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Australian politician (1889–1976) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ernest Charles O'Dea (19 February 1889 – 21 November 1976) was an Australian trade union official, Labor Party politician, Lord Mayor of Sydney and Member of the New South Wales Parliament.
Ernest Charles O'Dea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 69th Lord Mayor of Sydney | |
| In office 1 January 1949 – 9 December 1952 | |
| Deputy | John James Carroll Jack Byrne |
| Preceded by | Reg Bartley |
| Succeeded by | Pat Hills |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| In office 23 April 1943 – 22 April 1967 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1889 Armidale, Colony of New South Wales |
| Died | 21 November 1976 (aged 87) Gladesville, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | ALP |
O'Dea was born in Armidale in 1889 and moved to Sydney with his family as a child.
O'Dea entered the retail trade and moved rapidly through the trade union ranks whilst in his twenties. He served as a Sydney Municipal Council Alderman for two periods (1924–1927 and 1930–1965) and was elected Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1948 for four years.[1][2] He served two twelve-year terms in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1942 and 1967. He was also a member of Sydney County Council between 1935 and 1959 and its Chairman from 1958 to 1959.[3]
He was an advocate of compulsory unionism and equal pay, and was an opponent of Saturday retail trading and late-night shopping, all major issues in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a vehement anti-communist and fought against communist influence in trade unions and other industrial organisations.
O'Dea died in 1976 at St George Hospital in Sydney, after suffering a cerebral aneurysm in 1966. He was survived by a son from his first marriage and a son and stepdaughter of his second marriage.[4]
O'Dea is remembered by O'Dea Avenue in Zetland[5] and O'Dea Park in Camperdown.
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