Clem Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clem Jones AO (16 January 1918 – 15 December 2007)[1] was the longest serving Lord Mayor of the city of Brisbane, Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party from 1961 to 1975.
During Jones' 14 years in office as the head of the Brisbane City Council, assisted by the Town Clerk J. C. Slaughter, Brisbane underwent considerable change.
In 1961 Brisbane was a city with no town planning, many unpaved streets, limited water supply and few areas with sewers—relying instead on outhouses or septic tanks. Through the 1960s Jones successfully led the council to develop a town plan, seal roads, improve drainage and connect sewers to most of the city. The city council, under his stewardship, purchased city properties to build underground car parks, which were then topped with public parks and gardens.
In the suburbs, land was acquired for open space and parkland. Work started on the development of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha. Controversially, Jones announced in 1968 the conversion of all tramway routes to diesel bus operation.[2]
In 1971 Jones choose to promote Brisbane as host city for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Without support from the Queensland Government and due to a lack of preparation the bid was unsuccessful.[3] Determined of the benefits and suitability of Brisbane in hosting the event, Jones completed a winning bid in 1974 for the next games in 1982.[3]
Jones was also appointed Chairman of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission in 1975 to guide the rebuilding of the city of Darwin after its near destruction by Cyclone Tracy.
A long time Labor Party member, Jones was involved in the opposition to the attempted federal takeover of the Queensland State Branch of the Party in the early 1980s, being one of several senior members of the Queensland branch to challenge the takeover in the courts. Briefly expelled for his involvement, he was later reinstated to the party and given life membership in recognition of his achievements in Brisbane.
He was also elected as a delegate in 1998 to the Australian Constitutional Convention as the head of the Clem Jones Constitutional Republic Team. After attempting to exclude monarchists from participation on the first day of the Convention he favoured a Republican model in which the head of state was directly elected rather than being chosen by Parliament.
[edit] Honours
- Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in 1976 [4]
- Queenslander of the Year in 1990 [5]
- Australian Sports Medal in 2000 [6]
- Centenary Medal in 2001 [7]
[edit] Clem Jones in popular culture
- Prior to the redevelopment of the Brisbane Cricket Ground the grandstand was known as the "Clem Jones Stand".
- The nickname of former Australian cricketer Terry Alderman was "Clem", as Clem Jones was both an alderman and a cricket fan[8] [9]
- Jones often featured in political cartoons such as this example from 1974.
[edit] References
- ^ "Former Brisbane mayor Clem Jones dies", ABC, 15 December 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Old Cleveland Road Tramway Tracks. QLD Government, EPA (08 Dec 2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ a b Roberts, Beryl (1991). Stories of the Southside. Archerfield, Queensland: Aussie Books, 4. ISBN 094733601X.
- ^ It’s an Honour—AO
- ^ Queenslander of the Year
- ^ It’s an Honour—Australian Sports Medal
- ^ It’s an Honour—Centenary Medal
- ^ List of nicknames used in cricket. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.
- ^ Cricket: From 'Dizzy' to fizzy. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Reginald Groom |
Lord Mayor of Brisbane 1961 – 1975 |
Succeeded by Brian Vincent Walsh |
