 1922. He also farmed at Trayning, Western Australia
, with his brother, until the Great Depression
forced them to sell; he mined for gold at Wiluna
until 1939, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
, serving in the Middle East campaign from 1942 to 1944. He married Celestine Vosti on 17 February 1940, with whom he had a daughter. On his return in 1944 he was a public servant with the Navy Department until 1950, when he became an industrial officer with the Victorian Federated Clerks' Union. Fennessy increased his activity in the union movement, becoming a Trades Hall Council delegate (1950–54) and Secretary of the ACTU
Commonwealth Public Service Steering Committee (1952–55). In 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as the Labor
member for Brunswick East
, serving as a backbencher until 1970. After leaving parliament he was Chairman of the Victorian Environment Protection Council (1970–78) and a member of the Develop Victoria Council (1972–78).
Fennessy was born at Warrnambool to police superintendent Pierce Fennessy and Mary Kenafick. He attended St Thomas' Christian Brothers College at Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill, Victoria
Clifton Hill is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. The border between Clifton Hill and Fitzroy North is Queens Parade and Smith Street. Merri Creek defines the eastern border of Clifton Hill. Its Local Government Area is...
and became a boot trader in 1922. He also farmed at Trayning, Western Australia
Trayning, Western Australia
Trayning is a town located in the north-eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 236 kilometres east of the state capital, Perth, between the towns of Wyalkatchem and Nungarin. At the 2006 census, Trayning had a population of 122....
, with his brother, until the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
forced them to sell; he mined for gold at Wiluna
Wiluna, Western Australia
Wiluna is a complex town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is situated on the edge of the Western Desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. It is the service centre of the local area for the local Aboriginal people, the pastoral industry, mining, and...
until 1939, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
, serving in the Middle East campaign from 1942 to 1944. He married Celestine Vosti on 17 February 1940, with whom he had a daughter. On his return in 1944 he was a public servant with the Navy Department until 1950, when he became an industrial officer with the Victorian Federated Clerks' Union. Fennessy increased his activity in the union movement, becoming a Trades Hall Council delegate (1950–54) and Secretary of the ACTU
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
Commonwealth Public Service Steering Committee (1952–55). In 1955 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as the Labor
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...
member for Brunswick East
Electoral district of Brunswick East
Electoral district of Brunswick East was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria.-Members for Brunswick East:...
, serving as a backbencher until 1970. After leaving parliament he was Chairman of the Victorian Environment Protection Council (1970–78) and a member of the Develop Victoria Council (1972–78).