Waters, Francis John, AM (Frank)

Personal

Waters, Francis John, AM (Frank)
Birth Date: 10 August 1907 (Hastings)
Death Date: 6 August 1990 (Brisbane, Queensland)
Parents: John Thomas Waters and Margaret (nee McGrath)
Family: Jessie Kate Robertson on 24 June 1930, 2 sons, 1 daughter
Education: St Patrick's Convent, Auckland, New Zealand; Convent School, St Mary's, New South Wales; South Johnstone, Selwyn and Kuridala State schools

Career

Federal President, Australian Postal Workers Union, 1961 to 1973; State Secretary, Australian Postal Workers Union, 1946 to 1972; Canvasser for new telephone subscribers; Telegraph messenger, Postmaster General's Department, 1922 to 1932

Military Service: Served in AMF, Sgt Queensland Echelon and Records Section of Army Records, 1942 to 1946
Party Positions:
  1. Delegate, Queensland ALP Convention, 1932, 1938, 1941, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1971 and 1972.
  2. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Canberra. 1962
  3. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Perth. 1963
  4. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Melbourne. 1969
  5. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Launceston. 1971
  6. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Surfers Paradise. 1973
  7. Delegate, Federal Conference, ALP, Terrigal. 1975
  8. Delegate, Queensland Central Executive. 1960 - 1977
  9. Joint Secretary, ALP Protest Committee for GC Taylor and Marriott. Nov 1941

Parliamentary Representation

House Party Electorate From To Elected/Departure Reason
Assembly ALP Kelvin Grove 11 Jun 1932 2 Apr 1938

Additional Information

Notes: Vice-President, Hon. Assistant Secretary and Member, Committee of Management (1926 to 1934); Secretary (1946 to 1972) and President (1961 to 1973), Amalgamated Postal Workers Union (Queensland branch). Delegate, Queensland Trades and Labour Council, 1926 to 1932. Executive, Queensland Trades and Labour Council, 1928 to 1932 and 1951 to 1976. Delegate, Interstate Executive, Australian Council of Trade Unions, 1932. Delegate, Australian Council of Trade Unions' Congresses, 1953 to 1973. Adviser and Workers Delegate, Australian International Labour Organisation Conference, 1962 and 1970. Delegate, World Conference of Postal Telegraph and Telephone International, London, 1963; Brussels, 1966; and Oslo, 1975. Delegate, Regional Conference, Postal Telegraph and Telephone International, Wellington, 1965; Bandung, 1971; and Melbourne, 1974. Secretary, Workers Educational Association Literary and Debating Society. In 1941, after several well-publicised clashes with Premier Forgan Smith, Waters lost endorsement for the seat of Kelvin Grove. The Premier opposed him on the floor of the convention and Waters' nomination was rejected by the executive. The following year he was stripped of his party membership over a row involving his stance on medical aid to Russia. His membership was not restored until 1957. The Frank Waters Parks, located in Ashgrove, was named in his honour
Sources: Communication Worker, 'Vale Frank Waters - Past State Secretary, Queensland Brancha nd past General President', p.29, November 1990; Queensland Parliamentary Debates, Adjournment Speech by Mr Briskey, First session of the 46th Parliament, V.315, 21 Aug 1990, pp.2922-2923 (Brisbane, Qld: Government Printer); Queensland Parliamentary Debates, Motion of Condolence, First session of the 46th Parliament, V.315, 21 Aug 1990, pp.2782-2788 (Brisbane, Qld: Government Printer); Charlton, P., The Courier-Mail, 'Union first for Labor battler'.; Waterson, DB and John Arnold, A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament: 1930-1980, (Canberra: ANU Press, 1982)
[Last Modified: Wednesday, 19 July 2017]