Bruce Walker (politician, born 1897)

(Ronald) Bruce Walker (7 December 1897 – 1981) was an Australian politician.

Early life

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He was born at Windsor,[1] to Lucinda Isabel Rowthorn and (Robert) Bruce Walker, who was also a politician.[2] Ronald attended Sydney Grammar School and was admitted as a solicitor in 1925. On 19 December 1923 he married Muriel Smith, with whom he had a son. He joined the family law firm, William Walker & Son, becoming a senior partner in 1932.[1]

Member of parliament

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In 1932 he succeeded his father in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the United Australia Party member for Hawkesbury.[3] He was re-elected in 1935,[4] and 1938,[5] serving until 1941.[1]

Conspiracy conviction

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In August 1939 he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud members of the public in connection with the Scottish Loan and Finance Company of which he was a director.[6] After a 36-day hearing in the Supreme Court in 1941,[7] in which Walker addressed the jury for 9 hours,[8] Walker and one of his co-accused, solicitor Albert Levitus, were convicted.[7] Justice Sir Percival Halse Rogers sentenced Walker to three years imprisonment and Levitus to five years imprisonment.[9] Walker was struck off the roll of solicitors in 1941.[1] He was released from prison in July 1943.[10]

Later life

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Walker became an estate agent and was elected an alderman of the Windsor Council in 1945.[11] Walker died in 1981 (aged 83–84).[1]

See also

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  • Results of the New South Wales state elections for Hawkesbury
  • 1932
  • 1935
  • 1938

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Mr Ronald Bruce Walker (1897-1981)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Major Robert Bruce Walker (1870-1932)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  3. ^ Green, Antony. "1932 Hawkesbury". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. ^ Green, Antony. "1935 Hawkesbury". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  5. ^ Green, Antony. "1938 Hawkesbury". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Arrest of MLA". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 August 1939. p. 11. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.
  7. ^ a b "Conspiracy verdict". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 285. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1941. p. 8. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.
  8. ^ "Conspiracy charge: Walker in box". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "Week to week". Windsor and Richmond Gazette. New South Wales, Australia. 27 June 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Bruce Walker released". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 July 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Former MLA as alderman". Truth. 1 July 1945. p. 23. Retrieved 3 May 2019 – via Trove.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Hawkesbury
1932–1941
Succeeded by