Thomas Foley (Australian politician)

Thomas Foley
Group portrait of members of the Australian Labor Party, 1890 - Foley is third from the left
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Townsville
In office 2 October 1909 – 27 April 1912
Preceded by	Patrick Hanran
Succeeded by	Robert Philp
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mundingburra
In office 27 April 1912 – 16 September 1920
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	John Dash
Personal details
Born	Thomas Foley 14 June 1853 Swansea, Wales
Died	16 September 1920 (aged 67) Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	West End Cemetery
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Mary Harris (m.1873 d.1931)
Occupation	Stevedore
Religion	Roman Catholic

Thomas Foley (14 June 1853 - 16 September 1920) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Biography

Foley was born in Swansea, Wales, the son of John Foley and his wife Elizabeth (née Edwards) and was educated at the British Admiralty School.^[1] He came to Townsville with his wife and four children in 1883 at a time when vacant houses in the area were scarce and the family had to make do with living in a tent in an area of Townsville known as Canvastown. They eventually moved to a house in Macrossan Steeet where he lived for the rest of his life. He secured work at first with the Townsville City Council and later worked on some of the early brick buildings of the town including the municipal buildings and St James' Cathedral. He later worked on the wharves of Townsville as a stevedore.^[2]

Foley married he married Mary Harris (died 1931) in Swansea in 1873 and together had seven sons and four daughters.^[1] After being seriously ill with heart troubles and asthma for several months^[2] he died in Townsville in September 1920^[1] and his funeral moved from his late residence^[3] to the West End Cemetery.^[4]

Public career

An early member of the Waterside Workers Union, Foley was elected as an alderman on the Townsville City Council for the South Ward on two separate occasions.^[2] He then stood at the 1907 Queensland state election as a representative of the Labour Party for the two-member seat of Townsville but was defeated by the Opposition pairing of Robert Philp and Patrick Hanran.^[5] He stood again at the 1908 Queensland state election and after leading on the primary vote eventually lost again to the same pair after the postal votes had been counted.^[2][6]

He stood again at the 1909 Queensland state election and this time was successful, winning the vote and becoming the senior member for the seat.^[7] He represented the electorate until it reverted to a one-member seat at the 1912 Queensland state election at which time he switched to the new neighbouring seat of Mundingburra.^[8] He went on to represent the people of that electorate until his death in 1920.^[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
2. "DEATH OF MR. T. FOLEY, M.L.A.". Townsville Daily Bulletin. XXXVI, (12,026). Queensland, Australia. 17 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Family Notices". Townsville Daily Bulletin. XXXVI, (12,026). Queensland, Australia. 17 September 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
4. Burial Details - West End Cemetery — Townsville City Council Retrieved 5 June 2016.
5. The Brisbane Courier. LXIII, (15,398). Queensland, Australia. 20 May 1907. p. 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1556994. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia. Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. "DETAILS OF POLLING.". The Brisbane Courier. LXIV, (15,623). Queensland, Australia. 7 February 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "RESULTS AND COMPARISONS.". The Brisbane Courier. LXVI, (16,140). Queensland, Australia. 4 October 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "SUMMARY OF THE VOTING". The Brisbane Courier (16,945). Queensland, Australia. 4 May 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.