Thomas Nevitt
Thomas Nevitt | |
|---|---|
 Thomas Nevitt, March 1932 | |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Carpentaria | |
| In office 18 May 1907 – 27 April 1912 | |
| Preceded by | James Forsyth |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
| In office 19 February 1920 – 23 March 1922 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Nevitt May 1864 Crewe, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 13 September 1932 (aged 68) Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Martyn St Cemetery |
| Nationality | English Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Sabina Naughton (m.1887 d.1934) |
| Occupation | Wardsman, overseer, visiting justice |
Thomas Nevitt (May 1864 – 13 September 1932) was a member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]
Nevitt was born at Crewe, Cheshire, to James Nevitt and his wife Ellen (née Warburton) and was educated in Crewe Green and St. Paul's Church schools, Crewe.[1] He began his working life as a railway fitter in England before moving to Queensland around 1884.[2] He worked as a hospital wardsman in Normanton for twenty years from 1887, was overseer, Townsville Quarantine Station from 1912 until 1917,[1] and Visiting Justice at St Helena Prison and other centres throughout the state[2] from 1923 to 1930.[1]
Political career
Nevitt entered the Queensland Parliament at the 1907 state election.[2] Standing as the Labour[1] candidate for the seat of Carpentaria, he defeated the sitting member, James Forsyth.[3] He held the seat for five years until it was abolished in 1912.[2]
When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[5]
Nevitt was one of the thirteen new members, and went on to serve for four and a half years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1] From 17 November 1920 he was also the Chairman of Committees.[1]
Personal life
Nevitt married Sabina Naughton in 1887 and together had 3 sons.[1] He retired in March 1932. About July 1932, he travelled to Cairns where he died in a private hospital in September 1932.[2][6][7] His funeral was held at St John's Church, Cairns and proceeded to the Martyn St Cemetery.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "OBITUARY HON. THOMAS NEVITT". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "SUMMARY OF RESULTS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 May 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 7 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ "HAPPY RETIREMENT". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 5 March 1932. p. 15. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "OBITUARY HON. THOMAS NEVITT". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Cairns Post. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1932. p. 4. Retrieved 12 April 2015.