| The Honourable Gus Kelly MLA |
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|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Bathurst |
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| In office 30 May 1925 – 7 September 1927 Serving with Fitzpatrick, Dooley |
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| Preceded by | Charles Rosenthal |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| In office 8 October 1927 – 18 May 1932 |
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| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Wilkins |
| In office 21 May 1935 – 25 March 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Gordon Wilkins |
| Succeeded by | Clive Osborne |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 16 May 1941 – 30 June 1950 |
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| Preceded by | Herbert FitzSimons |
| Succeeded by | Maurice O'Sullivan |
| Chief Secretary | |
| In office 3 April 1952 – 13 May 1965 |
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| Preceded by | Clive Evatt |
| Succeeded by | Eric Willis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christopher Augustus Kelly 21 August 1890 near Dubbo, New South Wales |
| Died | 25 March 1967 (aged 76) Mosman, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party (NSW), Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Eileen Mary Kelly (née Mitchell) |
| Children | 1 daughter, 2 sons |
| Occupation | Cement tester |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Website | NSW Legislative Assembly webpage |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1910–1914 and 1915–1919 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | First Australian Imperial Force |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | 1914-1915 Star British War Medal Victory Medal |
Christopher Augustus "Gus" Kelly (21 August 1890 – 25 March 1967) was an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1932 and again from 1935 until his death in 1967, representing the electorate of Bathurst. He held numerous ministerial positions between 1941 and 1965 in McKell Labor Government.[1]
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Kelly was born near Dubbo, New South Wales and was the son of John Kelly, labourer, and Margaret Kearney. His father died when Kelly was aged and his family moved to Wellington, where he was educated to elementary level at the Wellington convent by Catholic nuns.
He initially worked as a labourer with the New South Wales Government Railways and then later at the Portland, New South Wales limestone quarry. Following an accident, he became a cement tester. In 1906, Kelly joined the Australian Labor Party and held office as Portland branch secretary for 18 years and the local union organiser for the Clerk's Division of the Australian Workers Union.[2] Kelly had active military service in the First Australian Imperial Force in Egypt and France between 1915 and 1919.[1][3]
In a pre-selection held in 1919, Kelly defeated Ben Chifley[4] and was endorsed as one of three Labor candidates to contest the multi-member electorate of Bathurst at the 1922 State election. Kelly was unsuccessful at this election;[5] successfully sought endorsement (again against Chifley),[4] and succeeded at the 1925 State election[6] winning the third position, defeating Nationalist sitting member, Charles Rosenthal.
Following a state-wide electoral redistribution, Kelly retained the seat of Bathurst[7] when New South Wales reverted to single member electorates at the 1927 state election. Kelly was re-elected at the 1930 state election[8] with over 60% of the vote, but was defeated on preferences in the 1932 State election[9] landslide that ended the premiership of Jack Lang. After three years working as the gatekeeper at the Sydney Cricket Ground[1] (where William McKell sat on the Board of Trustees),[10] Kelly regained the seat in the 1935 state election on preferences from the Australian Labor Party candidate[11] whilst standing as a candidate for Australian Labor Party (NSW). Kelly retained the seat at the 1938, was unopposed in 1941, challenged in 1944, 1947, and 1950 state elections, again unopposed in 1953, and challenged in 1956, 1959, 1962, and 1965 state elections; winning each time.
He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) while that party was separated from the Federal executive of the Australian Labor Party between 1931 and 1936.
In the William McKell Labor Government that came to power at the 1941 state election, Kelly was appointed to the following portfolios during his parliamentary career spanning 38 years; 24 of which were as a Minister:[1]
During Kelly's service as a politician, it was alleged that the McKell Labor Government was involved in a large corrupt sly-grog operation, with one allegation centred on Kelly - that was unproven. In an interview in 1997, McKell said,[10]
Kelly died in 1967, as the sitting member for Bathurst.[1] A portrait of Kelly by Australian artist Reg Campbell can be found in the permanent collection of Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.[12]
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Rosenthal |
Member for Bathurst (multi-member) 1925 – 1927 Served alongside: Fitzpatrick, Dooley |
Succeeded by reverted to single member seat |
| Preceded by restored seat |
Member for Bathurst (single member) 1927 – 1932 |
Succeeded by Gordon Wilkins |
| Preceded by Gordon Wilkins |
Member for Bathurst 1935 – 1967 |
Succeeded by Clive Osborne |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Herbert FitzSimons |
Minister for Health 1941 – 1950 |
Succeeded by Maurice O'Sullivan |
| Preceded by Clive Evatt |
Minister for Housing 1950 – 1952 and 1954 |
Succeeded by Clive Evatt(1952) John McGrath (1954) |
| Preceded by Clive Evatt |
Chief Secretary 1952 – 1965 |
Succeeded by Eric Willis |
| New title | Minister for Tourist Activities 1959 – 1965 |
Succeeded by Eric Willis |