Charles Collins (25 September 1867 – 28 March 1936) was a miner, trade union organiser, and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]
Charles Collins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Burke | |
| In office 2 October 1909 – 27 April 1912 | |
| Preceded by | William Maxwell |
| Succeeded by | William Murphy |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Bowen | |
| In office 22 May 1915 – 28 March 1936 | |
| Preceded by | Edwin Caine |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Riordan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Collins 25 September 1867 Willey, Warwickshire, England |
| Died | 28 March 1936 (aged 68) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Nationality | English Australia |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Jane McTaggart (née Browne) (m.1892 d.1911), Annie Gierke, (m.1914 d.1960) |
| Occupation | Miner, Trade union organiser |
Early life
editCollins was born at Willey, Warwickshire, to parents Henry Collins and his wife Lizabeth (née Smith) and was educated at Willey Church of England Village School.[1] He arrived in Maryborough, Queensland in 1883 and worked on the sugar plantations around the Antigua and Pialba regions before moving to Gympie in 1884.[2]
Two years later, Collins was in the Kimberley region of Western Australia for the gold rush but, after visiting the Northern Territory, he was back in Gympie to carry on gold mining.[2]
Political career
editCollins was a member of the Political and Amalgamated Miners Association and in 1908 was a general organizer for the Australian Labor Federation and an organizer for the Australian Workers' Union in the North Queensland area from 1912 to 1915.[2]
Collins, representing the Labour Party, was a candidate for the seat of Burke at the 1909 state election. He defeated the sitting Ministerialist member, William Maxwell[3] but was lost his seat in 1912 to the Independent candidate, William Murphy.[4]
At the 1915 state election, Collins stood for the seat of Bowen and defeated the sitting member, Edwin Caine.[5] Collins went on to hold the seat until his death 21 years later.[1] During his service in parliament, he was a member of the Public Works Committee.[1]
Personal life
editOn the 10 Dec 1892, Collins married Sarah Jane McTaggart (née Browne), the widow of Hugh McTaggart, and together had four children.[1] Sarah died in 1911 and three years later he married Annie Gierke and they had two children.[1]
After a long illness,[2] Collins died at Brisbane in March 1936.[1] His Funeral moved from his former residence at Lamington Terrace, Dutton Park, to the Toowong Cemetery.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d ""CHARLIE" COLLINS PASSES". The Worker. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 31 March 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "LATEST RETURNS". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 5 October 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "LATEST FIGURES". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 30 April 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "LATEST RETURNS". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860–1947). Qld.: National Library of Australia. 24 May 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 30 March 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ Collins Charles Archived 18 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 18 April 2015.