Frank Wilkes
Leader of the Labor Party in Victoria | |
---|---|
In office 29 June 1977 – 9 September 1981 | |
Deputy | Robert Fordham |
Preceded by | Clyde Holding |
Succeeded by | John Cain Jr. |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Northcote | |
In office 21 September 1957 – 30 September 1988 | |
Preceded by | John Cain Sr. |
Succeeded by | Tony Sheehan |
Personal details | |
Born | Frank Noel Wilkes 16 June 1922 Labor Party |
Spouse | Wilma Richards |
Children | Suzanne Jennifer Wilkes
RMIT University |
Profession | Furniture manufacturer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Rank | Signalman |
Frank Noel Wilkes
Early life
Wilkes was born in
Political career
The state electorate of
Wilkes was a loyal deputy to
Nevertheless, at the 1979 state election, Labor under Wilkes gained eleven seats, the party's best showing for 24 years.[7] The ALP even won constituencies in eastern Melbourne, a region from which it had been shut out for a quarter-century. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up nine seats short of making Wilkes premier.
While Wilkes had brought Labor within striking distance of victory at the next election, few within the party thought that he could take the party further. John Cain Jr., son of the former Premier and a man whom most believed to be of greater ability than Wilkes, had been elected to Parliament in 1976 and by 1979 was among the leading ALP parliamentarians. During 1980 and 1981 Cain's supporters (such as Bill Landeryou) destabilized Wilkes's leadership and eventually forced his resignation.[8]
When Cain led Labor to victory in 1982, Wilkes was made Minister for Local Government. He retired in 1988 from Parliament after more than 30 years of service. In the 1989 Queen's Birthday honours, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to government and politics and to the Victorian parliament.[9]
Personal life
Wilkes' daughter Helen Buckingham[5] was a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2002 to 2006. Wilkes died on 20 August 2015, aged 93.[10]
References
- ISBN 0-86861-334-7
- ^ R.H. Badham (1977), 'Introducing Frank Wilkes', Nation Review, 9–15 June.
- ISBN 0-949905-12-7
- ^ a b Max Hollingsworth (7 June 1977). "Wilkes: Man Most Likely to Succeed?". The Age. p. 8.
- ^ a b H E Buckingham (12 September 2006). "Condolences" (PDF). Council Extract. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
- ^ Coventry, C.J. "The Eloquence of Robert J. Hawke: United States informer, 1973-79," Australian Journal of Politics and History 67:1 (2021), 82.
- ^ Michael O'Grady (1979), 'The party leaders: Hamer and Wilkes,' in Peter Hay, Ian Ward, John Warhurst (eds.), Anatomy of an Election, Hill of Content, Melbourne, Victoria, pages 91-104.
- ^ "Northcote". ABC Elections Victoria 2006. ABC News. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
- ^ Wilkes, Frank Noel, It's an Honour, 12 June 1989.
- ^ "STATEMENT – on the passing of Frank Wilkes AM | Fiona Richardson". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2015.