Personal
Birth Date
02 Apr 1926 (Longreach, Queensland, Australia)
Death Date
08 Dec 2012 (Gladstone, Queensland)
Parents
William Frederick and Amelia Maud Prest (nee Mann)
Marriage
Married - Patricia Rabbitt on 9 May 1953, 1 son, 2 daughters.
Occupation
Railway Worker
Education
1. Longreach State School
Religion
Methodist
Career
1. Mayor, Gladstone City Council, September 1975 to June 1976
2. Alderman, Gladstone City Council, 1970 to 1975
3. Employee (29 years) and Guard (1947 to 1949), Queensland Government Railways
4. Shearer, Central Queensland, 1943 to 1947
5. General store worker, 1940 to 1943
Party and Political Activities
Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Party Positions
1. President, Gladstone Branch, Australian Labor Party , 1965
2. Delegate, Australian Railways Union
Parliamentary Representation
| Assembly | ALP | PORT CURTIS | 29 May 1976 | 19 Sep 1992 | Did not contest |
Appointments
| Government Whip | 06 Dec 1989 | 19 Sep 1992 |
| Temporary Chairman of Committees | 1987 | 1989 |
| Leader of Opposition Business in the House | Nov 1983 | Dec 1989 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Transport and Railways | Jan 1983 | Nov 1983 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Transport | Oct 1982 | Jan 1983 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Local Government and Valuation | May 1982 | Oct 1982 |
| Member, Standing Orders Committee | 1981 | 1989 |
| Member, Select Committee of Privileges | 1981 | 1983 |
| Leader of Opposition Business in the House | Jan 1981 | Jul 1982 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Local Government and Main Roads | Jan 1981 | May 1982 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Local Government and Valuation | Feb 1980 | 1981 |
| Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Japan and South East Asia | 1979 | |
| Member, Parliamentary Refreshment Rooms Committee | Apr 1977 | 1983 |
| Opposition Spokesman for Local Government and Main Roads | Dec 1977 | Feb 1980 |
| Shadow Minister for Local Government and Main Roads | Dec 1977 | |
| Shadow Minister for Tourism, Marine Services and Fisheries | 1976 | 1977 |
Notes
1. Interests include community affairs, children, sport and cooking.
2. Member: Gladstone Bowling Club; and Gladstone Sailing Club.
3. Orphaned at 12 months when his mother died and his father wandered off, Mr Prest was raised by an aunt and an uncle.
4. He left school at the age of 13 and started work in a butcher shop.
5. Mr Prest won the seat of Port Curtis in a by-election on 29 May 1976 following the death of the Labor member for Port Curtis, Martin Hanson.
6. By replacing Martin Hanson, Prest joined the Labor `cricket team', so named after the party had been reduced to 11 members following the 1974 general election.
7. Whilst a Gladstone City Councillor, Mr Prest was involved in the construction of the first Awoonga Dam, the building of the town's reservoirs and the implementation of its sewerage system and first town plan.
8. On 8 Dec 1989 Mr Prest turned down the role of Speaker, preferring to remain in his newly appointed position of Government Whip.
9. Mr Prest is the longest serving member for Port Curtis.
10. He was awarded a lifelong membership of the Australian Labor Party.
11. In 2010 the Gladstone Port Access bridge was named in his honour for services to the community.
Sources
1. Gladstone Observer, 8 December 1989
[Last Modified: 13 Dec 2012 09:10]
Back to search results
New Search
|