Jim Sparkes

Sir Jim Sparkes
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Dalby
In office 11 June 1932 – 11 May 1935
Preceded by	Wilfred Russell
Succeeded by	Godfrey Morgan
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Aubigny
In office 29 March 1941 – 28 May 1960
Preceded by	Arthur Moore
Succeeded by	Les Diplock
Personal details
Born	Walter Beresford James Gordon Sparkes 22 April 1889 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Died	15 June 1974 (aged 85) Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Country Party
Other political affiliations	Country and Progressive National Party
Spouse(s)	Jessie Elizabeth Lang (m.1912), Alice Goongarry Scott (m.1920 d.1983)
Occupation	Cattle breeder
Religion	Anglican

Sir Walter Beresford James Gordon "Jim" Sparkes (22 April 1889 – 15 June 1974) was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Early life

Sparkes was born at Dubbo, New South Wales in 1889 to James Sparkes and his wife Mary Ann (née Yates). He was educated at Croydon Park Public School and St Joseph's College, Sydney before moving to Queensland in 1910. By 1912 he had purchased Lyndley Hereford Stud at Jandowae, one of the oldest and best known Hereford studs in Australia. Sparkes expanded the stud from its original 3,000 acres to 16,000 acres by acquiring adjoining properties. Over the years he went on to acquire many properties across the southern part of the state.^[1]

Politics

Sparkes was elected as a councillor to the Wambo Shire Council in 1916 and eventually became its chairman between 1922–31 and 1937–52.^[1] He entered the state parliament in 1932, winning Dalby for the Country and Progressive National Party but did not seek re-election in1935.^[2] Representing the Country Party in 1941, Sparkes won the seat of Aubigny, holding it for 19 years until his defeat in 1960 by Queensland Labor Party candidate, Les Diplock. During this period he was the Opposition whip from 1950 till 1957.

Personal life

Sparkes was married twice: To Jessie Elizabeth Lang in 1912 and Alice Goongarry Scott in 1920.^[3] He had 6 children with his two partners including Sir Robert Sparkes, president of the Queensland branch of the National Party from 1970 till 1990.^[1]

He was knighted in 1970.

Sparkes died at Toowoomba in 1974 and was cremated.^[3] The Queensland Premier at the time, Joh Bjelke-Petersen told the members of parliament that "Sparkes spoke almost daily in this Chamber on behalf of the working man and the man on the land. He always fought their case, and fought it hard".^[3]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
2. "QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS.". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 May 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
3. Sparkes, Sir Walter Beresford James Gordon (1889–1974) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 23 February 2015.